She took a step toward him, closing the gap. Stella reached up, flicking his top button until it slid through the hole. She glanced from her fingertips on his shirt up to his coal-like gaze.
“And if you’re here, I don’t really care where I am,” she added. “Maybe for tonight, we can pretend we’re just like any other guest and...”
His hand covered hers. “And what?”
Stella laughed and shook her head. “I’m being silly. You are a normal guest.”
Dane tipped her head up, framing her face with those rough, firm hands. “I’m a guest, but nothing about this stay has been normal.”
“No, I guess not.” Stella sighed and took a step back. “I probably shouldn’t throw myself at a man who just came off an engagement.”
The corner of his mouth tipped up. “No, maybe not, but I never asked you to stop.”
“You didn’t,” she agreed. “But before you rip my clothes off—”
“I believe that was you working on my clothes when I’d barely taken a few steps in.”
“Details.” Stella waved her hand in the air. “Anyway. I have something for you, something other than leftovers from the kitchen.”
She turned toward the bar area separating the living room and kitchen. Tucked perfectly on the other side of the domed lids, she pulled out the white bag and presented it to Dane.
He eyed the gift she clutched in her hand, but he didn’t take a step to get it.
“You found time to get me something?” he asked. “In the midst of a raging snowstorm and running a resort full of anxious guests with cabin fever?”
“You’re not the only one with pull,” she stated.
Dane quirked one thick, dark brow and reached for the bag. “You didn’t have to get me anything.”
“I didn’t do it because of the lotions you got me,” she told him. “I did it because I wanted to thank you for everything you’ve done. You didn’t have to be so amazing.”
“It’s a character trait I can’t shake.”
Stella couldn’t help but laugh at his dry humor as he reached into the bag and pulled out the bottle she had procured from a secret stash that only certain employees knew about.
“Stella.” He turned the bottle around and stared at it for a long moment before turning his attention back to her. “This is... I’ve never had anyone give me a gift like this.”
Seriously? He’d been engaged, he had a brother, and a bottle of rare bourbon had him struggling to find words? Even her selfish father gave her gifts—granted, the gifts were given only on birthdays and Christmas and always delivered by his assistant or, in the early years, the nanny. But still...
“It’s just bourbon,” she muttered, suddenly wondering if she’d gone too far. They were just casually involved and she’d had no clue this would be so emotional for him. “I knew we had a couple bottles of important liquor hidden for special guests or clients who had requests.”
He continued clutching the bottle. “I didn’t request it.”
“It’s a gift.”
Dane stared down at the bottle, the muscle in his jaw ticked as he remained silent. She’d definitely done something wrong because she’d thought he’d be a bit happier.
“If you’d rather another brand, I know we have several bottles of—”
His eyes snapped to hers. “No. This is... This is more than thanks enough. I’m just surprised since these bottles are hard to come by.”
Stell
a smiled. “Not so difficult.”
He raked that dark gaze over her and she knew full well he knew just how powerful that visual caress was.
“I don’t need to be paid, or to get lavish gifts,” he told her as he set the bottle on the table and closed the distance between them. “I already told you I’m a simple man.”