Page 60 of Our Chaotic Love Affair

I went speechless. She was staring at me, waiting for me to say something.

“You look—” I started and then revised. “You’re ready.”

“Very diplomatic.”

“Champagne?” I asked, holding out one of the glasses.

She took it, sipped, and nodded. “Mr. Bancroft, you have excellent taste in bubbly. Very crisp.”

“Glad you like it.”

“I do, but I am not drinking more than two glasses. I don’t want a hangover. Not so soon after the last one.”

I chuckled. “I’ll try and remind you of that when you go for a third.”

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the ring I had gotten delivered earlier. I held it out for her to see.

She scowled. “What’s that?”

“A ring. Given you’ve got ten of them on, I thought you would know what it was.”

“Har. Har. That looks like an engagement ring. It’s very sparkly.”

It was a significant stone. Round cut, clean setting, the kind of ring that communicated wealth. Carson had gotten it from a jeweler the hotel kept on call for exactly these situations, which said something about the clientele.

“Give me your hand,” I said.

She extended her left hand. I removed the ring that was occupying the place I needed and slid the diamond onto her ring finger. It fit. She stared at it.

“Now you look the part,” I said.

She held out her hand and let the stone catch the light. “That is one hell of a rock, Bancroft.”

“Only the best for my bride-to-be.”

She giggled softly.

I raised my glass and she raised hers.

“To the partnership,” I said. “And to finding out what Rossi is actually protecting.”

“To that,” she agreed.

We drank. Giulia appeared to take a final look at Cleo before we left.

“You did great,” Cleo told her. “Thank you for the dress. I know you were saving it for someone else.”

“No, no.” Giulia shook her head. “Someone rejected it because it wasn’t their dress. It’s yours.”

“Thank you, Giulia. Will you take a quick picture of us?”

“Is that necessary?” I asked.

“Completely.” Cleo adjusted her position near the railing, then reached out and touched my arm. “Come here.”

I moved into the frame. We stood close, with Rome’s skyline acting as a backdrop. Giulia took several shots.

“Thank you,” Cleo told her.