Page 34 of Married to the Beasts
It’s distracting, knowing people are watching us and taking pictures of us, but I do my best to ignore them.
“Let’s see that one,” Conal tells the salesperson as he points to a dazzling round diamond.
I’m encouraged to try it on, and when I do, I’m awed by the size and sparkle of it. I’m not sure I’dfeel comfortable wearing something that must be unbelievably expensive.
“No?” Conal reads my face, then points to another. “How about this one?”
Part of me wants to tell him that I not only don’tneedan engagement ring, but also kind of don’twantone, especially one so big, but it feels rude to refuse, especially when it’s a symbol of our marriage. It doesn’t help my case that my wedding band is v-shaped, and is made to fit around a larger diamond.
I scan the case for rings with smaller diamonds, but instead one catches my eye that has a large diamond with two smaller ones nestled beside it. It’s not ideal that the stones are different sizes, but I love that there are three to represent Conal and his brothers.
Conal notices me noticing, and asks the salesperson to bring it out. I can’t help but smile when I see it on my finger.
He grins at me, his eyes sparkling almost as much as the gems. “This is the one, isn’t it?”
Rafe and Bron have been nearby, seemingly disinterested, but both come closer and lean in to check out the ring.
“I really like it,” I tell Conal with a nod.
“Then it’s yours.” He gives me a lingering kiss, holding my ringed hand in his, and I forget all about the strangers who are watching us.
“We’ll be able to size it for you in fifteen minutes, if you’re able to wait,” the salesperson says after Conal and I break apart. The ring is a little bit loose on my finger.
“We’ll wait. I want her to be able to wear it home.” Conal’s talking to the salesperson, but focused on me, and I wish we were alone, because the way he’s looking at me makes me want to do a lot more than kiss him.
“Want to look at some other pieces?” he asks when the salesperson goes in the back. “Maybe a necklace?”
“We can look, but I don’t want anything else.”
He gives me an odd look, but doesn’t say anything. The paparazzi are still surrounding the shop’s entrance, and there are more of them now. I’m surprised they haven’t gotten plenty of shots already, but they’re still aiming their cameras at us.
We browse to fill the time, and I politely turn down another offer from Conal when I admire a bracelet. After that, I’m careful not to show any one item too much attention, for fear he’ll buy it even if I protest.
When my ring is ready, Conal makes a show of sliding it on my finger and kissing me again. “Let’s give them some shots,” he says, gesturing with a nod toward the hoard of photographers.
It seems like they’d already have all they need, but Conal holds my hand out and displays my ring for them. We’re not close to them, but with their lenses, I’m sure they can capture every facet of the diamond. He kisses me some more, then signals to the security team to disperse the crowd.
“Ready to go, Mrs. Curran?” The name is a surprising thrill every time I hear it.
“Thank you for the beautiful ring,” I tell him.
“My pleasure.”
I assume we’ll be going home after ring shopping, but instead, we go to the airport, where a helicopter is waiting for us.
HAZEL
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“Just some sightseeing. Have you ever been in a helicopter?” Conal asks.
“No.”
We’re given a safety briefing, though the men look like they’ve heard it all before, which I’m sure they have. We don headphones, and then we’re off, flying over Lake Mead and then Hoover Dam, which is dizzying viewed from above.
Having such a different perspective on the desert landscape is fascinating, and I’m constantly looking out the windows, though the men are often watching me more than the scenery. I take dozens if not hundreds of pictures with my phone, and that’s before we reach our destination: the Grand Canyon.
In fact, we land in the canyon, and my heart is beating double time as the helicopter touches down. The view was already spectacular, and now we’re immersed in it. The warm colors, the ancient rock formations, the vivid blue sky above—it’s all too much to even put into words, so I keep snapping away, surely taking more pictures than the paparazzi took of us.
