Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 86240 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86240 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Before Tayla could protest, I said, “Yes.” She looked at me and I smiled.
The sales associate asked, “Which one?” and pointed at one with diamonds.
“No,” Tayla quickly said. “That one is fine.” She pointed a finger at the plain one without diamonds.
The associate took out the gold bracelet and used a special screwdriver to lock it around her wrist.
“Looks good,” I said.
There was no mistake that Tayla liked it, too. “It’s beautiful, but no. Please take it off,” Tayla said.
I gave the associate the briefest of nods. She nodded back, and I took that as she understood my meaning. After it was back in the case, we drifted through the other rooms, but nothing caught my eye. We headed upstairs, and I grinned to myself. I ushered Tayla into the Grace Kelly Salon, knowing what we’d find there.
Tayla’s eyes sparkled like the diamonds in the display cases. I knew she wouldn’t try on any of the engagement rings, but I watched her expression carefully to gauge what struck her fancy. Soon, I saw it and made a mental note as she leaned over and spoke. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen diamonds this large in person.”
I chuckled. “Not a fan?”
“Not practical. You’d need security everywhere you go.”
I’d gotten the information I needed and said to the associate who had followed us, “Can we go see the broaches you have on hand?”
“Why don’t I take you to one of the private rooms?” The associate suggested.
We were led to a private room where the ceilings weren’t as high as in the main area, but the furnishings were still as elegant as those for the public.
“Take a seat. I’ll grab a few things for you to look at.”
After the associate left, Tayla turned to me. “Care to share why we are really here?”
I love how uncomfortably cute she looked. This wasn’t her scene, but she was being a good sport about it. “I did mention it’s my mother’s birthday.” Her sexy mouth formed an O. “She collects broaches. And since I’m in town, I thought I would see what her favorite designer had to offer.”
What I didn’t say was that Mom was distantly related to the Cartier family from long before they opened a store in the States. My bet was that Mom would tell the story tonight after she opened my gift.
“Oh,” Tayla said in response to why we were there. “That’s good and really sweet of you.”
“I send her a gift every year for her birthday and Christmas.”
“Your dad?” she asked.
“Nothing.”
I didn’t have to explain myself, though I was sure Tayla understood the disdain I had for my father.
The associate came back in with a velvet-lined tray. On it were several broaches. From simple to over-the-top, one caught my eye. I turned to Tayla. “What do you think?”
Her eyes slid over the diamond-encrusted panthers and white jade elephants with diamond accents to the same flower broach I’d decided on. “One of these,” she said.
“We have similar tastes,” I said.
“The pink is pretty, but I think I like the blue,” Tayla added.
“Good choice. This is made of aquamarines and has a one-carat pink diamond with smaller diamonds at the base,” the saleswoman said. She was referring to the diamond portion as the stigma and style parts of a flower.
“We’ll take it,” I said and handed over my card.
“You’re not going to ask how much?” Tayla blurted, and then her cheeks reddened when the associate gave her the price.
I let the associate almost leave before I got up from my seat so that I could have a private conversation with her without Tayla overhearing.
“Please gift wrap everything,” I said before I reached her.
“Sure thing, Mr. Moore.”
I added what else I was buying under my breath. The associate left, and I turned back to Tayla. I checked my watch. “From here, we will go to Mom’s if that’s okay.”
Tayla looked like she swallowed a pickle. “Yeah, okay,” she managed to say.
She was likely overwhelmed by the amount of money I’d just dropped on my mother. “If you think about it, it’s really my dad who is paying for this since he claims the money in my trust is his. And likely, Mom will leave it in her will to our daughter. I see it as a contribution to our child’s investment portfolio.”
The government paid for everything from my apartment to my meals for the last couple of years. I didn’t spend money on anything but gifts for my mother and sister. All my earnings were just sitting there. So why not buy something that would make my mother immensely happy?
Tayla’s face split into a grin. “You really believe that, don’t you?”
I closed the distance between us. “I believe that money doesn’t buy happiness. But my mother will be thrilled with her gift.” Then I kissed her. She kissed me back, the desire edging up another level. “We could skip dinner,” I suggested.