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“Anyway,” I said. “I’m just so glad everything’s coming together. It’s so exciting, Dane. Really.”
His lips teased mine for a few sexy moments. “I knew you were the woman for the job. And for me.”
“So sweet,” I whispered as I kissed his jaw. “And flirty.”
“Speaking of…” This time, his brows wagged.
“Uh-uh.” I slipped from his lap. “We’re going to be late.”
His gaze narrowed. “You’ve never once said no to me.”
It was sort of an unwritten rule I’d agreed to when we’d gotten together. And because I couldn’t resist him.
“I didn’t refuse you when you joined me in the shower earlier, now did I?” Granted, I wanted him to take me back to bed now, but added, “Today’s crucial, Dane. We have so much to do before the first seating. Everything has to be perfect. And don’t forget—I want a champagne toast from you. Heartfelt. Warm and fuzzy, even.”
Now he glowered.
I sighed. “Heartfelt and … glowing,” I amended. “I want everyone to know how much you appreciate the effort they’ve put into bringing the hotel on-line, their training, hiring of staff, everything, when we don’t even have guests yet.”
“I want them to understand that as well.” He stood and added dryly, “I don’t have to kiss babies on the cheek and let them pinch my nose, do I?”
With a laugh, I told him, “It’s a mock run-through at a hotel, not a campaign trail. And employees only.”
I headed toward the tall glass-and-wood-enclosed doors.
“Not that I have a problem with babies.” His unexpected words chased after me.
I whirled around and stared at him. The first time we’d made love without a condom had been a risky endeavor, since I hadn’t been on the pill long. We’d both been willing to take the chance that night. I didn’t really know what to make of his comment though, so I simply said, “Think we have enough to contend with at the moment.”
I headed into our bathroom for last-minute touch-ups. Then we drove to the Lux. It didn’t matter how many times I’d viewed the perimeter with its stunning decorative black-and-gold-leaf wrought-iron fencing in between elegant ecru columns topped with large gas lanterns that burned even during the day, I would forever be in wonderment at the resort’s beauty.
Dane’s new limited-edition Mercedes McLaren slowed at the gate and he slid the tinted window down for the guard to ID him.
“Nice to see you, Mr. Bax,” John said. Bending at the waist to get a glimpse at me, he added, “And you as well, Miss DeMille.”
“Thank you, John. Happy pre-Thanksgiving.”
“To you both, too.”
“You’ll be joining us this evening, right?” I asked.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” he said with a grin. “In fact, it’ll be difficult to concentrate on anything else today. I can only imagine how Chef D’Angelo will elevate a holiday meal to Lux standards.”
We’d included John with the executives’ dinner, the last event of the evening. Dane held him in high regard, since he’d been the one on-duty when I’d been kidnapped. John had realized, in a split second, that what I had thought was Dane’s rare Hennessy Venom F5 was a mirror image, but not the exact one. He’d noted the plate on the back of the sports car I’d gotten in to was from Nevada, not Arizona. And had immediately contacted Amano and Dane to alert them to the situation. That rapid response had gone far in aiding in my rescue.
Amano had given John a raise. Dane had promptly sold the F5, unable to face it in his garage without wanting to rip someone’s head off, as it reminded him of the danger I’d been in.
We passed through the tall double gates and along the winding stone road, edged by lush green grass and full sycamore trees. The grounds were meticulously groomed, and as we entered the circular valet area with the fountains and magnificent waterfalls, immaculate hedges, and fancy topiary I felt exactly the same as I did whenever we arrived at Dane’s secluded estate. That I was home.
Awe overcame me, but I was used to it by now. The hotel was too amazing
for words, with carefully placed vines climbing up the stone walls and the entire front of the enormous four-story lobby accented with huge, asymmetrical windows showcasing a spectacular chandelier inside that I’d once joked could wipe out a small village if it fell, and its accompanying, more reasonably sized chandeliers. Relatively speaking, of course. This was the Lux. The height of lavishness and superior service.
One of the valets, Brandon, opened my door with his usual friendly smile. I tried hard not to worry about what speculation might run rampant over the fact that Dane drove me to and from the resort these days. The story we’d given was that I’d been in a car accident, which accounted for my presumably “totaled” SUV, the scar on my forehead, and the fact that I’d left the Lux for some time following the incident with Vale, which no one other than Dane, Kyle, and Amano knew about. Everyone appeared to buy it, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if I offered some watercooler fodder.
“Good morning, Miss DeMille,” Brandon beamed. He’d dressed in his special-occasion uniform—a tailored cutaway black tux and white gloves. The casual attire for him and the other valets was dress pants with an elegant polo shirt, both in black, with the hotel’s elaborate crest in gold on the left chest.
“You look dashing,” I told him.
