Page 29 of Steel Beauty

I laugh, soft and genuine. “Not at all.”

The next song kicks in, and the upbeat tempo pulls me back into the moment. “Maneater” by Daryl Hall & John Oates fills the room, and I can’t stop the grin on my face. What a classic.

Without hesitation, I turn in Caesar’s arms, my back brushing against his front as I move to the rhythm. His hands slide to my hips, guiding me, and I let myself get lost in the music.

The heat builds fast. My skin becomes slick with a faint sheen of sweat, and my heart races though I’m not sure if it’s from the dancing or the way Caesar feels against me. Either way, my pulse refuses to slow.

As the song winds down, I lift a hand to fan myself, laughing breathlessly. “Okay, I need a drink.”

Caesar tugs at the front of his shirt, using it to fan himself. “Definitely.”

We weave through the crowd, making our way off the dance floor and toward the bar at the front of the speakeasy. Dim lighting casts a warm glow over the rows of bottles, their reflections dancing across the polished counter. Before I can say a word, he orders two old-fashioneds. The gesture brings a small smile to my lips—he remembers.

He gives me a slow, easy smile as the bartender starts mixing our drinks. “We make a pretty good team out there.”

I grin, still catching my breath. “Not bad for someone who’s never even heard of Kool & the Gang.”

The music hums softly in the background now, a steady rhythm that keeps the energy alive without overpowering the room. The bartender places our old-fashioneds on the counter, and I take a slow sip, letting the burn slide down my throat.

Caesar leans in slightly, his dark eyes locked on mine, a quiet intensity in his gaze.

“How was your day?”

I swirl the drink in my hand, watching the amber liquid catch the light. “Pretty good. We did a late morning walk, checked out the market after that, and then went to dinner. But getting away from my coworkers wasn’t exactly easy.”

His brow lifts, a hint of curiosity in his expression. “Oh?”

I let out a soft laugh. “I was too chicken to leave my room before eleven. I kept imagining one of them catching me sneaking out and bombarding me with questions.”

He gives me a surprised look, his brow furrowing slightly. “You’re a thirty-year-old woman. Maybe they should worry less about what you’re doing.”

I laugh softly, swirling the drink in my hand. “Sneaking around felt like I was on some kind of secret mission. All I needed was a trench coat and sunglasses.” The corner of my mouth quirks up. “But honestly? I liked it—sneaking out, all dressed up, like I was getting away with something.”

Caesar chuckles, his dark eyes sparkling. “A secret agent by night and a design genius by day. You’re full of surprises.”

“What can I say?” I take a slow sip of my drink, meeting his gaze over the rim. “I’m a woman of many talents.”

His eyes lock on mine, dark and steady, holding a heat that sends a ripple of awareness through me. There’s something unspoken in the way we look at each other—an electric current passing between us.

I clear my throat lightly, breaking the spell. “I ran into Elijah last night on my way to my room, and he immediately started asking me where I’d been. Not that my whereabouts are his business, but that didn’t stop him from interrogating me all the same. I guess that’s why I was so on edge about being seen tonight.”

Caesar straightens, his interest sharpening, a trace of something unreadable in his expression. “Elijah?”

“He’s the carpenter. He builds the set pieces—the divider between each side of the dating suites, millwork, stuff like that. Basically, anything I need him to do construction-wise.”

Caesar nods slowly, his expression thoughtful. “Hmm… I didn’t figure you’d have a bloke along for a trip like this.”

I raise a brow, half amused. “And what exactly do you mean by that?”

“I guess I figured Soul Sync would mostly have women on staff. Not to sound sexist, but it doesn’t really seem like the kind of industry most men would go for.”

“It’s a common assumption.” I give him an easy smile. “I’m not offended. Honestly, you’re not wrong—Soul Syncismostly staffed by women.”

Caesar takes a slow sip of his drink. “Are your rooms close to each other?”

“Yeah, all of us have rooms right next to one another.”

His gaze darkens slightly, something unreadable crossing his face. “Does your room adjoin his?”

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