“Alexandria, there are plans in the works. You don’t want to be the catalyst that changes them.”

“Someone needs to tell me what’s going on. I can’t support or change plans that I know nothing about.”

Alton reached for my arm, his grip tighter than it appeared. “Come with me.”

I planted my feet into the lush carpet, willing my heels to grow roots. “Unhand me this instant,” I said through gritted teeth, “or I promise you the biggest scene you’ve ever witnessed.” Red seeped from the collar of his shirt turning his neck crimson. Before it reached his face I added, “I’m sure the senator and some of your other cohorts would love to see your daughter lose her shit.”

He released my arm and leaned closer. “In my office in five minutes.” With that he turned and walked toward Bryce and the other man.

Suzanna’s eyes were wide as she stared at me. Instead of responding, I shook my head. The waiter was back with the tray of goblets of wine and I reached out and stopped him. Tipping my glass back, I emptied it, placed it on the tray, and took another. With a boost of liquid confidence, I turned back to Bryce’s mother. “It was a pleasure.” I allowed my usually-suppressed accent to grow thicker. “Let’s do lunch, shall we?”

I turned before she could reply.

As I resumed my duties as guest of honor, I fell into a nice conversation with one of my mother’s friends about Stanford. I hadn’t realized that she too was an alumna. It was so nice talking about the campus and hearing her memories that I lost track of time. Maybe it wasn’t that I lost track. Maybe it was my coping mechanism, the way I survived. I blocked out my confrontations with Alton like others blocked out a bad day at work. Once it was over, I put it aside. It didn’t do any good to dwell or recount it. Years of medicine for anxiety taught me that. I had forgotten all about my summons to his office until my mother appeared at my side.

“Excuse us, Betty.” My mother turned toward me. “Dear, we need you for a few minutes.” Speaking to both of us, she added, “It won’t take long.”

“What is this about?”

“I should have told you this afternoon. It was just that we were having such a lovely time. I—” She stopped talking as we came to the closed door. Then, before opening it, she said, “Please, Alexandria, don’t say anything rash.”

My step stuttered as she opened the door and three sets of eyes turned our direction.

DARKNESS DANCED IN the paleness of Nox’s gaze. “You don’t know your hard limits?”

I shook my head. “I-I’ve been very focused on school. I told you I just graduated. I really haven’t…” I lowered my chin. It wasn’t that I was a virgin. I wasn’t. But everything in my life as Alex had been sweet and overtly planned. Limits weren’t an issue. If I were to be completely honest, everything in Alex’s sex life had been boring. That was probably why I rarely dated. On the few occasions when I did become intimate, it was usually anticlimactic, in all meanings of the word. My vibrator and I had a better time than I did with the few men I’d known in college.

Chelsea said I overthought it and needed to put myself out more. I worried about the long-term consequences of following her advice. I suspected that many of my classmates would go on to impressive careers. The idea of running into one of them—a one-night stand—in a courtroom one day didn’t sit well with my long-term career goals. I was safer with my vibrator. It had no aspirations for the judicial system.

“You’ve had sex, haven’t you?” Nox asked.

“Yes,” I replied indignantly.

“So you know what you like? Right?” He was still looking at me with wide eyes.

I stood and wrapped my arms around my midsection. “Nox, I don’t think I know you well enough to have this conversation.”

Immediately, he was off the sofa and pulling me close. “You will.”

A shiver shuddered through me as his words rumbled from his chest to mine. His response was not only a promise, but also a threat. By the way my pulse skyrocketed, I was certain that the threat part intrigued me more than the promise.

“B-But we said one week. That’s it. That means no delving into one another’s lives.”

He lifted my chin. “Charli, it’s not your life I want to delve into.”

Oh shit!

My cheeks filled with heat. I wanted that too, but not yet. I was still trying to come to grips with the pendulum of emotions that Nox evoked within me. The way his voice ricocheted through my body, the way his touch surged with electricity, and the realization that even when I’d been upset, I still wanted him.

Then again, I reminded myself that I had been upset only an hour ago. I didn’t want make up sex to be what we did for our first time—first times were supposed to be special. “Can we take it a day at a time?”

He sighed. “We can. I want to reestablish the ground rules.”

Unknowingly, I rolled my eyes. “Again with the rules.”

“Yes,” he replied, undaunted by my reaction. “We touched on them in my suite, before you so rudely walked away.”

I pulled back from his embrace and crossed my arms over my chest. “I wasn’t rude. I thought—”

“You thought I was married.”

“I thought you were a cheater,” I clarified.

“Married men and cheaters… we’re establishing your list of hard limits. That’s good,” he added. “Charli, you don’t have to tell me any more about yourself than you want to. But I have a hard limit too—a rule: honesty. You need to be honest with me and I’ll do the same. You don’t need to tell me everything, but what you do tell me, I must be able to believe without question. I’m straightforward to a fault. I’m used to saying my mind, and I want others to do the same. I’m not a cheater or a liar nor do I get my feelings hurt. Don’t run away like you did tonight ever again. Tell me when something is bothering you—I can handle the truth.”

The guilt rushed over me. I lowered my arms and chin, no longer feeling as defiant as I had. My dishonesty about who I was had already broken his hard limit—his rule.

He reached for my chin and pulled my eyes back to his. “I mean it. Some of my tastes are unique—they aren’t for everyone. I understand that.” His thumb caressed my cheek. “And I’m willing to adapt if…” He paused. “…I like someone.” He leaned down and brushed his lips over mine. “Charli Moore, I like you. I have since the first time I saw you.” He shifted. “When Max was trying…”

I smiled at the change in his tone as he recalled this morning’s escapades. Jealous much? When he finished his account, I said, “I think I should go find Max.”

“Why?”

“Because I owe him a thank-you.” Fingering the small buttons of Nox’s shirt I added, “Because he brought you to my chaise.”

“I believe I mentioned that I would’ve gotten there one way or the other.”

“Well, I should thank Max anyway, because he provided you a way. And…” I leaned closer. “…I’m glad you got there.”

He held my hand, the one on his shirt. “If I only get one week with you…” His voice came breathier than before. “…I want it to count. Charli Moore, I want you to remember your stay at Del Mar.”

The guilt I’d felt earlier came rushing back, compressing my chest, and making breathing increasingly difficult. I hated cheaters and liars and wasn’t willing to be one of them. If this week was going to work, it was now or never. “Before that…” I lowered my chin and looked up at him through my lashes. “…I think I should confess.”

“Confess?”

“Though I only thought you broke my limit, I’ve broken yours, your hard limit—not intentionally,” I added. “More by omission.”

He stood taller, the ridges of his torso more defined under my touch. “How? What have you done?”