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weren’t hers.
    Or perhaps he’d grown too accustomed to club protocol. Regardless, he’d come here for Sahara and he didn’t need Carter and Jami as chaperones. The whole setup was mildly amusing, but enough was enough.
    He headed down the hall quietly, listening to the shuffling just beyond the last door. And the frustrated groan. He cleared his throat. “Please tell me you’re not worried about looking perfect for me, Sahara. That takes no effort at all.”
    Another groan and a strained laugh. “Great, now I feel silly.”
    “Which is adorable.” He leaned against the wall by the door. “But either way, I don’t want the fact that this is an ‘official date’ to change how comfortable you’ve been with me in the past. I’m not a new man you’re trying to impress. I’m a man who already is.”
    The doorknob turned and the door opened a crack. He heard her take a deep breath before she came out.
    Then it was his turn to take in as much oxygen as possible. Sahara always looked amazing, but in a snug, crimson lace dress, clinging to all her curves and falling to just above her knees, she was sexy and elegant all at once. There was something vulnerable in her eyes, in her stance even though she stood with her shoulders back and head held high. He found it hard to believe that she didn’t know how beautiful she was, but maybe that wasn’t the issue at all. The way she looked at him was expectant, almost shy. As though she wanted to know she’d pleased him.
    She had, but he hadn’t asked her out just to have a gorgeous woman on his arm. He could call his agent and have his pick of models to make an appearance. He wanted the woman he’d had easy conversations with. The woman he’d held while she cried after the loss of the coach they’d all loved so much.
    He could have made this easier on them both by taking her somewhere simple, to a movie, out bowling or…there were many options, but none that would make his intentions clear. He wasn’t taking Sahara out because he had nothing better to do. There was something between them that he wanted to explore. Tonight would be special. Possibly a new beginning.
    “Look at me.” He tipped her chin up with a finger. “What do you see?”
    Her lips parted. Then she bit her lush, glistening, red bottom lip. “I see you. You look…very handsome, but you’re still the same man who’s been there for me, at the club and…and for a long time.”
    Inclining his head, he gave her a broad smile. “Good girl. Now, you do know that there may be photos of the two of us online before the end of the night. It will go much better if you don’t seem afraid of me.”
    “I’m not afraid of you, Dominik.” She exhaled and laughed. “I have no reason to be.”
    Well now, he wouldn’t go that far. A little fear made things interesting. He pulled her close and brushed her ear with his lips. “That’s cute. Shall I give you a reason?”
    She went perfectly still, her little gasp hot against the side of his neck. “Umm…”
    He chuckled and backed up a pace, offering her his arm. “There’s no rush. Are you hungry?”
    Red spread across the tops of her cheeks. She clearly wasn’t thinking about food. But she nodded. “Did you make reservations somewhere?”
    “I did.” He checked his watch, relieved that he’d shown up early, because they had just enough time to make the six o’clock seating. “Thank God you’re low maintenance. Any longer and we’d have to make new plans for the night.”
    Her brow rose as though to say he was full of it, but she didn’t comment as she led the way down the hall to fetch her jacket from the hooks by the door. Jami and Carter quickly joined them and they all left together, Sahara pausing to lock up.
    They parted in the parking lot. Dominik opened the passenger seat of his black Range Rover, offering Sahara a hand and making sure she was comfortably settled before going around to the driver’s side.
    Before he’d even pulled