“Your gown is stunning,” I say with a soft sigh while Kat tries on her outfit for the charity gala she’s attending with Dante, Joey, and Max. Lorenzo and I are on babysitting duty, and I’m a little envious she gets to dress up in a ball gown and go dancing with her husband, but I also understand that going to such a public event together would be a huge deal for Lorenzo. Besides, I’m looking forward to snuggling on the sofa with him and forcing him to watch my favorite movie of all time, City of Angels.
“Thanks, honey.” She smiles widely. “Dante hates these things, but I’m so excited. Do you know some of the cast of that show, The Vampire Journals, are attending? One of them is a patron for the charity or something.”
I roll my eyes and stifle a groan. “Okay. You don’t have to rub it in, I’m already green with envy.”
She laughs softly. “You don’t have an envious bone in your body, Mia Melon.”
“That was before I realized you might get to meet some hottie vampire actors.”
“I, uh. I need to go check on the kids.”
“Okay … Well, I’m going to take a long soak in the bath before I have to report to babysitting duty.”
Kat links her arm through mine. “Not to worry, Cinders, one day you’ll get to go to the ball.”
Kat and I part company at the top of the marble staircase, and I go into Lorenzo’s bedroom. My eyes are immediately drawn to the gold ballgown lying on the bed, and I glance around. Is this Joey’s? Is she getting ready here? Did somebody put it there by mistake?
I wander over to the bed and pick it up. The color is beautiful with the way it shifts depending on the way the light hits it. It’s so luxurious, but it seems a size too big for Joey and it’s not the right shade for her skin tone. What the hell is it doing here?
“You like that, sunshine?” Lorenzo’s deep voice rumbles through the room, followed by the sound of the door closing.
I spin around, still clutching the gown. “What? Yes, but …” I frown.
“I spoke to Kat and Dante. They’re happy for Sophia and Maria to watch the kids tonight, along with some extra armed guards.”
Mouth hanging open, I blink at him as he crosses the room and stands directly in front of me. Close enough that I can smell his expensive cologne. “Does that mean …”
He arches an eyebrow. “You want to come to the ball with me?”
I toss the dress onto the bed and throw my arms around his neck. “Yes, yes, yes,” I squeal.
“The hair and make-up lady will be here in thirty minutes, so I suggest you stop rubbing up against me like that.”
My cheeks flush pink and I take a step back. “Sorry.”
His eyes narrow.
“No, I’m not,” I add with a smile. “I love that I make you feel like that.”
The corner of his mouth curls up, and he reaches into the inside pocket of his suit jacket. “I have something else for you too.” He pulls out a long black box, covered in velvet.
My mouth goes dry. He snaps it open, revealing a beautiful thick gold chain with a sunflower pendant. The petals are made of gold, and the center is a huge yellow gemstone. “Is that a …” I gape at him.
“A two-carat canary diamond? Yes.” He takes the necklace from the box.
“Lorenzo, it’s too much.”
Shaking his head, he tosses the box onto the bed and opens the clasp on the chain. After looping it around my neck, he fastens it in place. “It’s not enough, sunshine.”
I brush my fingertips across the sunflower. It’s way more snug than any necklace I’ve ever worn before. My breath hitches in my throat, and he dusts his lips over my ear. “It’s not a collar, Mia,” he says, answering the question I didn’t voice.
I swallow the lump in my throat. “Okay.”
He takes a step back, his eyes raking over my body before fixing on my neck. On the necklace that’s not a collar.
“Thank you,” I whisper. “For the necklace, and the dress. They’re both beautiful. You have exceptional taste.”
He stares at me with hunger in his gaze. “I agree.”
Wetness pools between my thighs and the air becomes charged with sexual tension. I clear my throat. “I should shower if the make-up lady will be here soon.”
He licks his lower lip before his eyes meet mine, so dark and full of longing. “I should leave you to it because you’re way too much of a distraction.”
I smile at him. I love being this man’s distraction more than anything in the world.
I poke my head into Kat and Dante’s bedroom, and my cousin squeals my name, jumping up from her chair and clapping her hands.
My excitement matches hers, and I charge across the room. We meet in the middle, and she wraps me in a hug.
“Did you know he had this planned when you were teasing me earlier?” I ask accusingly.
“Yes!” She giggles. “I was so desperate to tell you, but I didn’t want to spoil the surprise. I’m so excited we’re getting ready together.”
“Like when we were back in high school,” I add, tears filling my eyes as a wave of happiness and contentment washes over me.
“Except that we have actual professionals to make us look good now instead of having to do each other’s eyeliner.” She laughs loudly. “You were so bad at that.”
I snort. “Like you were so much better.”
Laughing, she takes my hand and pulls me to sit in the chair beside hers so the hair and make-up ladies can get to work.
I lean back and allow the lady who introduces herself as Lucy to brush my hair. Butterflies swirl in my stomach. I’m sitting here with Kat being pampered, wearing a beautiful diamond. It might not be a collar, but it feels like the start of something special. And the most exciting part of all—I’m going to a ball with the man of my dreams.
