“I didn’t know what cut you wanted, so I brought several to help you decide.”
Greer watched Holly’s eyes flicker over the precious stones. Her eyes lit up on one in the top corner before skittering away. She then reached for one in the lower corner, but Greer stopped her, plucking the ring she had first glanced at and handing it to her.
“Try this one on,” he ordered, knowing when she bit her lip that she wanted to ask how much. “Holly, trust me. Try this one.”
Her hand trembled when he slid the ring onto her finger. It was a perfect fit.
“That’s an excellent choice. It’s the best ring we have in the store.” She started explaining the cut and clarity that made it so unique. “If you go to the window, you’ll really be able to see how the sun will play over the yellow diamond.” The jeweler laughed. “You said you wanted sparkle; that ring has it.”
“Yes, it does.” Greer stood up, taking Holly’s arm to lift her to her feet then taking her to the window so the ring would hit the light just right.”
“It’s beautiful,” she breathed out.
“You like it?”
“I love it,” she admitted, then shook her head as if to pull herself out of a daze. “But we don’t know how much it—”
“Don’t matter.” He turned back to the saleswoman. “We’ll take it.”
Even the saleswoman raised an eyebrow at the quick choice, hesitating. “It’s twenty-two thousand dollars.”
“Is that best price you can do? I saw a bunch of sale banners outside.”
“I can ask my manager if we can give a small discount,” she said, getting up.
“Bring him in here. Let’s make this happen.” He sat back down at the desk, and Holly sat down beside him. When she would have taken the ring off, he stopped her. “Keep it on. Possession is ninety-nine percent of the law.”
The salesclerk practically ran out of the room at that.
When Holly gave him a furious glare, he shrugged. “I was jerking her chain.”
“Will you please try to behave?”
“I ain’t making no promises.” He straightened his relaxed posture when the manager came into the room.
“Hello, Cheira told me you want to buy a ring.”
“That’s a beautiful name for a beautiful woman.” Greer gave her a flattering smile before setting his sights on the manager. “There’s no if about it.” Greer reached out, lifting Holly’s hand to the jeweler so the man could see the ring he intended to buy.
“That’s an excellent choice.”
Greer decided it was time to quit fooling around. It was time to talk money.
“Those are exactly the same words Cheira used. Darling, let me see that ring for a minute,” he asked of Holly, not taking his eyes off the manager.
Taking the ring when Holly handed it to him, with his other hand, he reached in his pocket. Feeling Holly jerk, his lips curled in a reassuring smile as he took out his loupe, showing the salespeople he had brought his own.
“You mind?”
The manager’s eyes narrowed on his. “No, go ahead. We certify our diamonds to very exacting standards.”
Greer didn’t become distracted, searching for the clarity. The loupe on the desk was a standard 10x magnification. His was stronger and had an achromatic, aplanatic lens. He would be able to see the tiniest inclusions that feathered out in the stone.
Standing up, he went back to the window, making sure it didn’t affect the appearance of the diamond. It also didn’t affect the stone itself.
Greer lowered the loupe, staring at the stunning beauty of a ring. It was the ring he wanted to see on her hand.
“I’ll give you fifteen.” Giving the low-ball offer, he returned to his seat, taking Holly’s hand and sliding the ring back on her finger.
“It’s twenty-two thousand. I may be able to come down slightly if you apply for a credit card—”
“No credit card. I have cash.”
“We don’t take checks.”
“It’s not a check in my back pocket; it’s green. I’ll give you sixteen. The diamond is yellow; how many women come into your store looking for yellow diamonds?”
The manager’s mouth started flapping like a fish without water. “Yellow diamonds are popular right now—”
“Not that popular in Jamestown. I bet my woman is the first woman to try that ring on. How long have you had it in the store?”
“It doesn’t matter. We have a branch in Lexington. If I can’t sell it here, I’ll send it there.”
“I’m willing to bet that they sent it here, hoping you could sucker someone into buying it.”
The manager on the other side of the desk took a thin calculator out of his suit pocket. “I can discount the ring to twenty thousand.”
“You want to stay in Jamestown forever? You sell that ring, that’ll make the store in Lexington take notice.”
He punched numbers in the calculator again. “Nineteen five. And that’s as low I can go.”
“I think sixteen five sounds better. We know the mark-up in jewelry. I’ll tell you what, you sell that ring for sixteen five, and I’ll make sure everyone buying jewelry in Treepoint comes here. I also have a friend who lives here in Jamestown who is always buying his wife a pretty piece of jewelry. I’ll make sure he shops here and mentions it to all his friends.”
“What’s your friend’s name. Maybe I already know him?”
“I don’t know his last name, but I’ll make sure when Stud comes by to introduce himself.”
“Stud?”
“He’s the president of the Destructor’s Motorcycle Club. You know him?”
The manager’s face went white. “I’ve heard of them.”
“Have you heard of The Last Riders, too? They have a club in Treepoint and a branch in Ohio.”
“I heard of them, too.”
“Me and Viper are best friend. He’s the president, and he’s always buying his wife jewelry. I’m his daughter’s godfather.” He kept his face impassive as the manager began to sweat. He held his out for the man to shake. “We got a deal?”
