Page 120 of Romance and Peppermint Lattes
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Cait burst out.
“I wanted to,” Lindy said earnestly. “I had to stop myself a hundred times. The worst part of it was the guilt—knowing you were in love with Paul, and loving him myself.”
Cait wasn’t sure how she would have reacted to the truth, but she preferred to think she would’ve understood, and wished Lindy well. It wasn’t as though Lindy had stolen Paul away from her.
“I don’t think I realized how I felt,” Lindy continued, “until one afternoon when I tripped over a stupid cord and fell into Paul’s arms. From there, everything sort of snowballed.”
“Paul told me.”
“He... told you about that afternoon?”
Cait grinned and nodded. “I found the story wildly romantic.”
“You don’t mind?” Lindy watched her closely as if half-afraid of Cait’s reaction even now.
“I think it’s wonderful.”
Lindy’s smile was filled with warmth and excitement. “I never knew being in love could be so exciting, but at the same time cause so much pain.”
“Amen to that,” Cait stated emphatically.
Her words shot like live bullets into the room. If Cait could have reached out and pulled them back, she would have.
“Is it Joe Rockwell?” Lindy asked softly.
Cait nodded, then shook her head. “See how much he’s confused me?” She made a sound that was half sob, half giggle. “Sometimes that man infuriates me so much I want to scream. Or cry.” Cait had always thought of herself as a sane and sensible person. She lived a quiet life, worked hard at her job, enjoyed traveling and crossword puzzles. Then she’d bumped into Joe. Suddenly she found herself demanding piggyback rides, talking to strangers in elevators and seeking out phantom women at Christmas parties while downing spiked punch like it was soda pop.
“But then at other times?” Lindy prompted.
“At other times I love him so much I hurt all the way through. I love everything about him. Even those loony stunts of his. In fact, I usually laugh as hard as everyone else. Even if I don’t always want him to know it.”
“So what’s going to happen with you two?” Lindy asked. She took a sip of coffee and as she did, Cait caught a flash of diamond.
“Lindy?” Cait demanded, jumping out of her seat. “What’s that on your finger?”
Lindy’s face broke into a smile so bright Cait was nearly blinded. “You noticed.”
“Of course I did.”
“It’s from Paul. After he had dinner with you, he came over to my apartment. We talked for hours and then... he asked me to marry him. At first I didn’t know what to say. It seems so soon. We... we hardly know each other.”
“Good grief, you’ve worked together for ages.”
“I know,” Lindy said with a shy smile. “That’s what Paul told me. It didn’t take him long to convince me. He had the ring all picked out. Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Oh, