Looking pleased by her compliment, Rory topped up their wine, then rolled his trolley back in the way he’d come.

She picked up a spoon and had just dipped into the whipped cream, custard, and raspberry sponge cake of the trifle, when Sebastian said, “Wait. It will taste best if you eat it like this.”

Taking the spoon from her fingers, he brought it to her lips. “Close your eyes and let the flavors meld.”

His voice was low, seductive, and she almost groaned. Not just because of the rich, sweet taste on her tongue. It was because she wanted more.

So much more of him.

“Good, isn’t it?”

So good.

His sexy smile heated everything above the table. His knee against hers heated everything below. But then he leaned back and said, “Tell me why a beautiful woman like you isn’t attached.”

While his compliment made her blush, the conversational shift was so abrupt that she almost laughed. They’d spent the meal talking about her teaching, her art, the seminars he gave, the Mavericks.

“That’s a nosy question.” And one she wasn’t sure she was ready to delve into with him yet. She’d rather he just kept feeding her the trifle.

But when he grinned and agreed, “Very nosy,” her heart did a triple-time dance. The man’s grin was killer. As was his focus on wanting answers when he asked again, “So what’s the reason?”

“I’m a busy woman with two careers, and men take a lot of work.” She paused before deciding that two could play this game. “So I prefer not to keep them around for too long.” Nothing she’d said had been a lie. She’d simply left out the part about why she hadn’t kept any of the men around for very long—and how it might all have been different if she’d ever found anyone who appreciated her exactly the way she was, quirks, junkyard, and all.

“Your attitude is both refreshing and a little disturbing.”

“I like refreshing,” she said, although she’d heard that one plenty of times from the men she’d been with. They always found her refreshing at first. Until that became the problem. “But disturbing?”

“Well, if you’re a guy who actually wants to stick around...” He wasn’t teasing her anymore. In fact his gaze was surprisingly serious. “In any case, I hope you’re not done with me yet tonight, because I have a surprise. If you’d like to stay a little longer.”

Her heart already beating faster after the way he’d fed her the trifle, it now flipped completely. Stay? God yes, please, more than anything. But she needed to at least seem cool and collected. So she reached into her bag and retrieved a small box. “I have a little surprise for you too.”

“A woman bearing gifts.” Something about his comment made it seem as if he was usually the bearer of gifts, rather than the one receiving them. Setting the present on the table, he opened the flaps and reached inside, pulling out a small Zanti Misfit. Its eyes were made out of bolts and its pincers crafted of pruning shears. Sebastian lifted his gaze to hers for one intense moment before he rose from his chair to hunker at the edge of the terrace next to several terracotta pots filled with greenery. Placing the Zanti, he turned the creature slightly. “Perfect.”

Yes, she thought as she let herself drink him in for a long moment, he really was. Cool and collected? Around Sebastian? Who was she kidding?

“I’ll treasure it, Charlie. Always. Thank you.”

She’d meant it simply as a small thank-you for all he was doing for her, but seeing how much he appreciated the miniature sculpture filled her with unexpected joy. “You’re welcome.”

He held out his hand. “Time for my surprise.” As his fingers closed around hers, a thrill went through her, right down to her sandaled toes.

With nothing more than the touch of his hand, he made her feel reckless. Crazy. Yes, he was handsome, rich, and as mouthwatering in a suit as he was in jeans. He had a voice that strummed all her nerve endings, along with a touch that made her skin come alive and her body want to dance in age-old rhythms.

And yet, what she was feeling for him somehow went deeper than just his looks, his voice, or his touch. She’d never thought to give a man one of her Zanti Misfits before. And she was certain that no other man would have appreciated it as much as Sebastian did.

Her fingers tucked in his, he picked up their wineglasses in one hand, then led her through the formal part of the house, past his library, and into a smaller, more intimate room with a fully equipped entertainment center that rivaled the one in the bungalow. Black and white photos of forests and mountains and waterfalls adorned the walls. He splayed a hand toward the couch. “Make yourself comfortable.”

She had visions of not only taking off her shoes, but sliding out of her sundress and panties too. Oh boy, she had it bad.

With a remote on the heavy wood coffee table, Sebastian turned on the TV. Several pieces of equipment lit up as he pushed buttons.

“We’re going to watch TV?” They were both exercising a great deal of self-control tonight, presumably to make sure the line between art and commerce didn’t blur on her first night here. But while she hadn’t thought he’d jump her right away, she hadn’t expected him to turn on the TV either.

“I found something special for you.” He sat down beside her, taking his half of the sofa out of the middle, her bare feet pressing against his thigh.

A movie began to stream. There were no opening credits, just a large, old-fashioned off-the-air symbol she hadn’t seen in years. Then the voice told her to sit back, because she was no longer in control of her TV set.

“Oh my God.” She gasped out a little laugh. “I can’t believe you found ‘The Zanti Misfits.’”

“I had to find out why you made an army of them. And I’m really glad I did, now that I have my very own.”

She instinctively knew he was telling the truth—that he hadn’t done it to impress her, but had simply wanted to know what inspired her. Which made perfect sense when she considered his career as a motivational speaker. He had to know people.

Still, it stunned her that he was so interested in knowing her.

“Popcorn,” she said, to resist throwing herself at him. “We need popcorn.”

Hitting Pause on the remote, he reached for a house phone on the side table and asked Rory if he could bring them popcorn. He seemed even closer, warmer, melting her all the way through as he sat back a moment later, pointed the remote, and the Zantis started their mischief.

* * *

The show delighted Charlie, though Sebastian was sure she’d seen it many times over. And he was delighted not only by the way she snuggled into him, but also by how natural she was. He couldn’t imagine any of the women he’d dated in the past decade licking the salt and oil from her fingers as they shared a bowl of buttery popcorn. Although it was hell keeping himself from grabbing Charlie’s hand and licking each finger clean, one slow swipe of his tongue at a time.

By the time the credits rolled—she had curled into him by then and her hair was soft against his skin—he was aching with need. He wanted to take her to his bed, wanted to spend the rest of the night learning every curve and hollow of her gorgeous body with his mouth, his hands.

But for the first time in his life, he knew he couldn’t do that. Because Charlie already mattered. Mattered a hell of a lot. Which meant he needed to figure her out first. Needed to be sure that they were the right fit in every way, rather than merely in bed, where he already sensed no one would ever fit him better.

“So?” She shifted to look at him. “What did you think?”

“It had a lot more screaming than I thought it would.” The way she’d spoken of the show had been so upbeat. “And it seemed like no matter how good a plan people made, things went wrong anyway. I kept looking for the happy ending.”