Page 67 of Jilted

My eyes dropped to her lips once more. “But fuck, I want to bite your pouty mouth.”

She chuckled and shook her head. I had effectively ruined the most romantic moment of my life, and I was torn between being proud of myself for wanting her to want me for the right reasons and wanting to kick my own ass for not pouncing and taking advantage. Either way, the moment had passed, thanks to me, so instead of an epic romantic kiss, I put my arm around her shoulder and snuggled her to my chest, dropping a kiss on the top of her head. “I’m really glad you’re here.”

She looked up at me. “I am, too.”

An hour later, Sloane yawned as we pulled up to her hotel.

“Tired?”

“Yeah. And it’s weird because you would think I’d be wide awake since it’s only four o’clock at home.”

“Traveling takes a lot out of you. Plus, you probably adjusted last night after not sleeping on the plane.”

I opened the door to the lobby just as my cell buzzed. It was my assistant. I’d texted her earlier for an update on Sloane’s lost luggage.

“Not great news on your bag.” I put my hand out for Sloane to enter first.

“They didn’t find it?”

I shook my head. “They put a tracer on it, but they don’t even know what country it’s in.”

She sighed. “It could be worse. I couldnothave a fairy godmother who bought me a brand-new wardrobe.”

We walked to the elevator. “Do you mind if I walk you up?”

“Not at all.”

The doors slid closed, and a sudden wave of nerves hit me. I felt like thirteen-year-old Wilder.Should I try to kiss her? What if she invites me in? Are my palms freaking sweaty?

I didn’t get a chance to finish debating things before the doors glided open once again. Sloane’s room was a few doors down. She found her key in her purse and looked up at me, chewing on herbottom lip. “Would you… want to come in for a little while? Have a drink or something?”

I wanted toor somethingmore than anything, but the nerves I saw in her eyes answered all the questions I’d been kicking around in my head. “I’d love to. But I’m gonna pass and head home.”

“Oh.” She looked down. “Okay.”

I slipped two fingers under her chin and nudged until our eyes met. “I’m saying no because you looked nervous that I might say yes. Not because I don’t want to.”

She smiled and shook her head. “Okay. Thank you.”

I kissed her forehead.

“You know,” she said. “I never would’ve taken you for such a gentleman.”

I leaned close. “Fair warning, Cupcake. When I come into your room—not if, butwhen—the gentleman in me will be staying at the door.”

19SLOANE

“So, tell me everything.” The car door was barely closed before Elijah started the interrogation. He looked around the back of the stretch limousine. “And does this thing have champagne or what?”

The uniformed driver looked in the rearview mirror. “There are two bottles in the cooler on the left side. Glasses are on the right. Would you like me to wait so you can pour before I start driving?”

“Pour?” Elijah waved him off. “What’s there to pour? You said two bottles and there’stwoof us. Do you have straws?”

The very British driver looked appalled. Elijah couldn’t have cared less. He waved goodbye to the man as he pushed the button to raise the privacy screen.

I shook my head. “You are so rude.”

“Me? He’s the one butting into our conversation.” He pulled the chilled champagne out of the cooler box and turned the bottle to face me. “Ooh…Dom Pérignon. The company really went all out for this trip.”

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