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I smirked. “Not gonna happen. You look incredible, by the way.”

She looked down at her dress before her eyes lifted to mine, a little shy. “I borrowed this from my sister. She’s more into retro clothing than me, so she has a couple things in her wardrobe. Normally, I’d just wear a funky shirt, too, but I thought I’d make an effort this time.”

“I’m glad you did,” I said, unable to resist taking one last glance at the boots before forcing my attention to her face. My entire body heated just having her nearby.

“Did you need something?”

I watched her throat move as she swallowed, stepping farther into the room and closing the door behind her. “Um, yes, I actually …” She trailed off, and my skin blazed when I realised she was distracted by my naked chest. My smirk returned.

“See something you like?”

Her pretty eyes widened at being caught. “What? No.” She grimaced before admitting, “Yes.” She swallowed again. “Can you just put the shirt on? You’re making me forget the whole reason I came here.”

“But I like it when you look at me like that.”

“This was a mistake. We can talk later.” She turned to leave, but I moved quickly, my strides covering the distance in seconds while my hand closed over hers just as she grabbed the door handle. “Stay,” I whispered. “Talk to me.”

She turned, but I didn’t move, my hand still on hers as her gaze rose to meet mine. Even with the boots on, she was still a few inches shorter than me. “Okay, well,” her eyelashes fluttered, and I fought the urge to press my mouth to her soft neck and bury my face in her hair. “I came because I wanted to tell you I’ve come to a decision about us.”

Just like that, my heartrate doubled. A moment ago, I’d enjoyed flustering her, but with just a couple words, she’d turned the tables.

My throat grew dry. “Oh?”

She inhaled a sharp breath, then let it out as though steeling herself. “I’ve decided that I’d like to give things a try. I’d like to date you, Tristan.”

Erin

I’d never been more flustered in my life. Tristan’s gaze was like the blazing sun beating down on me. I was both drawn to look and not look at the same time. I’d spent the last few days all up in my head, going back and forth over my decision.

I’d barely been able to concentrate on Fred and Nessa’s return from their cruise, nor the various stories they had to tell, because I’d been so distracted. I’d been to visit them twice since they got back, and they’d had so much to relay about their travels. Likewise, I’d had a lot to tell them about the hotel and all the refurbishments, but always at the forefront of my mind was Tristan.

My uncle had noticed that something was off about me, but I’d just told him it was exhaustion, that I was working around the clock and hadn’t been sleeping much. He’d accepted this excuse, telling me I needed to take a break and that the success of the reopening was the Balfe brothers’ responsibility, not mine.

I was just glad he didn’t suspect anything else was going on because there was no way I could talk to Fred about Tristan. Not yet, at least. He was a good uncle, but we didn’t have the sort of relationship where we chatted about my love life.

Now I was standing in Tristan’s office dressed like an extra from Saturday Night Fever while trying not to faint at how seriously sexy he looked without a shirt on.

No person who spent most of their time working in an office had a right to be in such good shape. It wasn’t fair.

“You’re sure?” he asked, searching my eyes. I nodded, lifting my chin, resolute. He moved even closer, his bare stomach pressing into the front of my dress while my back met the closed door. Every cell in my body came alive. I was aware of his breathing, the scorching heat of his gaze.

“Can I touch you?” he asked, and my throat swelled with emotion.

Zach had never asked for permission. He’d merely tell me what he was going to do, and then he’d do it. I’d consented to it all, of course, letting him treat my body like his property. I would’ve given anything for him to be tender with me like this, even once, for a single shred of normality, but he’d never been capable of that. He only wanted to dominate, to control. It took years to break free of the damage that relationship had done to my psyche.

Now I was taking the first step towards something different, and I was terrified. I’d also never felt more alive as I whispered, “Yes,” and then Tristan placed his hand gently on my face to cup my cheek.

Don’t cry, please don’t cry.

It wasn’t that I was sad. Well, maybe I was a little sad, but mostly for my past self who’d never gotten to experience this kind of tenderness. I wasn’t used to being handled with care, and there were all sorts of emotions sprouting forth. Sorrow and joy, anguish and delight. They all mingled together while Tristan’s thumb stroked along the underside of my jaw, his touch so loving and gentle it made my chest ache.

“I’m going to take such good care of you, Erin,” he murmured, and I was glad to have the door at my back supporting my weight because my knees turned weak.

“Like how?” I asked, barely recognising my own voice.

A devilish smile shaped his lips as he brought his mouth to my ear, tingles scattering down my spine when he said, “First I’ll take your mouth. You have no idea how much time I’ve spent thinking about kissing you. I’ll taste you thoroughly, work you up until you can barely stand it. Then I’ll make my way down your body. I have some very detailed ideas about you on my desk,” he continued, and my nipples beaded, my thighs pressing together as my eyes flicked to his desk.

“Oh?”