A bright energy infused her veins. For the first time in her life, there was someone who understood her, who encouraged her. On an impulse, she threw herself at him. Arms wrapped around his neck, she pressed a hard kiss to his cheek. It lasted only a few seconds, half a minute at the most.

And yet, she couldn’t forget the steely cage of his arms around her waist.

Pulling away, she refused to look at him.

In her wardrobe, she pulled out a knee-length, sleeveless cream silk dress, one of the classiest creations she’d ever seen.

The dress slithered over her skin with a soft whisper. But she couldn’t get the back zipper all the way.

Face frozen into an unaffected smile, she walked back out and presented her back to him. “Zip me up.”

An aeon seemed to pass before he tugged the zipper up, and another eternity when the pads of his fingers lingered on the nape of her neck.

“Do I look good enough to be Mrs. Vittori now?”