Page 76 of Marrying Off My Husband

I noticed Eve didn’t wear very much. When I asked her about it, she said she wasn’t very good at selecting pieces. We browsed a few items in the jewelry store. I hoped to get an idea of what she liked so I could help Spencer pick out her engagement ring when the time came.

Yes, I had high, high hopes for them.

She seemed to enjoy unique pieces, deeply colored gems, and non-flashy pieces.

I chewed my lower lip as I held up a sapphire necklace to her. “What do you think?”

She glanced at it before she spotted the price tag. “I think no.”

“Oh, darlin’, don’t look at that. Look at the colors, and how it sparkles around your neck.”

“It’s very pretty. It would be nice for you.”

“I don’t do well in sapphires. Rubies are better for me, given my fiery red hair.” My mind spun with an idea. “Would you mind waiting for me outside if you’re done browsing? I wanted to ask about their loose rubies and discuss a setting.”

“Oh, I don’t mind at all,” she said.

I felt terrible chasing her away, but I needed to conduct a little business. She shuffled out the door, sliding on those heart-shaped sunglasses that looked so cute on her and sat down on the nearby bench.

I eyed her through the window as she slid a lock of hair behind her ear and stared up at the few clouds floating by in the sky. She was such a sweet woman.

“You said you wanted to see rubies?” The clerk shuffled closer to me with a grin on her face.

“Actually, I had something else in mind. I wanted something unique. Something for friends. Something matching that says you’re my bestie and I love you. Maybe a bracelet or something unobtrusive?”

After looking over several options, I settled on matching charm bracelets, thrilled by the idea that we could add on charms as we experienced new things together. I had a ruby added to mine, a sapphire to hers, and started them both with a heart charm engraved withBesties, and a second charm with a coffee cup, symbolizing where we met.

With my purchases in hand, I left the store behind.

“Did you find something you liked?”

“I did,” I answered with a grin. “Ready for dinner?”

She nodded. “Starving, actually.”

“All that shopping worked up an appetite, did it?” I asked as we made our way back to my car.

“It must have.”

We dumped our packages into the trunk, and I headed for Spencer’s. I’d forced him out of the house, so I could have a private dinner with Eve. We needed it after what happened in Savannah.

Eve helped me collect my packages from the trunk, but I was certain to keep hold of the jeweler’s bag myself.

“Just dump them here at the door, sugar,” I said as we entered.

“Oh, I could carry them upstairs. I don’t want Spencer to trip on them. Or is he already home?”

I offered her a coy grin. “Is that your sly way of asking if you’ll get a glimpse of your hunny tonight?”

She glanced at the floor, seeming embarrassed. “No.”

“Eve, it’s okay if you like him, you know.” Discomfort washed over me, wondering if she still harbored some resentment over what she’d seen in Savannah. It twisted me into knots, but I shoved it aside and led her to the pool where I’d had our dinner set up.

I raised my wine glass as we settled into our seats and toasted us. “To a lovely girls’ outing.”

Eve raised her glass to clink mine before we both took a sip. We dove into our dinner, giggling again over the painting experience from earlier.

“Gosh, I think if I wasn’t there, things could have gotten out of hand, sugar,” I said with a grin.

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