Besides, she had her own standards. Beautiful and working in first class, she encountered countless wealthy men, many of whom had propositioned her to be a mistress. She had turned them all down, fully aware of her own worth and determined to leverage her looks for a legitimate, long-term commitment.
Snagging a naive, trust-fund heir would be the ultimate prize. And even if she had to settle for someone older, it had to be a man she genuinely found attractive.
But a flawless specimen like Dane was strictly out of reach a man you could only admire from a distance but never hope to conquer. It was no wonder none of the other girls had tried their luck. He was an impenetrable fortress.
"That definitely wasn't his sister," her colleague chuckled. Working in the skies, they had seen every dynamic of romance and had a sharp eye for reading people. It was glaringly obvious that the young woman was the love of his life; nobody coddled a sibling like that. The sheer contrast between his freezing dismissal of the crew and his absolute devotion to the girl was proof enough.
Miles away in the terminal, Claire let out another soft sneeze, completely oblivious to the gossip trailing behind her. It was past midnight, and she was battling both exhaustion and a sudden wave of hunger. The elegant pastries from the gala hadn't quite replaced a proper meal, and she felt like she desperately needed some real food.
"Let's get something to eat," Dane offered. Watching her eyes instantly light up at the suggestion confirmed just how starving she really was.
He drove her to a cozy late-night diner, ordering steaming bowls of rich chicken soup, savory pulled pork sandwiches, and a spread of crispy onion rings and fries. Claire practically devoured the food, and seeing her eager appetite encouraged him to eat more than he usually would at this hour. By the time they finished, it was past two in the morning.
"It's too late to head to your place; you'll just wake up Baldrick. Why don't you crash at my house tonight?" Dane asked, giving her the option.
She thought it over for a second. "Sure, that works."
He drove them to his sprawling estate. The household staff and his grandfather were long asleep, so they slipped inside quietly without waking a soul.
Dane personally fetched her a set of fresh towels and toiletries, but hit a roadblock when it came to pajamas. "I don't have any women's clothing here."
Claire had brought her luggage but had completely forgotten to pack sleepwear. She had assumed she'd be staying at the Churchill estate, where her closet was already fully stocked, so she had packed extremely light. Frowning, she considered her options. "Your pajamas will be way too big on me. Do you have a spare dress shirt?"
Given his broad, towering frame, his button-down would easily fit her like a comfortable sleep dress.
"Just give me an old one you don't wear anymore. It's only for one night, I'll make it work."
"Alright." He headed to his closet and pulled out a crisp shirt.
As she took the garment from his hands, the faint, intoxicating scent of his cedar cologne wrapped around her, instantly flushing her cheeks a deep Crimson. Thankfully, he was a perfect gentleman, stepping out of the room immediately after handing it over to give her privacy?
She hurried into the master bathroom for a quick shower. The summer heat outside was sweltering, but the cool blast of the central air inside the suite felt incredibly soothing.
After standing under the hot spray, she slipped into the oversized shirt. Staring at her reflection in the vanity mirror she noted how the hem fell just to mid-thigh, leaving her long smooth legs completely bare.
All of Dane's clothing was impeccably tailored from high-end fabrics, and the stark white material
contrasted beautifully with her
Juminous skin. With her cheeks
naturally rosy from the steam, she
looked effortlessly radiant
Even she had to admit she looked rather stunning. Patting her warm cheeks, she
turned off the bathroom light, ready to finally crash.
Just as she reached the bed, a soft knock echoed through the room.
"Who is it?" she called out, stepping toward the door.
"It's me," Dane's low baritone rumbled from the hallway.
She had assumed it was one of the maids. Pulling the door open, she found him standing there with a glass in hand. "I brought you some water." His words hitched slightly as his gaze was magnetically drawn to her.