Page 179 of Gloves Off

“Yes.” The corner of his mouth ticks up. “I got a tattoo.”

“Of what?” I’m desperate to see it.

“I’ll show you when you’re ready.”

My heart thunks. “Ready for what?”

He smiles that quiet, secretive smile, and now I want to see it more than anything.

“It’s of my face, isn’t it?” I joke.

“No.” He laughs, low and pleased, before he looks at his watch. “We need to go soon.”

Rory and Hazel’s wedding starts in half an hour. He puts his shirt, tie, and jacket on while I retrieve my necklace from the bedroom, return, and hold it up for him. “Help me with this?”

He takes it from me and I hold my hair off my neck as he does the clasp up, his fingers sending goosebumps over my back as his fingers brush my skin.

“You look great, by the way,” I say over my shoulder. “You know how to wear a suit.”

“Thanks to you.” He presses a warm kiss to the back of my neck. “And you haven’t even seen the lining.”

I turn, and he opens his suit jacket. The lining is the same color as my dress. My smile is instant, delight bubbling through me.

“You wanted to match me?” This is the dumbest, sweetest, cheesiest thing I’ve ever heard.

“Mhm.” His mouth tilts. “Got a little something for you to complete your outfit, too.” He strides across the room and opens his bag before placing a shoebox in front of me.

I bite back a smile, flipping the lid open. It’sThe Georgiaheels in ice blue to match my dress. “Another pair?”

“You needed them for the dress.”

I make a wistful noise and stroke his cheek. “You’re learning.”

He grins and kisses my palm before kneeling in front of me. Heslips them on my feet, doing up the dainty straps. The sight of them between his strong fingers sends a weird twist of longing through me.

“You’re spoiling me.”

He smirks, working on the other shoe. “You deserve to be spoiled.”

“Can you imagine saying that a few months ago?”

He looks up, hand encircling my ankle. “I didn’t know what I was missing, Hellfire.”

“So this is the last present, huh?”

He shakes his head. “Nope.”

Excitement flutters in my stomach. “Are you going to give it to me?”

He stands, gazing down at me, so steady and warm. “When you’re ready.”

This again? I groan in frustration. “You’re driving me nuts.”

“Good. Now you know how it feels.”

Hazel and Rory’s wedding is beautiful, romantic, and fun.

“Hazel Hartley-Miller, I love you more than anything,” Rory says during their vows, blinking away vulnerability and emotion from his eyes. He looks so dashing and handsome with his blond hair, sparkling eyes, and black tux.

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