“Yes, you’re literally setting my soul on fire,” she said.
“Then we both agree to have sex in this marriage?”
“Hell, yes. I’m not living with you for a year and being a nun. If you feel the need to take a mistress, do it discreetly and for goodness sake, don’t tell me.”
“If I had a mistress, if I had anyone at all that I wanted a relationship with, do you think I would have picked up a girl in a bar and proposed?”
“I picked you up,” she corrected.
“Regardless of who initiated the plan, we have rings to select. What kind do you like?”
“The diamond kind,” she deadpanned, expecting him to balk at her remark and insist on the cheapest stainless steel $19.99 ring they carried.
Chapter 6
One look around the store, and it was obvious that it didn’t cater to the twenty dollar budget crowd. She stood beneath the dim lights of the russet interior, her hand resting tentatively on one of the many glass display cases as a clerk sized her finger at a seven and began withdrawing velvet trays of glittering rings. One after another, the clerk passed her rings and she tried them on, extending her hand to judge the fit and appearance, then glancing at her companion who shook his head. The narrow, Milgrain band bright with a tiny constellation of diamonds made her feel flushed and dizzy as a new love. She looked at Brandon who nodded.
“Something bigger. She likes that one. Do you have the same style, more carats?”
She responded with a gasp. Her eyes grew round. He was not only willing to buy the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen, but he also wanted a bigger and better one for her. She shook her head.
“This one is perfect. Really. I’d be lucky to have it.”
“You might, in your everyday life. But Mrs. Brandon Cates had better have three carats and platinum around that finger or no one would believe it was true.”
“Fair enough. Marketing I can understand. I just don’t want you to think I’m greedy,” she said.
“What I think doesn’t matter nearly as much as what the lawyers think,” he said coolly.
The clerk brought a ring of similar design but encrusted with three rows of diamonds wrapping all the way around the ring. It was like an extremely valuable and somewhat heavy disco ball on her hand. The light caught the huge diamond from every angle, making it glitter and sparkle. It was eye-popping. She looked at him incredulously.
“It’s beautiful,” she said mesmerized.
“Think you can wear it?”
“And not get mugged?”
“You won’t be mugged. You’ll be moving in a very different sphere than you’re used to, Marjorie. Does it look like something you could get live with?”
“Yeah, I guess I could live with three carats of diamonds on my hand. Sure,” she said flippantly, and the clerk boxed the ring and handed it over as Brandon slid a black credit card across the counter to him.
Marj kissed him on the lips. “Thank you, Brandon. It’s just gorgeous.”
“No, thank you. I’ll forever be in your debt.”
A folder of paperwork went with the ring, inspections and authentication and a certificate that declared it to be comprised exclusively of conflict-free stones. She carried the folder awkwardly and pointed out that he needed a ring, too. He pointed out a plain platinum band and submitted to being sized before paying for it as well.
An old man in an expensive Armani suit walked in with a pretty blonde woman who smiled at them. She wore a sparkly, black dress and spiked heels. When the man left her to go talk to the shop owner, she came over and leaned on Marj.
“Are you as drunk as I am?” she asked.
“If you’re this drunk you shouldn’t be getting married.”
Brandon laughed at Marj’s comment. “Isn’t that...wait, what’s the phrase? The pot calling the kettle black.”
Marj nudged him. “Hey! It’s different with us. We’re saving an entire company from the ice queen’s tyranny. Plus, I’m trying to help you get the keys back to your kingdom.”
“Well, I’m looking for a man with a large bulge in his right pocket,” the drunk blonde said.
Brandon had enough of her and pulled Marj away. The blonde stumbled, then caught her balance and waved goodbye to us.
“No diamonds for you?” Marj teased.
“I’ll leave the sparkle to you. Let’s get hitched.”
“Wait,” she said, seizing his hand, “give me the rings.”
Brandon complied, and she laid them on the black folder and took a picture with her phone. Then she pressed her cheek to his and smiled dazzlingly for a selfie.
“Anyone who’s getting married takes pictures of every little thing. Trust me. Those photos will go a long way to proving authenticity.”