The unnerved man put his calculator back in his pocket before shaking his hand. “Let Cheira take the ring. She’ll clean it and put it in a box for you.”
“Holly will wear it. You can put the box in a bag.”
The manager watched at his assistant left with the ring, drawing a ticket book toward himself and scribbling the price of the ring on a ticket before handing it to him.
Greer pulled an envelope of cash out of his back pocket, letting the manager stare at it greedily as he counted out the hundred-dollar bills. He took out enough to pay for the ring, mentally calculating the tax. Closing the envelope, he shoved the remaining wad of cash back into his pocket.
When the manager excused himself, Greer leaned back in his seat, satisfied with the deal he had worked out. Whistling, he saw Holly staring at him.
“What?”
“You browbeat that poor man to give that ring for a lower price.”
“Damn right. He saw I wasn’t a sucker when I walked in through that door.”
“You’re no sucker. You’re a—”
“Careful. You might hurt my feelings again.”
She gave an exaggerated sigh, and Greer whistled louder then stopped when the saleswoman came in with the ring and the change from the sale. The manager obviously didn’t want to see his face again.
Taking the change, he thumbed through the bills, taking a fifty-dollar bill and handing it to the woman. “Buy yourself dinner from me. I appreciate your help.”
The flustered woman took the fifty, tucking it into her pocket. “Thank you.”
Taking the ring from her, Greer slid it on Holly’s finger. Turning her palm over, he then placed a kiss on it before pressing her fingers closed.
“What was that for?” Holly stared up at him, enraptured, as the saleswoman looked on approvingly.
“For agreeing to marry me.”
“You’re a lucky
woman.” The salesclerk went all misty-eyed.
Greer grinned cockily, puffing his chest out. “Yes, she is.”
20
Sharpshooter: Can I come over?
Kentuckygirl: No.
Sharpshooter: Why not?
Kentuckygirl: Because I’m still angry with you.
Sharpshooter: You can’t blame a man for trying to save some money.
Kentuckygirl: You asked to take me and Logan out to celebrate our engagement then made the waitress ask King for a coupon.
Sharpshooter: You’re blaming me? I didn’t think you’d pick the most expensive steak on the menu.
Kentuckygirl: !!??##
Sharpshooter: Woman, are you cussing at me?
Chatroom closed.
Holly tapped her foot impatiently, waiting for Greer to show. If he wasn’t there in five minutes, she promised herself she would go back inside Diamond’s office. If she hadn’t let Dustin borrow her car so he could get his check engine light replaced, she would have already left.
Dustin said Greer would give her a ride despite her protests that she could walk. She knew the canny man planned to spend the night with her, since Logan was spending the night at his house.
Just when she was about to go inside, Beth and Lily drove up, parking in front of her building. The two women got out of their car, greeting her.
“You two seem like you’re on a mission,” Holly said after returning their greeting.
Beth’s blond hair glinted in the sun, while Lily’s hair was dark. The two sisters were the nicest people in town. Lily ran the church store, and her sister worked with the elderly, so they could retain their independence living at home.
“We are having a night out with our friends. Would you like to come?” Lily asked enthusiastically.
“I’d love to, but I’m waiting for Greer.”
Beth smiled. “Shade said you’re engaged. Congratulations.”
“Thank you. You’re both invited. I haven’t decided on the date yet.” Holly started to ask how Shade had found out so soon but then decided she didn’t want to know.
“He said you’re getting married next week.”
Lily’s husband knew a lot, it seemed.
“Did he mention the day and time? I’d kind of like to know, since I’m planning it being three months from now.” She had already given up on the six months, deciding any normal man would be able to wait. Now she realized she would be lucky to talk him into three months.
“No, but do you want me to find out?” Lily asked seriously then laughed when her older sister nudged her. “I do know when the bachelor party is. It’s next Friday. He invited Shade, Viper, and Knox.”
Greer honking his horn had them looking up as he pulled in next to Beth’s car. Unconcerned at the noise he made, he jumped out of his truck.
“Hey, girls, you waiting for me?”
Beth and Lily rolled their eyes at Greer’s greeting.
“No, we’re going out with Diamond and some other friends. We tried getting Holly to go out with us, but she refused,” Beth explained.
“She show you that big honker I gave her?”
“Not yet.”
Embarrassed, Holly held out her hand, showing them her engagement ring.
“It’s beautiful,” Beth complimented as Lily agreed. “Congratulations!” Beth started to hug him, but Greer stepped back, making the women stare at him awkwardly.
“Don’t need The Last Riders kicking my ass for touching their women. You ready, Holly?”
“Yes.” Holly tried to breach the uncomfortable moment. “I’ll talk to you later. Bye.”
The women went inside as she climbed into Greer’s truck.
She waited until they were inside her house to broach the subject of why he had acted so strangely.
“Do you not like Beth and Lily?”
Greer sat down on the couch. “I guess they’re all right. Why?”
She took off her shoes before curling up on the couch next to him. “You didn’t let them give you a hug.”
