“For you.” He holds out the box for me to take, and I grab it with shaky fingers, settling it onto the table and popping off the lid.
A pair of earrings are nestled inside, and oh, they look old. I trace my finger over one, marveling at the intricate setting, all the words of praise for them stuck in my throat.
“They belonged to my great-grandmother on my father’s side,” Perry explains. “I found them when I was going through our family’s jewelry a couple of weeks ago.”
I lift my gaze to his. “Your mother found them?”
He shakes his head. “I asked her if I could go through the jewels, but I’m the one who came across them. Not her.”
“Oh.” I can’t stop staring at them. They’re so beautiful. Such an intricate design, and so unique. So special because they belonged to someone else. Someone connected to my future husband. “Are they art deco? They look it.”
“I’m not sure. I just know they’re old, and you mentioned that you like old things. When I gave you the ring and you seemed disappointed?”
He didn’t want to disappoint me. That’s the meaning behind these earrings. He wanted to make me happy. Put a smile on my face. He actually listened to me and is giving me something he knew I would want.
My heart swells, threatening to burst out of my chest.
“I love them.” Without thought I reach for him, slipping my arms around his neck and pressing my mouth to his in the briefest kiss. I pull away slightly, my face still in his as I murmur, “Thank you.”
His hand comes up, his long fingers circling around the base of my ponytail, keeping me in place. “You like them, then?”
“So much.”
His voice lowers, his gaze stuck on my mouth. “I want you to wear them tomorrow when I marry you.”
It’s the way he says it. As if he actuallywantsto marry me.
“I’ll wear them.”
He lifts a brow. “Promise?”
“Yes.” I try to nod, but his grip on my hair is too firm.
“Good.” His fingers loosen, bracing against the back of my head as he kisses me again, sparks flying the moment our lips touch. The simple gesture is full of so much promise, my breasts grow tight and a tingling sensation starts between my legs.
“Why did you do that?” I ask once he pulls away from me.
“Kiss you?” When I nod, he continues, “Because I wanted to.”
A family member approaches us, pulling Perry away from me and immediately into conversation. Their voices grow distant as I become lost in thought, imagining myself walking down the aisle toward this man in my fairy-princess gown, the veil shielding my face, wearing the earrings he gave me.
Without thought I take off one earring, then the other, settling them on the table. Then I grab my new earrings and carefully slip them on, my lobes drooping slightly from the weight of them. I drop the earrings I originally wore into the now empty box and slip the lid back on, shoving the tiny box into my pink clutch.
I pick up my phone from where I left it on the table and open the camera, flipping the lens so I can see myself. I turn to the left, then the right, admiring the earrings. The way the tiny diamonds sparkle in the light.
They’re stunning. I can’t believe they’re mine.
I can feel him watching me and I quickly look over at him to find he’s actually not watching me at all, still in conversation with his sister’s husband, and it seems almost…tense.
As if they don’t like each other.
I suppose that’s normal, though Perry seems to get along with everybody.
He slips his arm around me yet again, his hand sliding over to briefly rest at my nape, fingers tracing down along the sliver of my back exposed by the dress. Down, then up. Slowly. Again and again. I flush at that seemingly innocent touch, my entire body growing hot and I dip my head, briefly closing my eyes.
What would it be like, to have Perry actually touch me? His hands everywhere. His mouth…everywhere.
I would come completely undone. I know I would.