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“Am I?” She bit her lip. “I did my hair and makeup. I tried to look a little more done-up than usual. Is the red lipstick too much? Jay said it would go well with the dress, but…” She took a breath. “Sorry, I’m a little unsure of myself. I’m not used to being so fancy.”
“There’s no need to be uncertain.” I tilted her chin and gently kissed her, controlling the urge to pull her against me and lose myself in her enticing essence. Not yet. “I already told you that you’re perfect.”
“A woman has to be perfect when she’s with you.” She tugged on my silver tie. “I like this. It matches your hair.”
“For some reason the color silver has been on my mind these past few days.” Nicknames weren’t my style, but I didn’t mind when she called me by the one she had come up with for me.
“You said I’m missing something. What did I forget?” she asked. “I don’t want to embarrass you or anything.”
“You could never embarrass me.” Reaching inside my jacket pocket, I removed the flat, black box. “I picked this up on my way here,” I said. “I thought it would go well with your dress.”
I dropped my gaze to her bare throat as I flipped open the lid on the box to reveal the diamond necklace that shimmered in the light.
“Oh,” she gasped as she set her hand on her chest. “You want me to wear that?”
“I do.” I took the necklace from the box before shoving it back inside my pocket. “Actually, I want you to have it.”
“I can’t accept that.” The anxiousness in her eyes caught me by surprise. I didn’t often encounter a woman who would turn down a diamond necklace. “The dress and the shoes are enough. You don’t have to give me jewelry.”
“I’ll decide what’s enough.” I clasped the strand of diamonds around her neck, making sure to secure it. “Now your ensemble is complete.”
She ran her delicate fingers along the necklace as I admired her.
“Shall we go into the reception now?” I took her hand. “I need to show you off.”
“You could have any woman you want. Why me?”
“Why not you?” I hooked my arm in hers as we walked.
Angelica met us by the entrance. “Huxley, everyone is asking for you.”
Ivy inched closer to me when Angelica scanned her appearance.
“Hello, Ivy,” she said. “Wow, that dress is…” My attorney squinted at me. “Is that what got delivered from the boutique the other day?”
“Rosa had to jump through a lot of hoops to work as fast as she did,” I said. “But she didn’t disappoint. Although, Ivy would look wonderful in whatever dress she wore.” Even one from a thrift shop. “I wanted her to have this one.”
“Hmm…” Angelica glanced at mine and Ivy’s joined arms. “It’s a beautiful dress.”
“Thank you,” Ivy said. “You look pretty.”
“That’s sweet of you to say,” Angelica said. “Guess who we’re sitting with?”
“Who?” I asked.
“The Girardi brothers.” Angelica touched my bicep. “It’s the perfect opportunity for you to ask them if they would be interested in your project.”
“My uncles are here?” Ivy asked. “You know them?”
“Huxley knows everyone who is anyone,” Angelica said. “And everyone wants a piece of this project.”
“I didn’t realize they would be here.” Judging from the tension in Ivy’s face, she wasn’t pleased.
“Is that an issue for you?” I asked.
“No,” she whispered. “I haven’t told them about your offer.”
“You’re not obligated to,” I said. “You’re the sole property owner. What you share with them is your business.”
