Chapter Twelve
Noah
After my brothers leave, I shove another Danish into my mouth. It isn’t as good as the ones Bobbi makes, but it’ll do.
I chew contemplatively and look at Marilyn smiling at me from the wall. She’s hot in the picture, but not as hot as Bobbi. I pull up the security feed again and watch her. The heated, resolute expression on Bobbi’s face as she flips me the bird…
As I gaze at her, the world seems brighter and more colorful. My heart beats with more vigor. Guys have a name for this: one-itis. And probably a lot of them would say that sex with another woman would fix it, but they’d be wrong. If that’s what was needed, it would’ve already happened. But the plain fact is, I’m not really interested in other women anymore, and Bobbi already feels like a necessary fixture in my life.
I don’t want to experience that weird apathy again—the odd ennui that made me not care whether I lived or died on that plane. It wasn’t until Bobbi flashed through my mind that there really seemed to be a reason to keep on living.
Since coming clean is out of the question, I’ll need to use flowers and jewelry. Grant and Sebastian are correct about that. After all, their wives haven’t left them yet.
Okay, decision made.I hop in the car and take a leisurely drive down to the Peery Diamonds flagship store in Los Angeles. Headed by my sister-in-law Lucie, it’s full of exceptional items. But most importantly, whatever I do here won’t end up in Sebastian’s ear. If I purchase anything at Sebastian Jewelry, my brother will not only hear about it, he’ll start a fraternal group-text just to give me shit.
My brothers can group-text to admire me later—after I smooth things out with Bobbi.
I cross Peery’s pale champagne floor. Crown-shaped chandeliers glow over my head, and the speakers emit gently flowing notes from Debussy’s Arabesque Number One. My eyes sweep across spotless glass cases, sparkling gemstones laid out on dark navy velvet like stars spilled across moonless night sky.
There are lots of nice pieces, but nothing really captures my attention. A crisply dressed clerk comes over. “Hello, my name is Albert. May I assist you, sir?”
“I need something for an exceptional woman.” I tilt my chin at the displays. “I’m not seeing anything that really grabs me.”
His smile grows broader as he slowly blinks. Guess every guy who comes here says, “I’m looking for something for an exceptional woman.”
Now that I think about it, they probably all do. When did I become such a cliché? I think with disgust. I can do better.
“Perhaps some direction, sir, as to the character of the lady in question?”
“Right. Okay, she works with her hands a lot, so maybe a necklace. Not anything delicate.” Bobbi’s a woman of strength and resolute will. And sassy, I think with a grin at the memory of her on the security camera. “Fiery. Strong. But she’s also a dreamer. And she doesn’t just dream, she turns things into reality.”
Albert nods with a smile as polished as the diamond in front of me. “Would you like to look at our catalogue, then?”
“Sure. Show me.”
He leads me to a quiet room and brings out a glossy catalogue as an associate serves a glass of champagne. “Here you are, sir.”
I flip through the pages casually while sipping the excellent Dom. Everything’s pretty, but nothing screams, I am what Bobbi deserves.
Is Sebastian Jewelry really going to be my best option? I could wear a fake moustache…
Or maybe something custom made would be better. Masako Hayashi does great work, although she’s probably booked until next year. But she owes Dad a favor, and I could probably cash that in. He’ll say yes if there’s a possibility of getting a grandbaby out of the deal…
And then, suddenly, there it is. Brilliant blood-red rubies, each stone surrounded by clear diamonds, the whole thing set in platinum. The red stone in the center is round like the burning sun, marquis-cut diamonds surrounding it. The necklace is big enough to make a bold, feminine statement, but not so big that it’s vulgar. I can see it around Bobbi’s neck, how it will glitter and enhance her already incredible beauty.
“This. This is the one.”
“Ah. An exceptional choice.” Albert looks at the picture. “It’s currently in our store in Tokyo, but it can be overnighted for you.”
“Do it.” I hand him my black AmEx.
“Very good, sir.” He gives me his most reassuring smile.
I sign off on the purchase agreement for the necklace and the credit card slip, then hear a familiar voice.
“Wow.”
Bobbi?!My heart does a little samba, her voice music to my soul.
“It’s so pretty.”
She must be here to buy something sparkly to cheer herself up. What perfect timing. I can feel a grin start to spread over my face. I should go see whatever it is that she’s looking at and spoil her.
“Just the piece for a romantic proposal,” says a conspiratorial female voice.
A what? I get up, convinced the sales clerk must’ve misspoken. Through the doorway to the adjoining private room, I can see Bobbi standing over a display. The lighting in the store is designed to showcase the precious stones, but it’s Bobbi who shines the brightest, her silken hair spilling over her shoulders and her beautiful eyes on some bauble in front of her. She isn’t wearing any makeup, but her cheeks are rosy and her lips soft, so she doesn’t need to. Her small smile widens, and the impact hits me like a wrecking ball.
My pulse flutters. Something warm and sweet and infinitely soft starts to fill my heart. Bobbi doesn’t seem to notice me, her focus on the gleaming stone in front of her.
“Yup,” she says to the salesperson, tucking a stand of hair behind an ear. “Super romantic.”