Chapter 317

Emily Lowell finally got the frequent dates she'd been waiting for with Ryan Cunningham. Her anxious heart could finally settle.

Inside the upscale French restaurant, crystal chandeliers cast a soft glow. Emily sat poised across from Ryan, the sound of a violin drifting through the air.

Ryan reached into his suit jacket and produced a velvet jewelry box, sliding it toward her alongside ninety-nine champagne roses. "Mimi, I picked this especially for you."

Her fingers trembled slightly as she accepted the gift, her pulse racing. "Thank you."

Inside lay a rare pink diamond bracelet—the very one that had been snapped up by a mysterious bidder at last week's auction. She fastened it carefully, the gems shimmering under the light.

"It's beautiful," she murmured, turning her wrist to admire it, eyes alight with delight.

Ryan's lips curved. "Worth every minute in line if it makes you happy."

The thought of him queuing for her sent warmth through her chest. "You always put so much thought into everything."

He sliced his foie gras with deliberate grace, gaze intent. "For you? Anything."

The suggestive words made her ears burn. Throughout dinner, their conversation flowed effortlessly, each exchange laced with playful teasing and unspoken tension.

As they left the restaurant, Ryan draped her coat over her shoulders. "Let me take you home."

Emily bit her lip, reluctant for the night to end. But she nodded with practiced restraint.

Inside the limousine, neon lights flickered past the windows. The enclosed space carried the mingled scents of sandalwood and faint cigar smoke, making her heartbeat quicken.

A quiet sigh escaped him.

"What's wrong?" She turned sharply.

Ryan shook his head. "Nothing."

"Don't lie to me."

"I'd planned to introduce you to my family next week." He smiled ruefully. "But there's an issue with our medical robotics project in Switzerland. I need to handle it personally."

Her eyes brightened before dimming again. "Work comes first. We can reschedule."

"I wanted to make things official sooner." He rubbed his temple. "The project's stuck on the core algorithm. If only we could get Professor Smith on board."

"Professor Smith?"

"The leading authority in AI medical applications." Ryan launched into an animated explanation of the man's achievements before catching himself. "Sorry. I shouldn't bore you with technical details."

He shifted topics smoothly. "When are you free? My parents have been asking to meet you."