Still wearing the suit from our dinner, minus the jacket I’d thrown at him, Nox grinned as he pulled a money clip from the front pocket of his gray trousers. Without speaking, he peeled back a few bills. I tried not to look, but saw that each one was a hundred.

“Here you go,” he said, offering the cash to the waiter. “The lady will be fine with the wine you currently have on your cart. Take it into her suite.”

I pressed my lips together and moved aside to allow the waiter entrance.

As he moved the small linen-covered cart, he smiled bashfully. “Miss Moore, would you like me to open the bottle of Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon?” His smile grew as he proclaimed, “It’s our finest wine.”

“It’s from Napa Valley,” Nox whispered, leaning close to my ear, sending warm breaths over my neck.

“Yes, sir,” the waiter replied. “We only serve California wines at Del Mar.”

I shook my head. “No, thank you, just leave the opener and I can take care of it.”

“Yes, miss. Thank you. If you need anything else…”

“That’ll be all,” Nox answered. “We’ll call if we do.”

The waiter nodded and disappeared down the hallway. Reaching for the door, I cocked my head to the side. “You’re rather confident for a man who’s still standing in the hallway.”

“I am.” His blue eyes shone with newfound determination. “However, you’re right about my location, very astute of you. I’d much prefer to be in there.” He nodded toward me.

Thankfully, there wasn’t anyone else in the hall. “Nox, I don’t see married men.”

“Mrs. Witt was right. Would you allow me to explain, inside your room?”

I swallowed as he inched closer, his eyes never leaving mine as the intoxicating, woodsy scent filled my senses. I tried to stay focused. “No. That won’t be necessary. It’s very simple.”

“Charli, it isn’t as simple as you think. I don’t usually ask the same question twice, but for you, I’ll make an exception. May I come in and explain?”

He took another step my direction. If I remained still, we’d be close enough to touch. Unwilling to allow the contact, I took a step back. “Fine,” I snapped, waving my arm in a grand gesture, “make it quick. Apparently I have some expensive wine to drink.”

“The best California red Del Mar has to offer,” he said with a smirk as he entered.

I didn’t move farther into the suite or invite him to sit. Instead, I tugged on the lapels of my robe and said, “You have thirty seconds. Explain.”

Nox’s neck straightened as his shoulders broadened before me and the seams of his shirt pulled against the strain. His head moved slowly from side to side as he searched for the right words. “I also don’t take orders well, but once again, I’ll make an exception.”

“Then you must be a great employee. I’m surprised your bosses allow you to stay in such expensive suites.”

“My bosses?”

“You said you run businesses. They must belong to someone.”

“Yes, you’re right. They do.”

I waved my hand in the air. “You know what? I don’t care. I don’t care if you take orders. I don’t care if you repeat yourself, and I don’t care whom you work for. Your time is almost up.”

“I’m not married.”

My jaw tightened. “I don’t see married men and I detest liars.”

He took another step towards me. “Charli Moore, I also don’t explain myself… to anyone. I want you to listen and listen closely.” He seized my shoulders. Before I could protest he continued, “I’m not married. I was. I won’t elaborate any more than that. You’re right that I took the ring off recently. I took it off for you—for our dinner. I didn’t take it off because I’m cheating on someone. I took it off so that you wouldn’t get the wrong impression.”

With my face tilted toward his, I stared at his mouth and listened to his words. When he paused, I said, “I-I don’t understand.”

The lips I’d been watching forcibly captured mine, pulling me upward, closer to his mouth, his chest, and to him. Nox reached for the back of my neck, his fingers lacing through my long hair, holding me captive as his other arm wrapped around my waist. My hands flew to his chest as a moan escaped my lips and fire surged through me. The electricity of his earlier touch was but a spark to the wildfire that was growing inside of me. If I fought his actions, I couldn’t remember.

Beneath the palms of my hands, I felt the erratic beat of his heart. He felt the same attraction that I did. The magnetic pull was too hard to resist. Finally, I pushed against his chest, needing air and space. “Nox…”

“I’m no longer married. I swear.”

I stared up at his handsome face, and sucking my bruised lips between my teeth, I searched for any sign of deceit. I barely knew this man, yet, the way my body melted against his, I wanted to know him. I wanted to believe him.

When I didn’t respond, he asked, “Do you believe me?”

“I want to,” I answered honestly.

He caressed my cheek, the softness of his touch a stark contrast to the fervency of his kiss. “I had no idea what happened—why you left. You were there with me, and then you were gone.”

I shook my head, trying to recall his words. “You said ‘Mrs. Witt was right.’ What did you mean by that?”

“She said that something upset you and asked me what I’d done.”

“I thought you didn’t answer to people?”

“Mrs. Witt isn’t people. She’s also not my boss.”

I smiled. “I didn’t think she was, but she is someone?”

“She is.”

“But you won’t tell me?” I asked. When he didn’t answer, I tried another question. “How did you find me?”

He tugged my hand and pulled me toward the sofa. As we sat, he said, “You mentioned your sister’s name was Chelsea and that your reservation was under her name.”

His recollection of my dishonesty reminded me that I didn’t deserve to know any more about him. “Nox, we said one week, with no commitment. If you swear that you’re not married, if I can trust that, then I don’t need to know any more.”

I melted toward his lips as they again captured mine. With my chest against his, the soft fabric of the robe did little to hide my sensitive nipples.

His gaze dropped to where our bodies touched and his smile grew. “I swear.” The thunder of his tone pulled me toward him as he teased the neckline of my robe. “Charli…” He lifted the end of my hair. “…you were stunning tonight at dinner. But now, here…” He caressed my cheek. “…is the beautiful woman I saw at the pool. I’d like to do all I can to learn more about you and those limits we discussed. If I only have a week, I don’t want to waste any more time.”

Mutely, I nodded.

“Besides not seeing married men, tell me your hard limits.”

“I-I don’t know,” I answered truthfully.

“MRS. FITZGERALD, WOULD you like a glass of wine?”

“Mimosas, for me and my daughter.”

“Right away, ma’am.”

Mother and I settled into large comfortable chairs as we lowered our feet into the warm bubbling baths. From the reception we’d received, it was obvious that every employee of the private spa knew my mother, the great Adelaide Montague Fitzgerald.

“Darling,” she said, with just the right amount of Southern twang, “please watch what you say, especially around Alton. Dear, you know how busy he is. He doesn’t deal well with petty comments.”

Copper filled my mouth as my teeth increased the pressure upon my tongue. I’d promised Jane that this visit would come and go without incident. I promised for her, not my mother and most definitely not Alton. I had missed Jane more than I’d realized. If I could manage to lower the tension level, perhaps I could arrange to visit more often, especially if I could schedule it when Alton was away on one of his trips.

The idea of having Jane and my mother to myself helped me ignore my mother’s glowing endorsement of her husband. With a smile plastered on my lips, I replied, “I would like this to be a stress-free visit. I just wish you’d tell me why I’m here.”