“No,” he repeated. Firmer. “I don’t take gifts.”
I sighed dramatically. “Okay. Fine. I’m disappointed, but I get it. You’re far too dark and brooding and underworld kingpin to accept jewelry.”
He blinked slowly. “Kingpin?”
“Yes. A man of your… mystery and menace cannot be burdened with tokens of appreciation.”
His mouth twitched. “Tokens.”
“I understand. I will nurse my emotional wounds for years. Possibly forever. But I’ll survive.”
He stared at me, unimpressed.
“Naturally, I won’t be accepting the heels then.” I shrugged.
His expression sharpened. “You will.”
“I won’t. It’s only fair. If you can’t accept my ring, I can’t accept, art strapped to my feet.”
“You’re bluffing.”
“Oh?”
I smiled sweetly, stepped away from him, and summoned the associate with a polite wave.
“Yes, Miss Thorne?” she appeared instantly.
“Cancel the order,” I said brightly. “All of it. I won’t be taking the Devereux customs.”
Her face paled.
Vince’s arm wrapped around my waist before I could take another breath, pulling me to his chest.
“Don’t you dare,” he murmured into my ear.
“I thought you didn’t believe me.”
“I didn’t,” he growled softly. “Now I do.”
I let myself lean back against him, just a little. Enough to feel his muscles and to remind me how it felt in that elevator.
“You don’t have to buy me things,” I exhaled softly. “I’m not… lacking. I don’t need nice things bought for me. I have money.”
“I know,” His other hand moved my hair gently to the other side. The motion was intimate in a way that made my breath stutter. He touched me like it was natural for him, like he’d been doing it for years, not minutes.
“You’re having me experience a lot of firsts,” he said quietly.
My heart jolted. “What kind of firsts?”
His thumb brushed my waist again.
“I accept the gift. The ring stays.”
I smiled.
“And you accept the heels,” he added, tightening his arm around me so I couldn’t even pretend to argue.
I sighed. “Fine. I accept the heels.”
