LITMIR.BIZ

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her lips. “My seats are in the front row. I have an extra if you want to join me. My other sister wasn’t able to make it.”

      “I’m sorry to hear about your sister.” But he wasn’t sorry he would be sitting with Emma. “And I’d love to join you.” He didn’t have to tell her that his seat was also in the front row. He’d let her think she was giving him a thrill.

      They made their way inside and found their seats along the runway. Daniel subtly surveyed the rest of the front-row attendees, and spotted Nora Bradford, the designer he had to speak with before the end of the evening. He’d have to find a time to break away from Emma, which was a real shame, but for now, he would enjoy himself.

      “You haven’t told me what you do, Daniel,” Emma said.

      He couldn’t afford to tell her the truth. He had no idea of her stature at Eden’s or to whom she might end up speaking. “I’m here in the city looking at some real estate for my family’s business.” Not a lie. Not a lie at all.

      Emma nodded, her eyes wide and eager. “Sounds exciting.”

      “Not as exciting as meeting you.”

      Emma smiled and shied away, looking down at her lap and running her fingers over her evening bag. The crowd had filled the room, the conversation at a steady din, broken only by the introduction of a thumping beat of dance music. The lights went down and the volume grew louder, the bass reverberating in Daniel’s hips and thighs. Or perhaps that was Emma’s effect on him. He had an amazing vantage point sitting next to her, one where he could admire the dips and valleys of her collarbone and shoulders. She had exquisite skin. Touchable and shimmery. How badly would he jeopardize his family business if he asked an Eden’s employee out for dinner?

      The models began to strut down the catwalk, which would normally catch Daniel’s attention, but Emma was the real attraction. She leaned into him. “Isn’t it exciting?”

      “It is.” He found himself smiling, of all things. That was not his usual reaction when forced to attend an event like this.

      “This is my first time coming to one of these.”

      Utterly charming—those were the words the came to mind. “I never would’ve known. You seem like an old pro.”

      She reached over and swatted his thigh with the back of her hand. Now the grin on his face felt as though it might never leave.

      Emma studied the models and applauded, her enthusiasm for fashion seeming so genuine. Her face was full of wonder as she followed each new design down the runway. Watching her became Daniel’s primary source of entertainment, especially as she pointed out her favorites.

      “Ooh. I love that one,” she whispered in his ear. The hint of warmth from her sweet breath brought every nerve ending alive, like flipping on a switch.

      “It’s lovely.” You’re lovely.

      She repeated this exercise over and over again, muttering comments into his ear whenever she found a particular design detail interesting. As the show went on, she seemed to become even more comfortable with him, leaning in closer. The conversation continued, and he found it was easier to hear her if he slung his arm across the back of her chair. She placed her hand on his thigh, sending signals straight to his groin. He wanted her. He wanted to take her home. But he had work to do after the show was over. Important work he couldn’t afford to miss.

      When the designers and several models made their final procession, Emma was one of the first in the audience to shoot to her feet and applaud wildly. Daniel was even more entranced. He loved her lack of inhibition. He was intrigued by the possibilities of getting Emma into his bed.

      “I take it you enjoyed yourself?” he asked as the music died down and the crowd began to filter out of the room. From the corner of his eye, he saw Nora Bradford walking away. He couldn’t let her out of his sights, but he wasn’t ready to excuse himself from Emma. He needed her number. He deserved a little fun while he was in New York. No strings attached, of course.

      “It was amazing. The clothes were incredible. It’s definitely been the most exciting part of my job to date.”

      Daniel wasn’t sure how much he should dig into Emma’s life at Eden’s. He dreaded learning anything that might indicate she was not a woman to pursue. He wanted her, but he wouldn’t risk everything to take her to bed.

      “One more drink?” he asked, unwilling for this to be goodbye.

      “Yes. Please.” Emma answered instantly and smiled widely, momentarily numbing him to his sense of duty to his family business. Daniel knew where a second drink might lead, or at least where he wanted it to go, and that was not a good idea. He had unfinished business tonight. And it didn’t involve the stunning woman from Eden’s department store.

      * * *

      Emma worried for more than a moment that she’d answered too quickly. Daniel was all suave sophistication, and she’d been nothing but goofy with excitement during the fashion show. She wasn’t sure what had come over her, except that she felt different right now. For the first time, she felt as though she could be comfortable in this world. More importantly, she could hold her own with a handsome man like Daniel.

      “Shall we?” Feeling a bit invincible, she hooked her arm in his and snugged him close to her.

      The look he cast down at her shook her to her core. So confident. So pleased. So hot. “Please.”

      Emma took a step and her shoe caught on the carpet. It twisted right off her foot and she stumbled forward.

      Daniel kept her from falling with a strong hold on her arm. “Are you okay?”

      Embarrassment heated her cheeks, but she was determined to make a graceful save. A little hiccup was not going to ruin her evening. “I’m great. Just need to get my shoe.” She reached down to hook her finger into a silver strap, but as she bent at the waist, she felt a pop behind her. Cool air hit the center of her back. She still needed her shoe, so she crouched to grab it. In a rush, the cold spread down her spine. The zipper.

      She let go of Daniel’s arm, righted herself and immediately flattened her back against his chest, clutching her dress to her bosom with one hand and her shoe in the other. The fine wool crepe of his tuxedo brushed against her bare skin. Her zipper had split wide-open. The only thing that was keeping the dress on was that impossibly tiny silver hook at the very top and the few inches of bodice before the skirt started.

      “Everything all right?” Daniel grasped her shoulders from behind and looked down at her.

      Emma’s chest was heaving. Panic coursed through her veins. Of course something disastrous would happen. “My zipper. I think it broke.” She knew one thing as soon as those words came out. The humiliation of this scene was going to last her entire lifetime. She’d have to start taking the stairs in her apartment building. She might have to move.

      Daniel pushed her shoulders forward ever so slightly. “Indeed it has.”

      That small breach of the space between them told her exactly how bad it was. Daniel could see far more of her than was reasonable for the first few hours of their acquaintance. Her bare back. Her skimpy panties. “Do you think you can fix it?” Luckily, most people had made it back out into the reception area. The few still milling about didn’t seem to notice. “I can’t walk out of here with half a dress.”

      He pulled her a little closer and lowered his head. “No. But we could stay in here with half of your dress.” His breath was warm against the slope of her neck.

      She craned her head, looking at him over her shoulder. His lips were so close, achingly within reach. If they were somewhere quiet and private, this mishap could’ve been the perfect icebreaker. Her clothes were already half off. Might as well go all the way. “As fun as that sounds, I’m still going to need to walk through that room at some point.”

      “Hold on. Let me see if I can do anything.” He waited as a few people

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