Page 78 of My Favorite Kidnapper

“What’s on your mind, Little Bee? You’re lost in thought.”

“Oh, nothing really. Just adjusting to the noise again.”

“Different noises from Toronto, though.”

“Yes,” she agreed.

I studied her. “You like it better at the villa?”

Her smile was wide and honest. “Yes. It’s so lovely there.”

“Well, we’ll be back in a few days.”

She ate her lunch, and we walked around. I planned an entire day of sight-seeing for her. Today was only around the neighborhood. I pointed to a street. “Don’t go past here when you’re out. This leads into an older part of the city and the streets twist and turn, and you could get lost and end up in a less than desirable area.”

“Okay.”

I indicated the other direction. “My gallery is up that way, about a five-minute walk.”

“I can’t wait to see it.”

We strolled, and I bought her a hat to protect her from the sun. She had little patches of freckles on her pale skin, and I didn’t want her burned. She paused at a window, looking into a shop, and I followed her gaze to a pretty golden yellow dress. Simple, elegant, and timeless, with short sleeves, a scooped neckline, and a full skirt, and I knew she would look lovely in it. I took her into the shop and made her try it on. It fit her perfectly, and over her objections, I purchased it for her. It would go well with the small item currently tucked into my jacket pocket. When she protested, I lifted her hand to my lips. “I want you to wear it tonight. For me. Please.”

She knew I rarely said please. Except to her. Brianna had fast become the exception to every rule in my life, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that fact. I tried not to think on it too much. The implications were too great for me to contemplate too deeply.

I wasn’t ready to face the answers I already knew to be the truth.

As I suspected, she agreed to my plea, and I carried the garment bag over my arm, while the fingers of my other hand entwined with hers. I had never liked PDA of any kind, but again, with Brianna, that changed.

She got ready for dinner, and I showered and changed my suit. She walked into the room, her beauty making my throat thick. The dress hugged her curves. Showed off her legs and her pretty collarbone. I had never found collarbones particularly sexy, but I did love hers. She wore makeup, highlighting her dark eyes and full mouth. Her hair was caught up at the back of her neck, with lots of tendrils hanging around her face and over her shoulders.

“You are exquisite,” I breathed out.

“I like your suit,” she responded, patting my lapels, a light blush on her cheeks.

“I like this too,” I added, stroking the warm skin. I led her to the mirror, staring at our reflections. She was the perfect height in front of me, my body dwarfing hers like an avenging angel. Her soft-colored dress was a direct contrast to my black suit.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“I want to see your expression.”

“My expression?”

Her gaze followed my hands as I slipped a necklace around her neck, fastening the clasp and settling the pendant on her clavicle. “Perfect,” I murmured.

She stared at the pendant. Traced it with her finger in wonder. “It’s—”

“A bee. A perfect little bee for my little bee.”

I had seen it as I’d walked to the gallery earlier. It was in the window of the jewelry store that was next to the gallery. I saw it and went inside immediately to get a closer look and purchased it.

She lifted it. Ran her finger over the body and outstretched wings. “It even has a little stinger like yours,” I murmured.

“It’s so beautiful. Are those crystals?”

I chuckled. “Yellow and black diamonds. The wings are inlaid with mother of pearl. The eyes and stinger are diamonds as well.”

Her eyes widened, and I chuckled, pressing a kiss to her head. “Relax. It wasn’t overly expensive.”