Page 85 of The Encounter
He picked up his phone and held it out to her. “You’re welcome to call Haley if you don’t believe me.”
A small smile came to her lips. “You really did?”
He nodded. “I didn’t want to come across too eager, but I really wanted to see you again. And normally I don’t have to try too hard to make the first move.”
“That’s because the girls just fall at your feet.” She giggled.
“But you didn’t”
“Not outwardly.”
He smiled and took her hand. “I like that you fan-girled over me.”
“I like that you wanted to talk to me.”
He squeezed her hand. “So, about this necklace. Would you like me to call my jeweler to see about getting one made for you?”
She pulled her lip between her teeth as she thought. “I don’t know. I just need to find someone who can make a replica. It needs to be made well and not astronomically priced.”
“It’s no pressure. If you want to go to see about getting a quote, we could do that. But if you don’t, that’s fine. I would like to help if you’ll let me.”
She smiled and stepped closer to him. “I’d like it if you came with me.”
“I would love nothing more.”
“I think I want to see about going to the jeweler who did the auction piece. That’s the closest one I’ve ever seen to the original.”
“Perfect. That’s my jeweler.”
She laughed. “Of course it is.”
He tugged her toward the kitchen. “Can I interest you in some dinner?”
She nodded. “Yes please. I’m starving.”
After they ordered in, Maddie glanced around Jace’s place.
“Do you decorate for the holidays?” she asked.
Maddie and Kayla had already strung their entire house in lights and decorations. It was Maddie’s favorite time of year, and the two of them went all out to make everything glow. But Jace’s place was bare.
He shrugged. “Not usually. It’s only me here, so I’ve never really seen the point.” He glanced around his place before looking back at her. “I already know you do.”
She giggled. “It’s my favorite holiday. I love the decorations, the lights, everything. It’s so pretty.”
“We can decorate my place if it would make you happy.”
“Only if you want to.” She hoped he would say yes. The thought of decorating another place just about made her chest burst with joy.
He must have sensed it because he laughed and said, “Of course I want to. I can tell how excited you are thinking about it.”
She clapped her hands together, bouncing up and down. “Do you have decorations?”
“Unfortunately, I do not.” He studied her. “But I suspect that’s not unfortunate because it means we need to go shopping.”
A squeal tore from her lips before she could stop herself. “There’s nothing I love shopping for more than Christmas decorations!”
He laughed. “I guess we better go shopping then.”
