Page 46 of Maid For Each Other

“For the most beautiful girl in the room,” I said, meaning that part of it. She was just so fuckingalivethat she very nearly glowed.

“Dexxie,” she said, her smile so wide she was almost laughing. “You do know that I’d love you even if you didn’t buy me jewelry, right?”

“Of course you would,” I said, stepping closer to say into her ear, “Not.”

She let out a little breathless laugh at our inside joke that made me want to make her do it again, and I couldn’t stop myself from dropping a kiss on the side of that long, exposed neck that had driven me crazy since she’d shown up in my closet holding her sweater together with her hand.

“Are you going to open it or what?” I asked, pulling myself away from her.

“Okay, okay,” she said, her eyes twinkling. “But this box doesn’t look like it would hold the engagement ring I picked out.”

“Like I would really buy that with you in the same room and all the shareholders here. Hardly seems romantic.”

“On the contrary, it seems like it would be a great way to shout out to the world how much you love me,” she said.

“You might be right. Perhaps it was a missed opportunity.”

“Well, I guess I will open this non-ring anyways,” she said, her nose crinkling as she smiled at me. I watched as she opened it, and I knew I was totally pulling off the besotted expression I was going for because I was absolutely charmed by her at the moment.

It was all an act, and I wasn’t foolish enough to think it was real, but I was having a great time pretending. It probably had to do with the shots, but this was honestly more fun than I’d had at a work-related event in a very long time.

Her mouth dropped wide open when she looked inside the box. She put her hand over her heart and said, “It’s so beautiful.”

“Would you like me to put it on you?” I asked. “And I totally get it if you don’t want to wear it right now; I won’t be insulted. There’s something about your bare neck that really works with this outfit.”

“You think so?” she asked in that flirtatious tone that was really starting to torture me. Was she drunk? I wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol or that she was just having fun, but I was genuinely feeling this vibe she was giving off.

“Yes,” I said, my voice low. “It’s been driving me nuts sinceyou showed up in my closet needing help pinning yourself into your sweater.”

“Oh,” she said, blinking a little faster like she was surprised I’d said that. Her voice wasalsolow when she said, “Um, yes, please.”

“The stones reminded me of the freckles on your right shoulder,” I admitted as I moved behind her, taking the necklace out of the box and lowering it to her neck.

I wasn’t lying.

When I’d been pinning her sweater together, I noticed the adorable constellation of specks, and the chocolate diamondsalmostdid them justice.

She looked at me over her shoulder, eyes searching mine. We weren’t saying anything, but the look we exchanged as I clasped the necklace was me admitting to the truth, and her acknowledging that she knew it was the truth.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice so quiet it was almost a whisper.

“You’re welcome,” I managed, my voice coming out a little raspy.

What the fuck is this?

But mywhat the fuckexploded into a thousand more when she turned and wrapped herself around me in a huge hug. A hug that felt real.

And there was nothing I could do but hug her back, right?

“Should we maybe kiss?” she said quietly in my ear. “I mean, if this was real, we would totally kiss right now.”

“Well,” I said, pulling back enough to see her face. “I’m all about the authenticity.”

I had every intention of giving her the public-appropriate kiss of a couple who’d just exchanged a gift, but something happened.

Just as I lowered my mouth to hers, our eyes met and she whispered against my lips, “Don’t disappoint me, Powell.”

17

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