Chapter 8
EIGHT
JUSTIN
I drop to my knees in front of the glass case.
“This one.” I point at a square-cut solitaire diamond on a platinum band nestled on a piece of velvet. “Can I see this one?”
The clerk, removes the ring as I rise to my feet.
“I have a good feeling about this one,” I say to Kendrick, who is shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other.
“Yeah, okay.” He shoves his hands deeper into his pockets.
Clearly, he isn’t enjoying this trip to the jewelry store as much as I am. In his defense, I asked him to join me for a beer. But in mine, the store is on its way to the bar.
I take the ring the clerk offers and hold it up to the light. It catches the light, sending blue and purple sparkles around it.
“What do you think?” I ask him.
He lifts a shoulder. “It’s fine.”
I frown and hand the ring back. “How about this one?”
The clerk hands me another ring. This one with a delicate band and a clear blue stone surrounded by a halo of smaller diamonds.
The blue stone—I think the clerk called it an aquamarine—reminds me of Gigi’s eyes. My heart pounds faster.
“This is it.” I swallow past a lump in my throat. “This is Gigi’s ring.”
Kendrick’s eyebrows shoot up, but he says nothing.
I hand over my credit card and bounce on my heals. This is pretty damn exciting. Even if not everyone seems to get it. While the clerk takes the ring and fits it into a velvet box, I turn back toward Kendrick.
“Look, I told you we’d go to the bar, and we’ll go to the bar. You can quit pouting.”
His pout settles more deeply. “I’m not pouting?”
“Really, because you could have fooled me.”
“I just…” He shakes his head. “I don’t know what we’re doing here.”
Now it’s my turn to gape at him like he’s an idiot. “I told you. I need a ring for Gigi to wear so people will think we’re engaged.”
“Right, but wouldn’t any ring have worked? Even one of those fake rings from a toy machine.”
The clerk gasps in shock and I just roll my eyes as if to say, ‘Men, what can you do?’
“No.” I lower my voice. “Gigi deserves a ring as special as she is.”
“For a fake engagement.”
“Fake or not, she deserves the best.” Completely over his piss poor attitude, I launch into an explanation of all the reasons why Gigi is amazing and deserves a ring that’s worthy of her. She’s smart. Funny. Talented. Beautiful.
The more I list, the more Kendrick’s expression. “Oh my God.”
I frown at him. “What?”
“You love her.”
I start to tell him not to be ridiculous, but clamp my mouth shut. There’s no point in telling him he’s wrong.
Not when he’s right.
I clear my throat. “It doesn’t change anything.”
“Of course, it does.”
“No.” I shake my head. “Gigi’s life isn’t here. She has dreams and talent that are bigger than anything she can find in a small town like this with a guy like me who isn’t going anywhere.”
Kendrick’s frown returns. “You don’t usually sell yourself short like that.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not usually comparing myself to someone like Gigi. She deserves better. She deserves the best.”
“Don’t you think maybe she should be the one to decide that?”
I suppose it’s a fair question, but I don’t have the answer. Not yet.
***
I bring my truck to a stop in front of Aaron and Selena’s house. The small velvet box weighs down my pocket.
I’m just going to give her the ring and tell her I’ll see her at the wedding tomorrow. That’s it. If Gigi invites me in for a drink, I’ll make an excuse. I’ve already muddied the waters more than enough where she’s concerned.
Feeling as nervous as a kid picking up his date on prom night, I take a deep breath and raise my hand to knock on the door. It swings open before I can knock a second time.
Aaron opens it, eyeing me warily.
“Justin. Hey.” He steps aside to let me in. “Were we expecting you?”
“Actually, I?—”
“You’re here to see Gigi, of course.” Selena waltzes into the room, spritzing some perfume on her wrist as she does. “The two of us are headed out for date night, but you can go on back to her room.”
Aaron looks as if he’d like to object to that suggestion, but Selena grabs him by the arm. She waves me goodbye as she all but drags him out the door.
It clicks behind them.
Great. Gigi and I alone in a house. In her bedroom. That’s just what I need.
It’s tempting to leave the ring on the entry table and text her later that she can find it there. But that would be cowardly. And while I may be a lot of things, I’m not a coward.
Pulling back my shoulders, I walk down the hallway to one of the new guest rooms I built on for Aaron. Clearing my throat, I knock on the door to Gigi’s room.
“Hello!” she calls out.
“Hey, it’s me.”
The door swings open and all thoughts of tossing her the ring and dashing flee my head. Wearing a soft flowing dress that shows off her curves in all the right places, Gigi beams at me.
“Well.” She motions to her dress. “What do you think?”
“Gorgeous.” I shake my head, still gaping at her. “You look absolutely fucking gorgeous.”
“Aw, shucks.” She reaches for my hand and pulls me inside. “Can you believe I made it?”
“Actually, yeah. I can.” I follow her and barely register that she’s closed the door behind me. I’m too light-headed to notice. “I knew you were talented, but I had no idea you were this good.”
“Flatterer. Now, could you do me a favor? I want to see how this looks zipped up.” She turns her back to me. “Can you help me?”
I suck in a breath as I’m greeted by Gigi’s smooth bare skin. Without thinking, I reach out to stroke it. The light touch of her skin against my hand sends a fireball of lust through me.
In that second I stop thinking. I’m beyond the power of thought.
The only power I’m under is Gigi and spell she’s bound around me.