Josephine takes my breath away, stepping out of the cab.

I offered to send a car, but she turned me down. She said she was going to show up on her own terms, which seems crazy, because her own terms have turned out to be a yellow cab.

Even so, she looks radiant in a red dress that goes all the way down to the sidewalk. It’d be too much for a Friday-night date of any other kind, but like I said, this isn’t a date.

She might think it is. She might think I’m stringing her along, but I am not.

My skin hums with excitement, pulsing in time with my racing heart.

I haven’t slept.

I’ve been at work all day, and I spent most of the last two days hunting people down. All night included.

The moment I left her at her office building, I knew I had to do something. Josie’s not the kind of woman who should be walking around with bags under her eyes, her face drawn from stress.

If everything goes according to plan, tonight I’m going to show her a different way to live.

She leans into the front window of the cab, says something to the driver, and turns back to me, eyes shining with nervousness and what looks like glee. “You look fancy,” she says with a smile that makes my heart beat even faster.

Stay calm. “You’re the most gorgeous woman ever to grace the face of the planet.” I reach for her hand and she puts hers in mine, stepping close.

“You don’t have to flatter me,” she says, glancing down at her shoes, a little shy, a little pink in her cheeks.

“It’s true.” I escort her through the front doors of the hotel. Josie is instantly on edge. The smile fades into a look of concentration and she stands up taller than I’ve ever seen her stand. Her grip on my arm tightens. “Whoa,” I say, bending to kiss her temple. “You can relax, I promise.”

She narrows her eyes and looks at me. “Relax?”

I take her through the lobby. At the first turn down a long hallway, a tuxedoed waiter stands at attention, two glasses of champagne on a silver tray. “Here. This should help.” I take one and hand it to her, then take the other for myself. “Cheers.”

She raises her glass to mine, the clink tickling my ears, and takes a sip. “Oh, this is the good stuff.”

“Nothing but the best for you.” I don’t need to tell her exactly how good it is. But here’s how good it is: someone flew it here on a plane today for a sum that would be rude to mention in polite society.

We keep going down the hall, and that’s when she notices the music for the first time. “What is that?”

“Music.”

She pulls her hand away and slaps me lightly on the arm. “I didn’t know you were so funny.”

“I have other strengths,” I tell her as she winds her hand back through my elbow.

“Like what?”

“Like this.” I catch her in my arms and press her into an alcove halfway down the hall, her back against the wall, and kiss her like I’ve wanted to kiss her all day. Josie moans a little, parting her lips so I can explore her mouth with my tongue. I finish with a nip at her full bottom lip. When I pull back, she keeps her eyes closed, head tilted back against the wall. Her breasts rise with every deep breath she takes, and I give in. I have to touch her. I run my fingertips down the side of her neck, all the way to the place where her cleavage meets her dress.

She opens her eyes with a grin. “I’ll give you that one.”

I lean down. “You’ll give me a lot more.” She shivers at my breath against her ear, and I straighten up. “Just not right this minute.”

Josie pouts a little, but when I offer my elbow she accepts gamely. “Okay. Show me why we’re here. I want to know what that music is.”

“You sure you’re ready?” I laugh. “No, you’re ready. You want to see this.”

We move down the hallway, Josie’s dress whispering against her skin, and the music gets louder with every step. It’s a top forty hit, something thrumming and sexy. Josie’s eyes shine as we stand outside the door.

I stop and take her face into my hands, tilting her chin up so that I can look directly into her eyes. “Josephine Paxton, you are allowed to have a wonderful time. You’re allowed to drink and dance and be silly. You’re allowed to throw a party, once in a while. Nobody would ever fault you for that.”

She bites her lip. “But—”

“No buts,” I say, silencing her with the pad of my thumb. “I saw you while we were at lunch. You’re working too hard.”

“I never said—”

“I verified it with some other sources,” I say quickly. “It can’t be all or nothing. That’s what I’m trying to say. God knows I had the same problem.”

Her mouth quirks in a smile, and I take her hands in mine. “No shit,” she says, then laughs. “Charlie Cash is going to tell me that I’m working too hard? No way.”

“I am going to tell you that, because I need to find that same balance. And Josie, I’m only ever going to find it with you.”

Her eyes shine. She can’t stop smiling. “Are you going to open that door?”

I open my mouth to answer.

“And don’t say you thought I’d never ask,” she says.

I smile at her, savoring the moment. 

Then I push the doors open and we step inside.