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“But he loved it.”

“I’m honestly still in shock.” She clung to the thin stem, staring at the bubbly. “You know, I always pictured myself working for him, but I never knew what that would really look like.”

Our eyes finally locked.

“My parents divorced when I was ten. I lived with Mom mostly. Dad took me every other weekend, and most of those were spent flying to one of his hotels. A nanny would watch me while I played in the pool, so he could meet with the executive staff of the property.” Her fingers tightened, and so did my grip. “I heard his phone calls, I listened to him talk to his employees whenever I was in his office, and I tried to picture myself on the other end of that conversation. It’s one thing to be an alpha’s daughter; it’s a whole other thing to work for him.”

“And impress him.” I smiled. “But you have.”

A gentleness came through her eyes. “I can’t even tell you how overwhelming that feels.”

“Baby, trust me, I know.”

She placed her free hand over the back of mine, our