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Trista gasps as she ogles the diamond necklace in horror “You said this wasn’t a date”

I grimace, because I did tell her that in a fit of anxiety after I asked her to go to this, then hid behind my excuse that it was part of her job duties to me “Relax, Trista It’s on loan froht”

Trista’s chest decompresses with the amount of air she expels in relief, but then I reach intoit to her, I say, “But… I did buy these for you to ith the necklace They’re yours to keep”

I busythe necklace out of the box to undo the clasp It’s a beautiful graduated diamond tennis necklace that I think Helena told ht are each a carat, although I could have afforded er But that spoke too s I wasn’t ready to talk about, so I went smaller so there was no pressure on either side

“They’re beautiful,” Trista s

“Here,” I say gruffly as I hold the necklace up “Turn around so I can put this on you”

I easily clasp the necklace around her neck, running et a blast of satisfaction over the way she shivers She turns back in her seat, taking her gold hoops out of her ears and putting in the dia the visor mirror down, she looks at herself with a smile

“Thank you,” she says without looking at me Her voice is so ith affection, I feel my throat constrict Almost as if she could sense my unease, she adds, “For a non-date… you know, actually just working tonight, I’ home a pretty nice haul”

The tension within s, let me remind you”

Trista grins as she turns in her seat to face h and squeezes “Seriously… thank you The earrings are totally unnecessary but totally appreciated”

I s A prize Aand shiny that denotes I achieved sos I’ for Trista are the achievement, and I don’t know if that makes me happy or scared

CHAPTER 22

Trista

Jerico and Iat the items available for silent auction bids The charity dinner is being held at the Bellagio and is set to begin soon But first, patrons are liquored up and then set loose on the tables, all to raise money for homeless veterans