Page 52 of Art of Love

Abe walked in, half-distracted as he shrugged into his jacket. He froze mid-step when he saw her. Damn, her mouth watered instantly at the sight of him in a black suit with a blue tie that seemed to match her dress perfectly.

His mouth parted slightly. “Holy…” He blinked, cleared his throat. “You look…”

She waited, her heart thudding hard. “Like I stole this dress?”

“Like I’m going to have to fight off half the room tonight,” he said, his voice low, reverent.

A slow smile spread across her lips, her nerves replaced by a flicker of heat. “You clean up nicely yourself.”

He did. The black tailored suit fit him perfectly. He looked like he belonged on the red carpet. But it was the way he looked at her like the rest of the world had fallen away that made her feel completely out of place and exactly where she belonged, all at once.

She smoothed her hands over the dress, her fingers trembling just slightly. “I’ve never had anything like this happen before.”

He stepped closer, brushing a curl from her cheek. “Get used to it.”

Just then, there was another knock on the door. Abe turned, already halfway to the door, and cracked it open.

“Ah, perfect timing,” he said.

Dylan tilted her head, curious, as four people stepped into the suite, all dressed in sleek black attire and each carrying what looked like armored briefcases. They moved with the precision and quiet grace of professionals used to high stakes and higher expectations.

They set the heavy cases on the glass coffee table in the sitting area with practiced care, then flipped them open with a soft click-click.

Dylan gasped.

Inside, nestled in black velvet, were rows upon rows of glittering diamonds, polished gold, and gemstones in colors she’d only ever seen behind security glass or on the necks of people accepting awards on TV. Earrings sparkled like stars. Bracelets coiled like delicate golden vines. There was a sapphire choker so vivid it looked like it had been carved out of the Pacific.

She took a step forward, stunned. “Is this…?”

“A loan from Cartier,” one of the women explained with a professional smile. “Compliments of Mr. Carson’s team. We were told to match the dress options.”

Dylan stared at the display. “I own socks that don’t match. This is next-level.”

Abe chuckled from across the room, clearly enjoying her reaction.

“Would you like some help selecting a set?” the woman asked.

“Um, yes?” Dylan said, still not quite believing this was her life.

With gentle precision, the stylist selected a pair of teardrop diamond earrings and a delicate bracelet that looked like it was spun from moonlight. Then she added a platinum ring with a pear-shaped sapphire that mirrored the midnight hue of Dylan’s dress and fastened a matching necklace around her neck. The cool weight of the jewels settled onto her skin like a crown.

She turned slowly to face the mirror again.

Her breath caught.

Between the shimmering curls, the plunging neckline, and now the diamonds glittering against her collarbone she looked like someone out of a movie. No, a fairytale.

And still, despite all the luxury and sparkle, it was the way that Abe was looking at her, like nothing in those cases could outshine her natural self, that made her feel truly priceless.

“I’m afraid to move,” she whispered.

Abe stepped behind her, his hands settling lightly on her waist. “Then don’t. Just stay like this.”

She laughed, her voice a little breathless. “How is this real?”

“I’m asking myself the same thing,” he murmured and then spun her around and kissed her.

For a single suspended moment, it didn’t matter where they were going or who was watching. She wasn’t just Dylan the detective, the one used to chasing leads, watching shitty hotel rooms, or digging through case files. She was a woman standing in a dress that fit like a dream, dripping in millions of dollars’ worth of borrowed diamonds, with a man who looked at her like she was the only song he’d ever want to write.

And for tonight, that was enough.

“Dylan…”

His voice was low, reverent, and the way his gaze moved over her sent a rush of warmth straight through her.

She cleared her throat and smoothed her hands down the satin fabric. “I feel like a movie extra who wandered into the wrong scene.”

He shook his head. “You look like the lead actress, the one no one will be able to take their eyes off.”

Her stomach fluttered, and suddenly the glittering suite, the dress, the champagne, it all faded to background noise. All she could see was him.

She still felt out of place, but when Abe looked at her like that, like she was the only thing in the world that mattered?

She knew that she didn’t want to be anywhere else.