And while I’d seen the man in a suit nearly every weekday since starting this job, it never stopped being irresistible.
“Miles is here,” he said.
His gaze swept over me briefly.
Earlier, when I’d first tried the dress on, his reaction had been steady. Warm. Certain. But now that my hair was styled and my makeup finished, I couldn’t help wondering if he liked what he saw.
Not that I should care.
Tonight, I was supposed to impress Miles. And whoever it was he needed to believe we were dating.
“Thanks for telling me,” I said, realizing belatedly that I should probably respond like a normal human.
“Of course.”
He seemed momentarily distracted, like he’d forgotten why he’d come here. Then he cleared his throat and stepped aside, gesturing toward the stairs.
“Your date awaits.”
I smiled at him and slipped past.
I descended slowly, one hand brushing the railing, suddenly aware of the click of my heels against the wood.
Miles was adjusting his tie near the entryway when I came around the corner. He turned at the sound.
And froze.
“Well,” he said, blinking once, like he hadn’t expected me to be dressed up like this. “Okay. Wow.”
“I hope that means I look okay?” I asked, heat rushing to my cheeks.
“You look better than okay,” he said with a low chuckle.
“Thank you,” I replied, smiling as I took him in. “You look really good, too.”
“I do try.” He grinned, his dark brown eyes crinkling at the corners.
I heard Theo’s footsteps on the tile behind me.
“You ever find a plus-one?” Miles asked Theo, glancing over my shoulder.
“Nope.” Theo shrugged. “Just going solo tonight.”
“Well,” Miles said lightly, “if you’re nice, I might let you steal a dance with Nora.”
I laughed, assuming he was joking.
But when I looked at Theo, there was something different about the way he was looking at me.
Not polite.
Not amused.
Just… quietly intense.
And suddenly, I couldn’t breathe.
“That’s good to hear,” he said, stepping forward and giving Miles a firm pat on the shoulder as he passed him. “Since I was already planning on stealing a dance myself.”