Page 43 of Moonlit Colorado

“You’re welcome to anything you’d like.” Dane strolled into the kitchen. “Dinner will be here any minute.”

I closed the fridge and spun to face him. “Could I get a glass of water?”

“I have sparkling, and filtered comes from the tap.”

I opened cabinets until I found a glass. But Dane took it from me. “I’ve got it.” A buzzing sound filled the suite, coming from the front door. “And that must be dinner,” he said.

I peeked at him as he walked toward the door. His butt looked great in those jeans. Just a harmless observation.

A hotel employee pushed the cart into the dining area. I would’ve been fine with takeout boxes and paper napkins, but the woman laid out a white tablecloth, then placed several dishes covered in metal domes in the center of the dining table. From another shelf on the cart, she brought out plates and silverware, arranging everything like it was a restaurant.

“Perfect,” Dane said. “That’s all we need. Much appreciated.” He passed her a tip on her way out, and then he was back, pulling out a chair for me. “I ordered Italian, since that’s what we had at Ashford’s place. Assumed that was a safe choice.”

“It smells delicious.” My stomach rumbled as he uncovered the dishes. One looked like chicken piccata, and the other was pasta with a ragu sauce. Dane sat across from me and served me first. Which, okay, was gracious of him.

I took my first bites with a small groan. “This isreallygood.” I took another big bite of chicken and realized his eyes were tracing the movements of my fork. “Aren’t you going to eat?” I asked with my mouth full.

“I’m already enjoying this meal.”

“You have some kind of kink about watching women eat?”

“I didn’t think so. But watchingyoueat? Maybe.”

Oh lord. This man.

I put my fork down. “Is that why you brought the cheeseboard to Ashford’s last week? To watch me eat it like a weirdo?”

He laughed. “No. I brought it because I knew you would like it. No other reason.”

“Butwhy? Why was that important to you?”

“Because you were mad at me after the fall festival. I wanted to make up for it.”

“That’s typical for you? Buying people’s affection?”

“Do I have your affection?”

Yes, my traitorous heart responded. Thank goodness I didn’t say it out loud.

I barely knew him. Yet it was impossible not to like Dane. And that was aside from the fact that he was one of the most handsome men I’d ever sat across from. Plenty of women would love to be in my shoes.

Plenty of women have been in your shoes, I reminded myself.

“I thought you weren’t going to flirt with me anymore.”

“Who said that?”

I rolled my eyes. “Maybe you’re not capable of it.”

“I’m capable. But I think you enjoy when I flirt with you.”

“There you go again, telling me what’s in my head. It’s presumptuous.”

“Yet you’re not telling me I’m wrong.” With that smirk still on his face, he dished twice as much food as he’d given me onto his plate and started to eat. I shouldn’t have worried about the man going hungry.

I went back to eating. The food warmed my stomach, and I glanced around again, my attention drawn back to the luxurious surroundings. “How did you end up buying this hotel, anyway?” I asked.

“Ashford didn’t tell you?”

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