Page 85 of Marry Me Not
I capped the lipstick, tossed it into my clutch, and turned. “How do I look?”
He lifted his hand, dragging his knuckles over my cheek, and then he leaned down, bringing his lips to just beside my ear.
“Like a million bucks.”
Outside,the cocktail hour was in full swing. No one paid Cosimo and me any mind as we stepped out of the bathroom together.
“Should we get a glass of wine?” I asked, still abuzz from the last few moments. Something bright and eager and a little stupid danced inside my chest. What a turnaround from only ten minutes ago.
“I’ve gotta take a call,” Cosimo said, looking at his phone with furrowed brows. “Will you manage to not get yourself into trouble if I leave you on your own for a little while?”
“Sure.”
His palm brushed over my lower back. “I’ll find you when I’m done.”
At the bar, I ordered that glass of wine. God knew I needed one. My fingers curled around the stem, I turned and leaned against the counter, a wave of tiredness washing over me now that the adrenaline had finally drained from my system.
A couple—a man and a woman—standing a few feet away shot me a strange look.
What now?
I glanced down and scrutinized the dress for any imperfections. Was it possible for me to get unlucky not once, not twice, but three times in one night? If so, I was cursed. There was no other explanation.
But nothing was wrong. When I looked back up, the couple was already gone. Huh. Maybe I’d imagined it.
A woman in a tailored jumpsuit stepped away from a nearby group and approached the bar to order a martini. She wore an unusual pair of earrings. I studied them as she waited for her drink.
“Excuse me, are you wearing Taffin earrings?” It was the only brand I knew that combined ceramics and precious gems so exquisitely.
The woman smiled. “I am.”
“They’re stunning. Getting a custom Taffin piece has been on my bucket list for years.”
“Would you like to take a closer look?”
“I’d love to.”
She took one earring out and handed it to me. “Do you work with jewelry?”
“No, but I dabble in pottery, and I spent a few semesters studying ceramics in college.” I told her briefly about the courses I’d taken while I examined the intricate design.
As I handed the earring back to her, I caught two women staring at me. Was one of them taking a photo with her phone? She held it at a weird angle, and when she realized I’d noticed her, she grabbed her friend by the arm and pulled her away.
I shifted, uncomfortable.
“Looks like you have some admirers,” the woman said. She must’ve seen them too.
“I don’t get it. Why are people staring at me?”
“Probably because you’re wearing a million-dollar dress.”
The wine nearly sprayed out of my mouth.What?
“The staff here aren’t particularly discreet.” The woman picked her martini off the counter. “Word spread quickly that a special lot was purchased on the spot at a steep premium.”
I gaped at her. “I don’t understand.”
She arched a surprised brow. “Don’t you know? Your husband insisted on buying that dress for you.” She gave me a once-over. “I’ve got to give it to the man. He knew exactly what he was doing. That gown looks like it was made for you.”
