The Winemaker's Dinner: Entrée (21 page)

“This is the—” Paul began.

“An Asscher-cut diamond, colorless and flawless, about one and a half carats with…” Ivan leaned closer for a better look. “I’d say about another half carat running down the side of a platinum setting that had better not wear
or
tear.”

“When the hell did you become a jeweler?” Micky asked.

“This isn’t the first time I’ve visited numerous jewelry stores. But thankfully last time I didn’t buy.”

“And what is the lucky lady’s size?” the salesman asked.

“Damnit!” Ivan cursed. “I don’t think she’s ever mentioned it.”

“Mr. Know-It-All doesn’t know the size of his girlfriend’s ring finger?”

“Blow me!”

“She’s a size six,” Micky replied. “Jaden was harassing me on the phone about proposing to Tasha one time, and she just happened to mention that she and Tasha were both a size six. So unless Jaden has gained sixty pounds since the last time I saw her, I’d say six is a safe bet.”

“About time you became useful!” Ivan laughed and slapped him on the shoulder. “Well, there you go, Paul. She’s a six.”

The salesman returned the ring to the box and gestured to the back of the store. “If you’ll follow me, we can get started on the paperwork.”

“I’d also like to have the inside of the band engraved. Do you do that here?”

“Yes, sir.” Paul sat at a small wooden desk and motioned for Ivan and Micky to sit across from him. After a few keystrokes, the printer behind him hummed to life. He gathered the papers from the tray and slid them across the desk to Ivan. “At the bottom of page three there’s a spot for you to write out your inscription.”

With quick strokes of the pen against the paper, he wrote the message.

“What did you put?” Micky asked, leaning over his shoulder.

“Something from the heart.”

“You aren’t going to tell me?”

“Nope.” Ivan handed the paper back to the salesman.

When Paul finished filling out the last of the paperwork, he returned it to Ivan to sign.

“Aren’t you even going to ask how much it costs?” Micky asked.

“Nope. Don’t want to know, and I don’t care.”

“Sir, all together, the ring will cost—” Paul began, but Ivan cut him off.

“I really don’t want to know. Here’s my credit card. Charge whatever you need to charge me to have it ready by a week from Wednesday. Is that doable?”

“For you, anything, sir,” Paul replied. He ran the card through the machine, and Ivan scribbled a signature and stuffed the receipt into his pocket. Then the salesman showed the men back to the front of the shop, leaving them with a warm handshake.

“That was amazing,” Micky said as they stepped out into the muggy Miami Beach air.

“I agree,” said Ivan. “Wanna grab a drink?”

“No can do. I have to get back before the better half gets too pissy.”

Ivan snickered. He was fond of Tasha, but Micky was right. She could get pissy. “All right, next time then. Thanks so much for your help with this—and everything else. It means a lot.”

“No worries, man. If everything continues to go the way it has been, you’ll be doing the same thing for me soon.”

Ivan winked and slapped him on the shoulder, “Anytime, man, anytime.”

“Later,” Micky called as he turned the corner and disappeared.

Ivan turned toward the beach and began walking. He needed a bit more time, some time alone with his thoughts. There were still so many details to be hammered out before he could pop the question—the biggest one being the six-foot obstacle named Lee that stood in Colorado waiting to meet him. Time to get a game plan. Nerves swirled within him as he anticipated the trip ahead.

“Demons”

T
ICK
T
OCK
. T
ICK
T
OCK
.

At an agonizing pace, seconds turned into minutes and minutes into hours. The hands on Jaden’s wristwatch scuttled by, and the plane finally started its descent into Denver International Airport. Two torturous weeks of nervous phone calls, awkward moments at work, menacing guilt, and a maddening inability to remember
any details whatsoever
from her damned evening with Damian came to a head when the pilot’s voice demanded that all passengers secure their seat belts and prepare for landing. Jaden secured her seatbelt and wished she could just disappear.

She’d spent every waking moment since The Day After reminding herself she’d made the right decision in burying the whole stupid incident. It was behind her, and nothing she could do or say now would make a difference. Telling Ivan would lead to heartbreak for both of them. Damian was in the past. She and Ivan were the future.

But it had been a month since she’d seen him. How would she react when they met face to face? Their last few phone calls had certainly felt strained. Would she break down and cry out her confession? Would she act awkwardly enough to alert him that something was bothering her? Or would she see him smile, smell his alluring scent, and be swept back into his arms as if nothing had ever happened? She prayed for the latter.

The ground drew closer and the buildings more discernible. Tiny cars and trucks sped along the freeway beneath them. The plane dipped and so did her stomach. Ivan’s flight was scheduled to land an hour ahead of hers, which meant he was already in the airport waiting for her, likely with flowers in hand and a grin splayed across his face. Would her mother, who hadn’t seen her in months, know instinctively that something was off?
Oh shit!
She hadn’t thought of that. And now it terrified her.

Then the plane began to bank to the left and the mountains came into view through the portal window. Immediately she smiled and felt a wave of peace wash over her. It had been far too long since she’d seen her family. The sight of the mountains reminded her who she was, where she came from. Feeling more grounded, Jaden found renewed hope that everything would be okay. She’d work to make sure it was. Yes, the biggest mistake of her life had taken her show hostage, and she was about to face the man she loved, not to mention her family, while doing her utmost to keep it together, but she could do it. She had to. She forced herself to focus on Ivan, only Ivan.
I love him, and he loves me. Our love is stronger than anything Damian or anyone else can throw at us. It will work. It will!

The plane slid to a grinding halt and moments later was docked at the gate. Tension crept back into her shoulders. This was it: truth or dare time. Truth? She was a cheating liar. Dare? Put all this behind her and make it work with the man she loved. Jaden felt her stomach rise into her throat and tried to ignore the voices.

She needs to tell
him now. She’s only
hurting him.

She isn’t
hurting anyone.
It was a mistake.

Mistake or not,
it was still wrong.

But should they both
have to suffer? Give her
time to get over it.

Time will just
make it worse.

Only if he
finds out, and he won’t.

Isn’t he worth
more than a lie?