Page 93 of Darling Obsession

“Why?”

“My staff uses the chef’s kitchen. It’s the one that’s stocked, so if I need anything, I go in there. This is the family kitchen. I don’t have a family.”

Right. Okay.

When you think about it logically…

“I guess it is kind of a waste that it’s not getting used…”

“It’s up to you,” he says. “But it’s just sitting here. It’s a fifteen-minute drive from your place. Much closer than Crave was.”

That is true.

And it’s a way bigger space.

And it has free parking.

I pick up the key, examining the gold keychain laced with what appears to be real diamonds. They can’t be real, though, right?

Wait.

“This… matches the tennis bracelet. The one I lost. I mean, it literally matches it.”

He hesitates. Then he pulls something from his pocket again and lays it on the counter. “Then I guess you have to keep it. It’s a set.”

I stare at the diamond tennis bracelet he just pulled from his pants.

“Can you please stop doing that?”

“What?”

“Please tell me there are no more diamonds in your pants.”

“There are no more diamonds in my pants.”

I pick up the bracelet, and examine both items. “You’re telling me… this keychain is real diamonds?”

Now he looks insulted. “You seemed to like the bracelet.”

“Jesus.” And now I feel bad. “Um, Harlan… I should tell you. You paid for this bracelet.” My face heats with embarrassment. “I bought it with that prepaid credit card you sent me.”

“Okay.”

“Uh… aren’t you mad?”

“Why would I be mad?”

“Because I lost a forty-five-hundred dollar bracelet that you paid for, like the day I got it? And now you’re giving me this?” I hold up the keychain, as it really sinks in that I’m clutching close to ten-thousand dollars of gold and diamonds.

“You’re a grown-ass woman, Quinn Monroe,” he says, quoting me. Is he amused right now? “I’m sure you can handle it.”

With that, he finishes his latte, sets the mug by the sink, and starts toward the door.

“Where are you going?”

“I told you, I have meetings.”

“But. Where did you find the bracelet?”

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