“Anyway, have you seen my necklace?” Jessica asked, touching her bare collarbone.
It was a gift from Richard, and she couldn’t afford to lose it.
“Top drawer on the nightstand,” Zachary replied.
“Okay.”
She nodded quickly and rushed upstairs to change. She didn’t want to be around him for another second.
When she pulled the top nightstand drawer open, she slammed it shut in a panic at the next
second.
A rush of heat flooded up to her neck, flushing her cheeks crimson. Her whole body felt like it was on fire, even in the middle of winter.
When did he even buy such a thing? He had clearly been prepared this whole time, so why did he still shut her out?
Jessica’s cheeks burned. Even scarfing down hot chili peppers wouldn’t feel this intense. She swallowed hard, and still a bit shaken, slowly opened the drawer again.
The pearl necklace and earrings sat neatly inside a small box, but next to it was another box.
Curious, she opened it and found a tulip–shaped brooch inside. It caught the light and reflected soft, colorful glints. Jessica leaned in to take a closer look.
The design was unique, intricate, and clearly a handmade piece–the kind one would only find with custom pieces.
Zachary leaned against the doorframe. “Like it?”
Jessica flinched. That gave her a fright! How long had he been standing there? And what exactly was he asking about?
“I do,” Jessica answered with flushed cheeks. Tightly clenching her fists, she rose to her feet in a hurry.
He smiled. “Glad you do,”
“Thank you.”
She gently pushed the drawer shut, then quickly changed the subject when she noticed the bag from last night. “I got you something, too.”
She walked over to the bed, pulled out her jacket from the bag, then carefully retrieved the two
Chapter 77
shirts and suit she had made for him. Holding them up, she turned to gauge his reaction.
2/3
Zachary lazily strolled over in his house slippers. So, that was what she meant last night when she said, “It’s his.” He was the one she was talking about.
Like he had just won a battle, he grinned from ear to ear, feeling victorious. Jessica had allowed herself to open her heart to him, and that was more than enough for him.
Her heart raced as she watched him come closer, all casual and handsome with that cocky charm of his. Her palms were sweating, and she felt a little unsteady on her feet.
“You should… try it on yourself.”
Jessica glanced sideways at him, her cheeks burning red. She quickly shoved the clothes into his arms and rushed past him. “I’ll wait for you downstairs.”
Then, she bolted like a kid who got caught sneaking candy.
Zachary chuckled softly. He ran his slender fingers over the fabric and lowered his head to sniff the white shirt, almost like he could still catch the lingering scent of her fingertips on it.
His entire wardrobe was black. He had no idea why she kept choosing white shirts for him, but
honestly, he was starting to like it.
Downstairs, Jessica waited less than ten minutes before Zachary came down the stairs holding
a tie.
He was wearing the white shirt and black suit jacket she had made, paired with his own pants. She hadn’t had time to finish a full set yet–or rather, she hadn’t gotten the chance to
measure his waist.
Their relationship so far had only covered the upper half of his body. As for anything lower, that might take a little more time.
Zachary lifted the corners of his lips slightly and walked over to the couch where Jessica was sitting. “You made this?”
She jumped to her feet, nodded quickly, and glanced up at him with a nervous look on her face.
There was no doubt about it–Zachary was built for suits. His broad shoulders and strong frame filled out the jacket perfectly, every line fitting just right.
“The top button won’t close,” he said, tugging lightly at the collar as he sat down on the couch and looked at her.
Jessica froze. From this close, his sharp cheekbones were right in front of her, and she could even see the fine pores on his smooth skin.
He was irrefutably gorgeous. He had thick, dark lashes and deep brown eyes that always held a
Chapter 1)
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hint of melancholy, but somehow made him seem both distant and impossible to ignore when they sat behind his glasses.
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