The Four Seasons was crowded with guests from the New York Times, Satisfaction, Vogue, People, and numerous other newspapers and magazines, as well as many journalists from both local and national news stations. Everyone was decked out in dapper suits and glamourous dresses. It felt more like the Academy Awards or a Parisian fashion show than a fancy ballroom dinner.

While the caterers and hotel staff put the finishing touches on the ballroom, everyone was gathered out in the lobby, mingling and drinking champagne and scotch on the rocks. I recognized several writers from rival magazines. Everyone appeared to be having a great time, laughing and drinking and talking about their plans for the new year.

Selena and I had gone home early to my house and helped each other get ready for the event. She'd chosen a sexy silver cocktail dress that shined when the light hit it, while I'd opted for a more conservative ensemble: a long formfitting red dress with a slit up the side and matching red heels. We'd both curled our hair.

Daren and Alex had arrived right on time, shaking hands and chatting a bit in the driveway before walking to the door to meet us. From what I'd gathered, Daren hadn't minded the one-time long drive to pick up Selena, but it was obvious he was looking forward to our move closer to the city.

Daren was a tall, broad-shouldered man with a neat, professional haircut and precisely groomed facial hair. He wore his suit the way Jesse did – like it was tailored for an Armani model.

In the first few minutes of talking with him, I'd learned that he was thirty-two, worked for a life insurance company in the World Trade Center, and had two German shepherds and a Yorkie. He was a complete one-eighty from the men Selena usually dated, which I thought was a good thing. He acted very gentlemanly, had manners, and seemed to really care about Selena. I crossed my fingers that this would last for her. She deserved a good man like Daren.

We took separate vehicles, arriving at The Four Seasons ten minutes apart from each other. Selena had immediately dragged Daren to the bar while Alex and I surveyed the scene, searching for familiar faces.

"This is more crowded than I expected," Alex observed.

"And yet all I can see is you," I said in a cheesy voice, grinning at how divine he looked in his tux.

Alex chuckled and shook his head. "Did you really just say that?"

"I did." I nodded proudly. "You look exceptionally handsome tonight, Mr. Stephens."

His smile shifted to more of a smirk and he pulled me in close where all I could focus on was the shimmer of the dim lights reflecting in his eyes.

"I know I've told you this at least four times already," he said in a soft tone, his eyes boring into mine. "But you're absolutely stunning, Kate. You look amazing tonight."

His words were so sweet, so sincere, my heart practically leaped out of my chest.

I started to respond when everyone's attention was directed to the ballroom. The hotel staff had just opened the four sets of double doors and guests were flooding inside, eager to find their tables. Alex and I waited until the stampede died down to go in search of table 23.

There were ten people at our table, including Mandy and her husband, Steve, Joseph, Daren, and Selena. I didn't recognize the other three. We all exchanged hellos and took our seats, and the first round of champagne went around the table.

"Alex, honey, you look out of place," Mandy chirped from a few seats over. "Loosen up a bit. Have fun."

"Get some booze in ya," Daren chuckled and gave him a nudge.

Alex did look out of his element. While, yes, he did look just as too-die-for in a tux as he did in a T-shirt and jeans, it was obvious this wasn't his scene. He was putting on a smile and trying to mingle with everyone, but I could tell he'd much rather be spending the night at home on the couch, probably watching reruns of Cheers.

Alex's cheeks turned a shade of pink at Mandy's comment and he quickly swallowed back his entire champagne flute.

"Are you alright?" I asked where only he and I could hear.

He shrugged, tapping his fingers on the edge of the linen-covered table. "I'm nervous, to be honest. I've never been to something this extravagant, and knowing that my name is somewhere in the list of potentials... I mean, what do I even say if I get called up there?"

He looked to the stage where a woman was double checking the microphones. It was expected that each of the top five winners would make a brief statement at the podium.

"I take it public speaking isn't really your strong suit?" I cocked a brow.

"The last time I made a speech, the sound equipment tried to leave with me." He cringed at the memory and held his glass up, letting the waiter know he wanted more champagne.

I started giggling at the mental image I got. "You tripped on the mic cables, didn't you?"

The pink tones returned to his cheeks and he grimaced. "It's not funny."

That just made me laugh harder. "It's pretty funny, Alex."

A shrill screech that rivaled nails on a chalkboard followed by some tapping silenced the room and diverted everyone's attention to the podium where the editor-in-chief of the New York Times was adjusting the microphone to address the audience.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, colleagues, friends..." he began, adjusting his tie as he spoke. "I know we're all excited to be here tonight. I want to personally thank each writer who devoted his or her time to this contest, and wish you all luck. The purpose of this contest was to discover the next generation of journalism superstars, and I am confident that we've found them in this exceptional group of submissions."

He went on for another five or so minutes about the evolution of the industry and how important it was to find fresh faces to report on the news and advise readers with inspiring columns. It was the usual banter from a big wig in the business. I'd heard a hundred versions of the same speech before.

Once he was finished giving the opening, the jazz band began their entertainment and the waiters started bringing out dinner. I was impressed with how quickly they served all two hundred tables. I was even more impressed with the food choice.

