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“Do you have someone looking after the store?” asked Alec.
“No. I put out a sign that said it was closed due to a death in the family. I sent an e-mail to all my employees except Smith. They know the store will be closed for a while.”
“That’s good,” nodded Alec. “We’re going to get back to the ball. You let Mike handle everything, honey. We’re here if you need anything at all.”
“Thank you,” she said, hugging them both as they left.
“We’ll talk more in the morning, Sage,” said Eric. “Get some rest, or better yet, come enjoy some great food and relax for the night. It could be fun.” Sage stood from the kitchen table, watching as everyone left her alone with the big, handsome man in front of her.
“Wh-what now?” she asked nervously.
“Well, we can go back to the ball if you want. I mean, you look beautiful, and I would hate to see that dress go to waste.” Mike smiled at her, his dazzling white teeth nearly knocking her over. She wondered if he had any clue how handsome he was.
“Do you always do that?”
“Do what?”
“Smile at women and make them confused.”
“I’m sorry if I’m confusing you,” he smiled. “I didn’t mean to do that. I’m trying to make you feel more at ease. More comfortable. Listen, take a seat. Please.” He pointed to the sofa, and she moved with an elegant grace that made Mike instantly see the childhood dancer.
“You won’t understand this, but we tend to find the one quickly around here.”
“Find the one? Mike, are you screwing with my head? I don’t have the energy for flirting tonight.” She stood, ready to run out the door.
“No! Please, please don’t leave. Let me start again. Do you know how Lissa met Alec?”
“A little. I know she was injured or kidnapped. He saved her, is what she said.”
“That’s true. He did save her, but she really saved him. He was an ex-CIA operative. He’d been taken hostage by Russians a long time ago. Somehow, it all tied together, and he found himself mixed up with them again. But so was Lissa.
“He would say this himself, but when he saw her, he knew she was the only woman for him. They fell in love almost instantly. It was the same for my grandparents, my parents, my aunt and uncle, my brother. It’s the same for everyone on this property.”
“Why are you saying this?” she whispered.
“Because when I saw you tonight, my heart stopped. My head was swimming, my mind racing. All I could think about was taking that mask off of you so I could kiss you.”
“You did kiss me,” she said. “You took my mask off in the maze and kissed me.”
“Yes, I did. And I’d very much like to do that again.” In the distance, they could both hear the music coming from the ball. She stared down at the dress and looked at him. He was a prince. That’s what he was dressed as. She’d chosen the dress to look like a modern-day princess.
Standing, he moved toward her, towering above her. He pushed back the long blonde curls, placing his hand on her lower back, gripping the other. Slowly, he moved from side to side, just a slight sway.
“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life. I cannot breathe when I’m near you.”
“I’m so confused right now,” she said, staring up at him. “Haven’t you looked in the mirror? You’re wearing a Prince Charming costume, but you truly look like Prince Charming. I’ve never been around anyone so tall, strong, and handsome. Your eyes are unbelievably beautiful. It’s like someone layered tiger’s eye and amethyst.” Mike chuckled, nodding his head.
“The jeweler speaks in gemstones,” he smiled.
“Yes, I suppose I do. Sorry.”
“Don’t be. It was perfect. I appreciate you saying that. But if I were going to speak the same language about you, it would be peridot and blue topaz swirling like the sea after a storm. It was the first thing I noticed about you at the ball.”
“Not my height, or lack thereof?” she smirked.
“No. I like your height. And that dress makes me think things I shouldn’t,” he said, smiling down at her. They were still swaying to the music in the distance.
“It’s early. We could go back to the ball,” she said softly.