“I didn’t want to make you jealous. What’s for dinner?”
“Is that all you think about?”
“No, I think about sex a lot, too.”
Holly didn’t want to step into that one. She started to get off the couch when she found herself pulled down over his lap.
“I asked Lucky to marry us next Sunday at two p.m.”
Holly was already shaking her head before he could get out the time. “Then you need to call and cancel. I can plan a wedding in three months. It’ll be hard, but it’s manageable.”
“What do you need done? You don’t have to do anything, other than get a dress and put it on. I can take care of the rest.”
Placing her hands on his shirt, she fiddled with one of the buttons. “What about the location? I thought we’d get married at the church. I need to reserve—”
“I thought we’d get married at the field behind the house. But if you want—”
“That field isn’t even cleared off. It’s full of briars and tree limbs. I like the idea of an outdoor wedding. Sutton’s property has a pretty clearing. If she doesn’t mind, we could get married there. I’ll have to choose the flowers I want and see if Abe can get them in time. We’ll have to hire a caterer, too.” She held her hands in the air. “You see now why we can’t do it next week? It’s impossible.”
Greer brought his hand to her thigh, rubbing it soothingly. The warmth coming from him didn’t make her drowsy. It made her feel tingly and warm.
When she felt him nudge her hair behind her ear, placing a kiss on her jawline, she wavered in her determination.
“I guess, since it’s going to be an outdoor wedding, we could do it at the end of the month.”
“I already paid for King to cater it. And who needs flowers when we’ll have nature’s glory?”
She tilted her head back. “You can be very spiritual sometimes, despite missing church unless you’re trying to ask Jo out on a date.”
“Me and church have a love/hate relationship. I love God, but I hate the hypocrites who go to church every Sunday.”
“Greer, we don’t go to church for anything else but the love of God. You’re responsible for your own actions, not the person sitting next to you.”
“My woods are my church. I have an understanding with God.”
“You do?”
His lips had been exploring her neck. At her question, he lifted his head to stare down into her eyes. “He doesn’t expect me to do anything I can’t do, and I don’t expect Him to do anything He can’t do.”
Her forehead lowered to his. “You’re an all-or-nothing kind of man, aren’t you?”
“Pretty much.”
“Are you going to let me do the invitation list?”
“That you can do. But I was just thinking Dustin, Rachel, Cash, Tate, Sutton, and Logan. If you have to invite more, you can invite Drake, Bliss, and Darcy.”
“Diamond is my matron of honor.” She placed her hand on his cheek, not letting him look away, feeling the tautening muscles of his jaw underneath her fingertips.
“Then Diamond and Knox.”
“I just invited Beth and Lily, so I have to invite their husbands and children.”
“Anyone else? Or we just going to invite the whole damn county?”
“There is Viper, Winter, and Aisha, since she’s your goddaughter.”
“I might have exaggerated the extent of their friendship.”
“Doesn’t matter. Winter teaches Logan Sunday school, so I’m inviting them.”
“Damn, woman, the wedding is going to cost me a fortune.”
“I have some cash. I decided not to have my breast surgery.”
“So, can we get married next Sunday?”
“Like I have a choice?” She patted his cheek then started to get off his lap.
“Where you going? I was getting started?”
“I thought you wanted me to fix dinner?” She sank back down onto his lap,
taking her time unbuttoning his shirt.
He placed a hand over hers, preventing her from opening the last button. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were the one who decided to get married so quickly.”
“No, that was all your idea. I’ve just decided to go with the flow. It’s hopeless trying to fight against you. It’s easier to give in.”
“So, you’re giving in?”
She nodded before twisting sideways and falling on the couch. She stared up at him as she licked her bottom lip and stretched out on the couch, her hands raised above her head. Sensuously, she then held her arms out to him.
He was bending down to her when his cell phone went off.
“Fuck!” Greer snarled. “What’s a man got to do to get laid?” Jerking his cell phone out of his pocket, he barked, “What!”
Holly used her elbow to raise herself then nearly toppled onto the floor before she caught herself.
“I’ll be there in a minute.” Greer pushed her legs off his lap, standing up.
“Where are you going? What’s wrong?”
He didn’t even bother buttoning his shirt as he ran toward the door.
“Greer, tell me what’s wrong?” she screeched, jumping off the couch to run after him. He was almost out the door before she managed to catch the tail end of his shirt. “Tell me!”
“Someone broke into our house. I don’t have time to explain now. I’ll talk to you later—”
“I’m coming.” She started after him.
“No! Stay here! Knox isn’t going to let anyone in until he’s finished. Dustin will be coming over with Logan.”
At Logan’s name, she held back, though she really wanted to go with him.
She watched as Greer peeled out of the driveway and took the corner toward his house. She didn’t bothering closing the door, waiting for Dustin to show up. She knew he would want to hurry home as much as Greer was.
Two minutes later, Dustin’s car came down the road at a more sedate pace.
She went to the driveway, ready to open the car door, when he stopped.
Logan unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of his booster seat. She wanted to ask Dustin questions but didn’t when she saw the warning he flashed over his shoulder.