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“Evening, sir Madam”

At least the doore her presence Not that she cared The only ment mattered was Jesse

Had she ruined an important business relationship for hi She hadn’t meant to do either; she’d intended to do as he’d asked Not interfere, not speak out, not intrude…

An elevator whisked them to the top floor of the hotel They stepped out into a dazzling restaurant croith patrons Was her boss going to feed her before he fired her?

Sienna tried again

“Jesse I’m sorry if—”

He put his hand on the small of her back His touch was cool Impersonal Why did she want to lean back into it, turn that casual touch into a caress?

A s…Ah, Mr Blackwolf Welcome back, sir”

“Good evening, John I’m afraid we don’t have a reservation”

“No problem at all, sir If you’d follow me, please…?”

The ers A busboy whisked a discreet “reserved” sign from atable with an expansive view of the city As soon as they were seated, the sommelier appeared and handed Jesse a drinks list

He waved it away

“A bottle of Krug Grande Cuvée”

The sommelier beane right now?

Although, it would have been nice if Jesse had thought to ask her if she liked chaht at a tine for himself and hemlock for her

“Look, Jesse, I knoas out of line, but I couldn’t let that e mist—”

The chah the cere the bottle, the so the cork, the presentation of the cork, the pouring of the sparkling wine so Jesse could taste it, then the pouring of it into two glasses

She could feel her patience fraying Such nonsense Such an expression of male vanity Men still did it in her time and it was just plain silly…

Da why she’d done what she’d done hat mattered

She tried as soon as they were alone again

“Jesse,” she said urgently, “will you at least look at me? I can explain—”

“Thank you,” Jesse said politely as the waiter handed the a ht now, either If only Jesse would say so…

“Sienna?”

At last! She breathed a sigh of relief “Yes! Thank you for—”