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"Are you surprised a woman of my age and experience can still blush?"
"Hush. You're gorgeous and you know it."
His words sank deep and she hated that they meant so much to her. "You know, I have some fun money set aside. Maybe…maybe I could be your investor. To replace the one that withdrew?"
He leaned back and immediately shook his head.
"No. No, I can't ask you to do that."
"You're not asking. I'm offering." She'd been saving up for years to take one of those spa months where you get nips and tucks and facials along with a luxurious recovery period where you came home looking like a new woman—literally. But when Kirk looked at her the way he did, just as she was, helping him seemed more important.
"Tessa…I can't accept. It's too much."
"You can accept. I insist," she said with a heartfelt smile. "I like the thought of helping build my community. Just give me the paperwork and I'll make out a check and sign."
Kirk gaped at her, looking relieved and grateful and seductive all at once.
"You're unbelievable. Come here."
He pulled her to him and lowered his head, kissed her again and again and again...
Everett liftedhis head at the sound of a footfall on the stairs and sucked in a deep breath at the sight of Isabel in her gala dress. He’d known she'd look beautiful. She always did, whether made up for the day or makeup free with her hair in a messy bun and paint-stained clothes. But this woman… "Wow."
A slow smile formed on her lips and he bit back a groan. He wanted to kiss those lips but doing so would muss her makeup. And while that wasn't a bad idea in the slightest, they had to go, and he knew if he started kissing her, he wouldn't want to stop.
"So do I pass inspection?" she asked once she’d made it to the bottom of the stairs.
He set his drink aside and moved toward her, taking her hand in his and lifting it to his lips. She wore a strapless Christmas red lace gown that hugged every curve of her body, with an added solid layer of material at her waist that formed a longer skirt and bit of a train. The dress was dramatic and artistic and absolutely perfect for her. "You make me want to stay here, Isabel."
She flushed in response to his words, and he lightly licked her knuckle to get her taste before kissing it. "Let me," he said, releasing her hand to take her coat.
She turned and he placed it around her shoulders. "This dress makes me want to take you shopping just so I can see more of these on you."
She turned her head and gazed at him over her shoulder. "Careful. You’re sounding a little possessive there, Drake."
He gently squeezed her shoulders and turned her to face him once more. "When it comes to you, I'm discovering that I am."
She blinked up at him, gorgeous lips parted.
"Everett..."
"Isabel." He smiled at her expression, identifying her conflicted emotions as they crossed her features. "Don’t worry about my possessiveness right now. Let's go get this over with."
Isabel remained silent as Tomas drove them to their destination. He watched her profile as she stared out the window at the window displays and people, very well aware of the moment she turned her head slightly to sneak a peek at him from beneath her long lashes.
Finally she cleared her throat.
"You, um, look very handsome in your tuxedo."
He stretched out his arm and gently tugged her to his side, using his other hand to tilt her head up. "One day soon, Isabel, we are going to have a very detailed chat."
She swallowed and he felt the movement of her muscles against the back of his fingers curled against her throat.
“About what?”
"You know what," he murmured.
She closed her eyes for a long moment before blinking them open and holding his gaze.
