Before We Kiss (Fool's Gold #14)(36)

They sat down across from each other. She did her best to ignore how the slightly disheveled look made him seem more approachable and therefore more appealing.

“You’re like Mr. Darcy,” she said without thinking.

His eyebrows drew together. “Excuse me?”

She did her best not to grin. Now that she’d had the thought, she couldn’t escape it. “Proud, remote, difficult to read.” She paused. “It’s not a bad thing. Most women like Mr. Darcy. He’s a Jane Austen character. From Pride and Prejudice.”

“I’m familiar with the work,” he said drily.

“You’ve read it?”

“And seen the movie. Yes.”

She desperately wanted to ask why. The movie made sense. Lots of guys were dragged to various versions by girlfriends, sisters and wives. But reading the book was a whole different story.

Interesting. But not why she’d stopped by.

She thought about pulling out papers to pretend they had official party business. But that felt too much like cheating. So she squared her shoulders, looked him in the eye and said, “You can’t do that again. Kiss me, make cryptic comments and then walk out. It’s not right. We have to work together. I need our relationship to be completely professional.”

Because after another night of tossing and turning, she’d figured out that she was under enough stress without having to worry about defining how things were with Sam.

“If there’s something you want to pursue between us, it needs to be put on hold until after we’re done with the party. Getting involved would be a distraction.”

“You’re right.”

She blinked. “Okay. About?”

“All of it.” His gaze never left hers. “I apologize for kissing you. I won’t say I’m sorry, because I’m not, but I was wrong. I put you in a difficult situation. We have a professional relationship, as you say. It’s important to focus on the job at hand. I don’t suppose telling you I’ve been tempted beyond reason will get me anything.”

His voice wasn’t even the slightest bit teasing and he wasn’t smiling, but Dellina wasn’t sure he was sincere, either.

“This job is important to me,” she said.

“I understand that. I promise, nothing will happen between us again.”

She waited, hoping he would add “until after the party,” only he didn’t.

“Thank you,” she murmured, wanting to say that she’d really enjoyed the kiss. It was more the timing that was a problem for her. Only now that seemed inappropriate, as if she were complaining and leading him on in the same breath. Which was pretty much what he did to her when he kissed her and then left her hanging. But she was going to take the high road.

Sex complicated everything, she thought with a sigh.

She pulled several files from her tote and spread them out in front of her. “It’s Friday. The party is a week from today. All the swag has been ordered and will be at my place by Wednesday. I already have the bags so I’ll have plenty of time to load everything. My final walk-through at the hotel is Monday morning. I’m finalizing everything with Heidi tomorrow. Josh is already confirmed for the bike ride, as is the entertainment for the kids. The transportation is in place to CDS for the adult obstacle course, the trip to the town festival, the golf game and the visit to the ranch.”

She went over everything else on the schedule and explained what was done and what still had to be completed. With panic setting in, she wasn’t sleeping well, and that meant plenty of time to clean up her lists.

Sam was quiet until she’d finished. “You’re good,” he said. “Thank you for all of this. The party is going to be a success and you’re the reason. I should have come to you sooner.”

“Yes, you should have but you were afraid. To be honest, I get why. That night was weird.”

One of his dark eyebrows rose. “Weird?”

She smiled. “After. The dresses, the dry-erase board. A little strange. You were scared and it’s okay. I would have been freaked out, too. Now it would be different. You know me so you’d ask a few questions.” She held up her hand. “I’m not implying anything.” Or hinting. Or even wishing—although if she put some thought into it, wishing would be easy.

“I get what you’re saying. We are the victims of bad timing. My mother would say there was a message in that.”

Dellina tried not to smile. “The sexual demonstrations everyone keeps warning me about aren’t enough? She gets messages from the great beyond?”

Sam grinned. “Not exactly but she’s a big believer in paying attention to the little things. I don’t suppose she’s canceled.”

“Sorry, no. She’s confirmed.”

“With me, too. I had a call from my dad last night.”

She leaned toward him. “They’re your parents. Taryn and Larissa have tried to scare me by telling stories, but seriously, they’re, what, in their sixties? How bad can it be?”

“You’ll meet them soon enough. You can decide for yourself.” He relaxed. “I appreciate your attitude in all this. You could have constantly reminded me the scramble for the party was my fault.”

“Not my style.”

“I like your style.” He studied her for a second. “Why isn’t there a Mr. Dellina?”