Page 106 of No Saint

“I want to feel beautiful,” She tells me, dipping her eyes, “But I don’t think I feel it.”

I soften, unable to help that second nature when it came to her. “Amore mia,you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, you understand. No one could ever compare.”

“My scars…”

“Your scars make you theleonessayou are. They make you a warrior, a fighter, do not ever doubt your strength.”

She nods but doesn’t appear convinced.

I place the paper bag on the vanity.

“I got something for you today.”

Her blue eyes meet mine, “You did?”

“I did.” I confirm, “Now believe me, there isn’t a single thing in this world that could ever compare to you.”

“Gabriel,” she starts.

“Listen,” I order, sealing her lips.

She closes her mouth.

She really did look beautiful tonight.

I pull the larger of the two boxes from the bag, laying it on the vanity. I open it, the necklace inside catching and glinting in the lights set up around the mirror.

“Gabriel,” she gasps.

“This is the rarest diamond in the world,” I say to her, “I couldn’t find anything better fitting to match you, Amelia.” I lift the necklace from its bedding. A thin gold chain that would sit close to her throat but in the center dangles another chain, straight down and on the end sits a red diamond. The length of it would mean the pendant would sit right between her breasts.

“As much as I prefer my hand as your necklace, Amelia, I knew it couldn’t be there forever so this was the next best accessory for the woman who held my whole heart.”

I let my fingers wrap around her throat, my tanned skin setting off the bright gold of the necklace and forcing her chin up. “Open the other box.”

She reaches for it, popping the top to reveal the earrings in a leafy design that would climb her ear, following the delicate curve of it. In every other leaf sat another red diamond, much smaller than I’d have liked but with the way she stares at them, I can’t help but inflate my chest.

“It’s beautiful,” She breathes, picking up one to apply to her ear and the other, fingers delicately touching each stone and curve.

“For you,amore mia.”

“You didn’t have to,” she says,

“And that’s why I did, Amelia, because you deserve it when you don’t believe you do.”

“This is too much,” she breathes.

“With you, too much is not enough.”

She kisses me then, smearing that pretty lipstick while wearing the jewelry I’d bought for her and wearing the pretty dress she designed, and Sierra made. She was a walking dream.

“Give me twenty,” I tell her, “There’s one last thing.”

She nods, letting me go but I give her one last kiss before I disappear into my closet and change into a deep gray suit and white shirt. I style my hair and then take her hand guiding her down to my office.

“I want you to have fun,” I tell her, “Enjoy your time, Amelia, but I need you to be safe.”

“I know,” She nods.

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