If Sutton hadn’t been utterly besotted with Charlotte before, she certainly would have been now. Her knees legitimately felt weak with the comment, and she gripped the doorknob firmly to keep herself upright.
“Oh,” she murmured, a pleased, sheepish smile pulling at her lips. “I’m, uh, not opposed to that. In the least.”
“Thank goodness.” Charlotte winked at her.
She reached out to take the rose, unsure if she’d ever felt so utterly charmed. Her gaze went back and forth from where her own fingers delicately wrapped around the stem to the look in Charlotte’s eyes as she stared at Sutton.
Sutton stared right back. At Charlotte, at the way she wore her custom-tailored burgundy Armani suit. It was not to be compared to one of the many Charlotte would wear to the office; the cut was a bit tighter, much more befittingan event… not to mention the white bustier underneath.
The fabric looked delicate yet firm enough to showcase Charlotte’s impressive chest. It wasn’t cut indecently low—it wasn’t indecent inanysense of the word—but it did precisely what Sutton imagined it was supposed to do: command attention, make people swallow their tongues, while remaining utterly appropriate.
Just becauseherthoughts weren’t appropriate didn’t change that fact.
Charlotte cleared her throat, making Sutton snap her eyes up to meet hers.
“Ah—sorry. You just, you look incredible.” She didn’t intend for the words to be uttered on such a breathy sigh, and yet they did.
“I very much echo the sentiment,” Charlotte murmured, casting her gaze down Sutton’s frame.
“You can’t even see my dress,” she pointed out with a laugh, referring to her coat.
“I like what I see already,” Charlotte countered, daring Sutton to disagree.
Sutton shook her head. Charlotte wasridiculous, and… Sutton loved it. At her movement, the way her hair moved with it, Charlotte’s gaze became fixed on her ear.
“You’re wearing the earrings.” Her words sounded almost reverent.
A pleased flutter started in the pit of Sutton’s stomach, and she pointedly pushed her hair back behind both ears to affirm Charlotte’s statement. Indeed, she was wearing the earrings. “And”—she slid her hand down, watching Charlotte’s eyes follow the path of her fingertips as she tugged the necklace out from where it had gotten tucked into the neckline of her dress—“this as well.”
Charlotte stared, her eyes dark. “I was going to urge you to run in and bring the rose inside… but I think it’s probably best if we don’t go inside when our presence is expected somewhere else tonight.”
Sutton’s breath caught in her throat as she slowly nodded in agreement. Debuting her relationship with Charlotte tonight was the most important thing… despite the fact that she was already aching, thinking about later.
As they approachedthe entrance of the ballroom at the five-star hotel after checking Sutton’s jacket, Charlotte reached down and took Sutton’s hand in hers.
Even though Sutton knew that Charlotte was publicly out, even though she knew Charlotte was comfortable in her sexuality, even though Charlotte had pledged every possible declaration to Sutton, she still paused, flexing her fingers around Charlotte’s.
“Are you ready for this?” she asked softly.
Because all of those facts didn’t change that Charlotte had never done this part before. And this moment, having so many eyes on her while Sutton was her date, was a big thing.
“I’m so very ready,” Charlotte confirmed, and there wasn’t even a sliver of hesitation in her eyes as she evenly held Sutton’s gaze.
They entered, and Sutton was immediately swept up in a sea of elegant apparel, expensive colognes, and people with very large checkbooks. Shewasone of those people, right now.
“I’m going to have to make the rounds,” Charlotte informed her after they each took a glass of champagne from a passing waiter.
“I am aware of this,” Sutton informed her right back, amused. She lifted a teasing eyebrow. “Though this isn’t a part of my professional life, don’t forget my upbringing, Charlotte. I know how these evenings go.”
Charlotte lightly bumped her hip against Sutton’s. “The sass with you.” Even though she grinned, there was still an air of apology. “I am very well aware of your pedigree, Dr. Spencer, but I am also well aware that this is not an ideal date night. Especially given the lack of time for quality conversation between you and me.”
Even though Charlotte wasn’t telling Sutton anything she hadn’t already expected, curiosity slid through her. “If that’s a concern of yours, why did you want me to come tonight?”
“Because I always want you with me,” Charlotte answered easily, without a second thought.
Oh, there it went again—her knees feeling weak.
“And because I am in love with you, and I haven’t been able to see you in person for nearly two weeks. I just also happen to feel apologetic that the first evening we’re spending together since we said those words has to be at this function at which you and I won’t be able to be wrapped up in one another.”