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She puts a hand on my bare shoulder and waits for me to look up at her. "You're right, but it's over now. Let it go." Her open palm slides up the side of my neck, and she cups my cheek, staring into my eyes, before she lets her hand fall. She sits down next to me.

For a minute, I'm lost in her gaze, in her electric touch. The smell of her skin lingers. I want more of her.

"Florence, are you going to introduce us, or are you going to sit there and swoon over your girlfriend?" Cristine laughs.

I blink.

"Fiancée," my date corrects her. "Josie. I teach neurology at the medical school."

I shake my head, pulling myself away from the memory of her touch. "Josie, this is Cristine Lopez, head of HR. Anthony Jones, marketing. And Dr. Larissa Harris—she's the Chief Medical Officer."

Gwen clears her throat. "This is Aimee Deyoung. She's interim Head of Development. I'm her partner in crime."

"Nice to meet you all." Josie smiles to everyone before turning to Larissa on the other side of her. "I'd love to hear more about what you do. What was your speciality before you moved into your current position?"

During dinner, a live orchestra plays from across the room and as we finish eating, it transitions into slower songs. I turn to Josie. "Dance with me?"

She leads me onto the dance floor, and we're both hyperaware of the eyes following us. I step into her arms.

"Everyone's watching us," she murmurs, her lips close to my ear.

"Let them." Her thumb traces small circles where her hand rests against my back. "You're stunning tonight. I'd be watching, too."

I laugh softly. "Careful. Someone might think you actually like me."

She pulls back to meet my eyes. "Would that be so terrible?"

Before I can answer, she spins me out and back in. When I'm back in her arms, she's closer than before, one hand sliding up to rest against my neck. Her skin is warm against mine.

"You're good at this," she murmurs, her other hand trailing up my spine.

"I'm starting to think coming tonight might have been dangerous," I whisper, pressing closer as we sway to the music.

"Oh?" She raises an eyebrow. "How so?"

"Because," I breathe against her ear, "I'm finding it very hard to remember this is supposed to be pretend."

The music fades to something faster, but for a moment, neither of us moves. Finally, I step back, my hand lingering on her arm. "Let's get some air?"

The night air is cool on my flushed skin as we step out onto the balcony. I squeeze Josie's hand in the darkness.

"Better?" she asks. The breeze plays with a loose strand of my hair, and she brushes it tenderly behind my ear.

I nod, leaning against the railing. "I needed a moment. You're very distracting tonight."

"Says the woman in that dress." She steps closer, and my breath catches. "Do you have any idea what you've been doing to me all evening?"

I turn to look into her eyes. "Tell me."

She swallows hard. "Every time you touch me. Every time you look at me like that…" Her free hand finds my waist.

"Like what?" My voice is barely a whisper.

"Like you want to kiss me." Her words make my heart race.

I lean closer, my breath mingling with hers. "I do want to kiss you."

"Florence…" Her voice trembles. I can feel her heart pounding against me.