Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 28938 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 145(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28938 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 145(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
“You don’t need to worry over it. Focus on your show book.”
“Look book,” I correct.
“Open,” he orders.
“You’re bossy.” I laugh but open my mouth, taking the bite he’s offering. I let out a sigh from the yumminess.
“You’ll get used to it.” He spoons me another bite.
“Do you enjoy taking care of people or something?”
“I do what I’m supposed to.” Again he brings another bite to my mouth. I take it, realizing he’s doing these things to honor his uncle and whatever reason he’d left me these things. I have to remind myself that it’s not because he’s taken some interest in me.
“Can I see the will?” I wonder if maybe I’ll get an idea of why Earl did this.
“When we’re done.” Again he feeds me another bite.
“I can feed myself. I’m not that inept.” I go for the plate, not enjoying him feeding me anymore. I don’t care much for his attention now that I realize the reason he’s giving it to me. He’s probably making sure I don’t steal anything either. Since I’m poor and all. Compared to them, everyone is poor.
He grunts but gives it over. I can tell he doesn’t want to. I watch as he gets up and goes to his desk. He shuffles through something before he brings over a few papers.
“This is where he mentions you.” He shows me on the paper. I read over it. There are only a couple of lines, but like he’d told me, I was to stay three months. I’d receive the blue diamond and the Vail property.
“What is the blue diamond?”
“It was his wife’s wedding ring. It’s been in the family for generations.”
“My mom’s?” He wants me to have my mom hand over her wedding ring to me?
He shakes his head no. “He didn’t give the ring to your mother. Only his first wife.” He walks back over to his desk before coming back with the box in his hand. “I had it pulled the other day.”
“Pulled?” I ask as he opens the box and I understand immediately what he means.
You don’t leave that type of ring in a jewelry box somewhere. It’s either on a finger or locked away. The giant blue rectangle stone is easily five karats. There are two white diamonds that sit on either side of it. Those stones on their own would make a killer ring. Altogether, I don’t think I want to know what it costs.
“When the Justice men fall in love, they want the world to know their woman is taken.” Obviously. You’re not going to miss that ring on someone’s hand. The blue actually reminds me of Calder’s eyes.
It’s a piece of art. A lot of people don’t realize that. Even with fashion. It’s all art to us. The diamonds on the sides accentuate the blue diamond even more. They’re not trying to take away from the center stone. They are trying to showcase it.
“Why would he ever give that to me? I can’t take something like that.” I pull my hand back. I hadn't realized I’d reached out to try and touch it. Thankfully I caught myself before I made contact.
“Try it on.” He pulls it out of the box, and dropping down in front of me, he takes my hand in his own and slips it onto my ring finger. It fits perfectly.
“Calder.” I whisper his name.
His eyes drop to my mouth. Even on his knees next to the couch, I have to stare up at him. He’s going to kiss me. I should stop him. Instead, my eyes start to close as he leans closer. I can smell the apple tart on his lips, and I know he’s going to taste sweet.
Finally his mouth brushes mine.
“Oh shit!” I hear someone say. I jerk back to see Tucker in the doorway, his eyes wide. I realize what he must think.
“It’s not what you think!”
“Don’t you fucking knock?”
Both Calder and I speak at the same time.
“Guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Tucker mutters. This time I catch what he says. My heart drops. He thinks I’m here seducing Calder. As my mother had done to Earl I’m sure. Heat and shame rush forward as I spring to my feet.
“I’m sorry,” I say, my words only above a whisper. My throat is too tight to speak any louder. I flee, making my escape back to my room. The whole way I try to pull the ring from my finger, but it doesn’t budge. It’s stuck.
That makes two of us.
Chapter Nine
Calder
“You must hate that girl to be messing around with her like that,” Cane says as I walk onto the porch. I drop into one of the teak Adirondack chairs that Tucker and I made when we were teens for some high school shop project. Blake silently hands me a cigar.