Page 569 of Manhattan Bossholes

I took her hand in mine because I wanted a closer look at the ring’s facets, not realizing I was taking her hand in mine in front of a room full of people until I heard Lucy “aww” about it. At that point, letting go and backing away would have been more awkward than continuing, so I brazened through.

Felicity jumped like I’d electrocuted her but relaxed when she realized I was giving the ring professional scrutiny and nothing more.

“What do you think, Romeo?” She asked in a lighter tone than I’d heard her use with me. “Am I a worthy Juliet?”

She did a little curtsy.

“No. I don’t know if it works on you,” I said honestly.

She snatched her hand back, looking wounded. “And why not?”

“It’s not a good match…somehow the ring looks like costume jewelry on you.”

“Excuse me?” her eyebrows shot up. “You’re saying I make it look cheap?”

“That’s not at all what I’m saying,” I grumbled at her, taking her hand in mine again.

I studied the ring on her finger even though she was trying to squirm out of my grip. Pale skin, almost translucent, and silky soft. The ring was a giant, shiny speed bump on her delicate finger.

I looked into her eyes. “There’s no question the Aeternum is an outstanding piece of jewelry, but it’s not your ring. The right ring complements a woman, it doesn’t try to upstage her. The ring best suited for you will be a reflection of pure, natural beauty. The truth is, someone like you could wear a piece of twine around their finger and still make it look like a million bucks.”

They were statements of fact that I’d say to any shopper, but saying them to Felicity while holding her hand had a different vibe in a way I couldn’t quite explain.

Her mouth went into that pretty little O shape, and I swore I heard a literal squee come from Lucy. I glanced over and saw that she was filming us.

“Remember, you can’t—” I began.

“I know, I know,” Lucy laughed at me. “No posting. I just want to capture these moments because it’s a total swoon-fest!”

As soon as I realized what she meant, I let go of Felicity’s hand abruptly.

Sure, it might look like there was something brewing between us, because we were two attractive, red-blooded humans with needs. But how could Lucy miss the undercurrent of wary tension between us? It radiated off of Felicity. Although her hand had relaxed into mine in a way that felt almost familiar.

No, there was no way. I had to have imagined it. I was about to stress to Lucy that Felicity and I were nothing more than colleagues, but Clara tapped the glass display case with her giant emerald ring, reorienting everyone back to her.

“If I may continue,” she said in a serious voice.

Clara didn’t like foolishness, but it wasn’t like I did either.

Bernard placed another ring on the black velvet pad in front of him, and Clara picked it up and held it in front of her.

“The Novo,” she said solemnly. “Featuring two round, brilliant diamonds precisely set to frame a third round center stone. At just three carats total, it’s smaller than the rest of our new collection, but our Novo stones have an unparalleled clarity that sets them apart.”

Clara held it out to Felicity, and she gamely tried it on.

“Me likey!” Lucy sang out when Felicity held up her hand.

Everyone ooh-ed and ahh-ed over the ring, but there was only one I wanted to see, because I knew it would be perfect for someone like Felicity.

“Bernard, please get me the Eternity,” I said in a low voice.

He pulled out the ring and slid it to me on the pad right as Felicity was taking off the Novo. I held up the Eternity and cleared my throat, so everyone turned to me.

“Clara, if you don’t mind, I’ll describe this one.” Clara bowed her head to me like I was her king, and I was reminded of her flair for the dramatic. “The Eternity is a six-carat cushion-cut center diamond with perfectly aligned internal facets, set on an inlaid platinum with four high prongs. The slender band of micro-pavé-set diamonds gives this ring a sparkle quite unlike anything we’ve ever offered. It’s a stunning ring that unites modern sensibilities with the soul of a romantic.”

I turned to Felicity. Every eye was on us, including Lucy’s unblinking phone.

“May I?” I asked, holding the ring toward her.