Page 171

“Not y’all becoming besties,” I teased.

He picked up his tablet again. “We are not besties.”

“Yet,” I insisted.

“I still have the receipt for your gift, Verydian.”

I raised my hands in surrender and slowly backed out of the kitchen, quickening my pace as soon as I was out of sight. I’d been playing it cool ever since he mentioned buying me something in Denver, but I was ready for my gift. I entered the bedroom and immediately spotted a small jewelry bag sitting in the middle of the neatly made bed.

I climbed onto the mattress and settled cross-legged in front of it, pulling out a velvet box.

“Oh, Sweet Hart,” I whispered when I lifted the lid.

A breathtaking necklace lay nestled against the black velvet. The stone looked deep green at first, but when I tilted the box toward the light, flashes of purple and reddish violet transformed it.

“Hartford!”

“What?” he hollered from the kitchen.

“I love it! Thank you!”

“You’re welcome!”

I smiled and carefully lifted the necklace from the box. I couldn’t get over how gorgeous it was. It was the kind of piece that deserved to be worn somewhere extravagant, preferably while sipping champagne and laughing politely at jokes that didn’t quite land.

I climbed off the mattress and approached the full-length mirror, holding the necklace against my chest.

It was perfect.

A moment later, Hart appeared in the doorway.

“You really like it, Sugar?”

My gaze landed on him in the mirror. “It’s beautiful, Hart.”

“Good. Come here so I can put it on you.”

I scoffed. “You can’t be serious.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m wearing a sweater, jeans, and boots. This is too elevated to wear with this outfit.”

“Bullshit. Get over here and let me put the damn thing on you.”

I relented and crossed the bedroom. I handed him the necklace and turned around, gathering my hair out of the way. I shivered when his fingers brushed the back of my neck as he secured the clasp.

“There.”

I looked at our reflection. Hart stood behind me with his hands settled on my hips as he admired it.

“It looks good on you, Sugar.”

I turned in his arms. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, baby.”

I rose onto my toes and kissed him.