Page 115 of The Sweetest Return

I almost laughed.

“Last year’s Homecoming,” Nia added, extending her hand.

“Yeah. Good to see you again.”

“You too.”

Imani’s gaze moved between us. “How did you two meet?”

Nia answered before I could. “Here, actually. Very briefly.”

That little line between Imani’s brows deepened.

I had known this woman too long.

Nia either didn't notice or liked her own life enough not to care. She turned toward the bracelet on Imani’s wrist. “Before you leave, I want your contact information. We’ve been considering more private luxury events here, and Saint Aurelia would fit beautifully.”

Imani changed immediately.

Not because she stopped caring about whatever she thought I had done with Nia. I knew better than that.

Work simply caught her.

“What kind of events?”

“Smaller than a gala. Intimate. Maybe one of the salons or private dining rooms. Something where the room becomes part of the experience instead of swallowing it.”

“I would love to talk about that. We’re discussing private-client experiences around the collection before the larger launch, and The Nocturne makes sense for us.”

They were off.

I stood beside Imani and watched her move from conversation into strategy without changing who she was. Diamonds, access, legacy, atmosphere. She could hold all of it in the same thought because to her it belonged there.

I had missed eight years of watching this woman become good at what she did.

I liked getting some of it back.

They exchanged numbers before Nia looked between us with enough awareness to make me suspicious.

“I won’t keep you. Enjoy the game.”

“We will,” I said.

She smiled at Imani and headed toward the front desk.

I put my hand at Imani’s lower back as we started toward the doors. “You know nothing happened with her, right?”

“I didn’t ask.”

“Your face did.”

“My face did not say anything.”

“Your chin been tight since she said we met.”

Her eyes cut toward mine. “You notice too much.”

“With you? Always.”