But sometime while we’d been getting lost in each other, the music had shifted to something faster, and the crowd was jumping around, sending one guy flying into us, knocking us apart.

The second we disconnected, the reality of what we’d done was like an ice bucket tossed over my desire.

What if this just screwed the deal up?

What if Renzo found out?

What would happen to the reputation I’d fought tooth and nail for if everyone found out I’d lost a major job because I’d kissed my partner?

Well, technically, he’d kissed me.

But it didn’t matter.

I’d allowed it.

I’d allowed it, and now everything could be ruined.

No.

No, I couldn’t let that happen.

I could still save this deal. And my damn dignity.

I sucked in a deep breath, channeling every cold, hard bitch I’d ever seen in film or read about in books.

I actually felt a chill move over me, making my skin goosebump and a shiver slide down my spine.

“I thought you wanted to do research,” I said, yelling to be heard over the music, “Not grope me on the dance floor.”

With that and nothing more, I stalked off, storming toward the door like a woman scorned, not fully, thoroughly, mind-numbingly kissed.

The night air was a cooling balm on my overheated skin. My ears rang as I took a steadying breath, my gaze scanning the street, hoping for a cab.

Not seeing any, I turned down the road and started walking, cursing my stupid heels with each step.

“Saff,” Soren called, making me close my eyes and exhale through my nose.

The stubborn part of me wanted to ignore him and keep walking. The part of me that cared what my boss thought about my actions had me stopping, but not turning around.

I swear I sensed him coming up behind me before I felt him. That sizzling static sensation that seemed to crackle between our bodies when we were close.

I didn’t know what I could possibly say if he was going to call me on not being an unwilling participant in that dance and kiss.

Soren exhaled hard enough to rustle my hair.

Then, in a low voice, completely shocked me by saying, “I sincerely apologize if I overstepped a boundary.” He stepped even closer, close enough for me to feel the heat of his body behind mine. “Rest assured I will never do so again.”

There was no accounting for the sinking sensation in my stomach. That was what I wanted. Right? To keep things professional. To not risk my job and reputation.

“How about we meet tomorrow?” he suggested. “At your office. To discuss design plans.”

My office.

That I sincerely hoped Bastian had finished setting up. If not, he would be up at the crack of dawn doing it before the meeting.

“Two p.m.?”

“I’ll be there.”