Since it would've been too difficult to take orders from all two thousand guests, the caterers derived a great plan. Each plate held steak, chicken, and salmon, so each person could have exactly what they wanted; and there were mixed vegetables, rolls, sliced fruit, and mashed potatoes as well. There wasn't a disappointed guest in the building.

The choice of drinks was also great, with everyone being able to order any type of drink they wanted. I opted for a strawberry sangria while Alex got Crown Royal.

God, there was something so sexy about watching him sip whiskey in the low lighting. Something about the dimly lit room created a romantic feel, and it only added to how tempting he looked with his lips pressed to that glass.

Maybe it was the champagne and sangria talking – probably not – but I was really looking forward to the event's conclusion, if for no other reason than to get a room upstairs and get Alex out of that tux.

"I know what you're thinking," Alex whispered, and his lips brushing against my ear sent a chill up my spine.

I looked at him with false innocence, hiding my smile behind my glass. "What do you think I'm thinking about, Mr. Stephens?"

The corners of his mouth curved into a sexy smirk and I could smell the whiskey on his breath. It wasn't strong enough to be offensive. It was more of a subtle hint of what he'd been drinking, and it made me want to taste the alcohol on his lips while I slipped the knot out of his glossy black tie.

Alex leaned in close so only I could hear. "You're imagining me slipping that sexy little dress off of you. Am I right?"

He breathed a laugh and the sound caressed my senses. Alex may have been old-fashioned and boy-next-door type of sweet, but he had the most unexpected – and extremely appreciated – sexy manly side. Just thinking about that husky tone in his voice made me want to disappear from the ballroom with him right that minute. I didn't want him to slip my dress off. I wanted him to rip it apart!

I started to whisper something back when Selena and Daren got up to hit the dancefloor. Most of the attendees had finished their dinner by that time and several couples were out in the middle of the ballroom swaying to renditions of Louis Armstrong's greatest hits. I watched Daren lead Selena to the dancefloor and sweetly pull her into his arms. She caught my eye and grinned as big as possible, and I didn't think I'd ever seen her so happy with a man before.

"Kate?" Alex's melodic voice brought my eyes back to his. "Will you dance with me?"

I could feel myself blushing like a teenager being asked to prom by the star of the football team. How did this man have such an epic effect on me?

"I thought you'd never ask," I smiled.

Like the gentleman he was, Alex helped me out of my chair and pushed it back in for me. He placed a hand on my lower back and I shivered when I felt his palm on my bare skin. I'd completely forgotten about my dress being backless. He led me to the center of the room and we found a spot near where the band was set up. Alex flashed me that glorious smile and pulled me close to him. I placed one hand in his and the other on his shoulder while he held onto my waist and started to slowly lead me around the dancefloor in circles.

We were the only couple actually moving around. Everyone else seemed to be just swaying softly to the music while Alex lead me from one corner of the floor to another, twirling me off and on, whether the move fit the rhythm of the music or not. We were laughing. We were smiling. We were getting lost in the moment – getting lost in each other. And that was all I wanted at that point in time – to get lost in everything that was Alex Stephens. To feel his closeness, taste his kiss, hear his laugh – which sounded a million times sweeter than the glitzy jazz humming the room to life.

I'd been teasing him when we'd arrived and I'd told him all I could see in the sea of people was him, but now it wasn't a corny joke anymore. He really was the only thing I could focus on. And standing there in his arms, getting swept away in his gaze, it felt like we were the only two people in the room and the band was playing just for us.

The song ended and another began. I recognized the melody. I'd heard it before. The trumpet was the star of the show, serenading the entire ballroom with an all-time classic.

"Hold me close and hold me fast. The magic spell you cast. This is La Vie En Rose..." Alex softly sang the lyrics where only I could hear, his eyes never leaving mine as he dipped me backward and continued. "When you kiss me, Heaven sighs. And though I close my eyes, I see La Vie En Rose."

I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. No man had ever sung to me before, and certainly not while waltzing with me. A feeling swept over my whole body and burrowed its way deep into my very soul. I wasn't sure what that feeling was, but I knew it felt good. No – it felt amazing – and I hoped it would never fade.

"You outshine every woman in this room tonight, Kate," Alex said as he spun me again, bringing me back against his chest and our noses were almost touching. "And I have an overwhelming urge to kiss you right now. In front of everyone."

I moved my arms to rest behind his neck and smiled up at him. "Do it then..."

And he did. He cupped my chin, tilted my head, and pressed his lips against mine in the longest, fieriest kiss I'd shared with him.

Somewhere in the background noise I could hear the host taking the podium, saying he hoped everyone was having a great time, and he continued on to mention how wonderful the dinner had been.

"...provided by my very talented associate, Mr. Jesse Reese, who has done an outstanding job tonight, ladies and gentlemen. Let's give him a hand!"

No. God, no. It couldn't be...

The audience erupted into applause as Alex and I were pulling apart. Alex, oblivious, clapped for Jesse along with everyone else, while I slowly shifted my gaze from the man I'd been kissing to the man standing beside the host at the podium.

Jesse wore a look of betrayal on his face, his eyes clouded with anger and disappointment as they pierced mine. Still, he kept his composure and made a brief statement, thanking everyone and noting that dessert was on its way out. As soon as he finished speaking, he walked briskly offstage and through the crowd, shoving his way through a set of double doors that slammed behind him and stung like a slap to my face.