I exhaled in relief, gesturing ahead. "This way."
I led Kayden through the crowd to the center of the exhibition hall. Those guests who'd been watching us quickly lost interest once they saw us conversing "normally," turning back to their own socializing.
My heart was still racing, but at least I was temporarily safe.
"This is 'Moonlight Shards.'" I began my introduction, forcing my voice to remain professional. "The design concept is 'rebirth after shattering.' You see these moonstones—each piece was once part of a complete gem, but through breaking, polishing, and recombining, they've gained new life, new meaning..."
I pointed out every detail of the necklace, explaining the design philosophy and technical challenges.
But I could feel Kayden's gaze.
He wasn't looking at the necklace at all.
He was looking at me.
Again with that scorching, focused, nearly burning gaze that made my voice begin to waver, made my fingers stiffen unnaturally in midair.
"...so this piece symbolizes that even after shattering, we can rediscover our worth, find new..." My voice suddenly caught.
Kayden had moved to my side, close enough that his arm nearlybrushed mine. I could feel the heat radiating from his body, smell that dizzying scent of him.
"Your eyes are blue." He suddenly spoke, his voice dangerously low.
"So?" I struggled to stay composed.
"So that's wrong." Kayden pressed closer. "They should be amber, like autumn leaves, like warm honey. Not this... cold blue."
His hand lifted, fingertips hovering beside my cheek without touching, yet making that patch of skin burn with hypersensitivity.
I instinctively backed away, my spine hitting the display case.
The glass's chill seeped through the thin dress, contrasting sharply with Kayden's heat, throwing my senses into even greater chaos.
"Haven't we met somewhere before?" Kayden asked, those silver eyes locked on mine, giving me no room to escape.
My heart pounded wildly, my mind going blank.
What should I say? How should I answer?
If I kept denying it, he'd keep pressing.
If I admitted it, everything was over.
"Mr. Blackwood." I forced out a smile, trying to make it look natural. "Your pickup line is rather outdated."
"Pickup line?" The corner of Kayden's mouth curved upward, that smile tinged with bitterness, sarcasm, and something I couldn't decipher. "If I wanted to pick you up, Miss Ross, I'd use far better methods. Like inviting you to dinner, like sending you a bouquet of your favorite flowers, like..."
He paused, his eyes darkening with intensity.
"Like telling you that you look so breathtaking in that dress tonight."
His words made my face instantly flush.
"You..."
"But I'm not trying to pick you up right now." Kayden cut me off, his voice growing more serious. "I'm trying to confirm something."
"What?"
