Part 40 (1/2)
Chapter Twelve.
”No diamonds,” Lara insisted as Connor drew her toward a large jeweler at the mall. It had a reputation as one of the higher-end retailers. There were a few other stores that catered to her budget, but he'd already dismissed that suggestion.
”If you want people to believe our marriage is real, you need a diamond,” Connor insisted.
They entered the store, and were immediately greeted by a male clerk. ”Is there anything I can show you?”
”Wedding rings,” Connor said.
”Sets or just bands?”
”Sets,” he replied.
The man smiled. ”Right this way.”
They followed him across the carpeted floor to a series of long gla.s.s cabinets.
”What kind of diamond are you looking for?”
Connor shrugged. ”A big one.”
”Any special shape?”
”Lara?”
She shook her head.
”Oval,” he said, as if it were the first shape that came to mind.
The man nodded and went behind a counter.
Connor started to walk after him, but she put her hand on his forearm and squeezed. ”Stop. Would you listen to me, please? I don't even wear jewelry.”
”I imagine a lot of women say the same thing before they get a wedding ring.”
”A ring, yes. I agree that I need a ring. It doesn't need to have diamonds and I certainly don't need a big-a.s.s diamond.”
”A big-a.s.s oval diamond,” he corrected.
She exhaled a ragged breath. ”Connor, please.”
”It's an investment.”
”In a two-year marriage?” she countered. ”Let's be serious. You're talking about a serious waste of money.”
”Are you going to give me a cost-per-wear a.n.a.lysis?”
She saw a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. And it made it impossible to be mad at him. ”I think you're making fun of me.”
The clerk waited, a wad of keys in hand.
”We'll disappoint him if we don't at least look,” Connor said.
”And be keeping him from making a commission from someone who may actually want to make a purchase.”
”Humor me.”
Which meant the argument was over. Just like the numerous others that had come up in the last forty-eight hours. What time to go to bed, the fact he insisted she take a bath to relax at the end of the day, the way he got her up in the morning to hit the treadmill while he rowed. He was right about the need to take care of herself, and about the benefits of them talking while she soaked in the tub.
Their nightly discussions helped keep her more focused at work the next day. He provided helpful suggestions when she wanted them, kept his mouth shut when she didn't want them. Impressively, he seemed to know the difference.
But that didn't mean she wouldn't rather have a gla.s.s of wine, eat a big hunk of chocolate for dinner, sleep in then drag through the day with no energy.
Connor pointed out a couple of rings and the man pulled out the first. He polished it with a cloth, then offered it to her. Connor intercepted it. ”Is the other one bigger?”
”Slightly,” the man said.
”We'd rather see that.” He gave the ring back.
It was a good thing the marriage was temporary. There were parts of his high-handed antics that wore her down.
With a gracious smile that said he was happy to wait on them all night if necessary, the man took out the other ring, polished it and offered it to Lara.
This time, she accepted it.
She slipped the ring on, and the diamond caught her breath. Light seemed to explode from it, and as she moved her hand, it winked. It was so simple and elegant that she couldn't help but stare.
”It suits you,” Connor said. ”I can see you wearing this to work or with a certain black dress when we go to dinner.”
No matter what she did, she couldn't look away.
He was right. It was her style-understated, timeless.
But she was also right. It was a terrible use of his financial resources. Even though she couldn't look away, she said, ”A simple band is sufficient.”
”And my wife will not wear something that's merely sufficient.”
His implacable tones broke through her reverie and she took off the ring and handed it back to the clerk. Obviously sensing a conflict, the man locked the case and moved away to give them some privacy.
”Connor, will you listen to me?”
”I promise I've taken your objections into consideration.”
”Is this the part where you act like the big bad Dom?”
”I a.s.sure you, Lara, this is no act.” He signaled for the clerk to return. ”We need it by noon tomorrow. Can you have it ready by then?”