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“See you this weekend,” he said, planting a sweet kiss on my forehead. “The driver knows where to go.”
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The dress was actually sweet and simple — something I could’ve definitely envisioned hanging in my closet that I could get multiple wears out of. It was customized again, and fit me like a glove — a navy blue jersey material that was so soft it gleamed under the right light. To
my horror and, if I was being honest, my delight, there was also a necklace and earring set included. The earrings were sapphire studs that had to be at least three carats, while the necklace was a deceptively simple golden chain holding several disks set with diamonds and sapphires.
“Um, is that a BVLGARI?” Becca demanded as I borrowed yet another pair of her heels.
“A what?” I asked, touching up my lipstick in her floor-length mirror.
“That necklace.” She crossed the room and examined it, wrinkling her nose. “Let’s see. Z-O-L-O-T-S-E — oh. It’s a customized BVLGARI. Wow, Ruth.”
I flushed as I realized Maxim had taken the time to customize something for me like this. “God. I can’t even with him. We had this whole discussion about him doing too much, and he keeps going overboard.”
“Well, it’s not like you can return it.”
“Exactly,” I said. “He loves doing crap like this.”
“I think you like it, too,” Becca sang, batting her eyelashes at me. “Have fun tonight.”
I heaved a sigh and left, sitting in the back of the car in quiet resignation. The truth was, I did like it. I was going to have fun. But something just felt off.
Maxim was being nicer to me than ever before, but my stomach had been curdling in what felt like a warning for several weeks now. I didn’t know what was wrong — just that something was.
I knew that Maxim had a bigger estate outside the city thanks to a couple of magazine articles that had mentioned it, but the setting of tonight’s dinner was apparently his downtown penthouse. Top floor of one of the most luxurious residential high rises in San Francisco, and full of bells and whistles. The doorman escorted me to the elevator, and there was another attendant who turned a key to take me all the way up.
Maxim was there to meet me when the doors rolled open, giving me that small, slightly crooked smile that melted my insides instantly. “What do you think?” he asked, crossing the floor to kiss me on each cheek before gently kissing me on the lips. “You look beautiful.”
“This is my favorite dress so far,” I said, smiling and giving him a little twirl. “Definitely more to my tastes than the others. The necklace, though, we need to talk about.”
“I thought I’d convinced you that I can spend my money on whatever I want to,” he said. “And this gift is subtle.”
“Becca said it’s a BUVLGARI, whatever that is,” I said.
He snorted and shook his head. “How can your roommate have better taste than you? Come on. Dinner’s waiting.”
“You come here often?” I asked, trying to take in my surroundings as he hustled me to the dining room. It was beautiful — and homier than I would’ve expected from him given the minimalistic and modern decor he’d arranged for the condo. This place actually felt like a personal retreat, full of art and books and worn, comfortable-looking furniture.
“It’s home away from home,” Maxim said, spreading his arms. “Plus, my brother’s been staying at my estate, and I didn’t want any interruptions tonight.”
Warmth spread through my lower stomach at that declaration. “Becca’s been asking about Lex. Wondering what he’s up to.”
“Interesting,” Maxim said, not turning around. “He’s been saying the same thing.”
“Should we do a little matchmaking?” I asked, laughing at the thought of Becca and I dating two brothers. Wait. Were Maxim and I dating? Was that what this was?
“It would probably be good for him,” Maxim said over his shoulder. “Dating would bring him back down to Earth. Get his head out of the clouds — why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?” Maxim’s eyes darted around the space. “The estate might be haunted, but this place is brand new.”
I spluttered. “You think your estate is haunted?”
“I know it. What’s wrong?”
I hesitated. I’d only just got here, and I didn’t want to spoil the night — Maxim was in a good mood, and I was happy to be with him, happy that he’d let me in to what seemed like an inner sanctum. If he used this place to get away from his brother, the only family he had, I could only guess what it meant to have me here.
“Out with it, Ruth Miracle,” Maxim rumbled, suddenly standing right in front of me. “And if you burst into tears again, I’m sending you home. That’s a promise.” His kiss on my lips was just as soft as before — and a promise that undermined his first threat.
“Are we dating?” I asked slowly.
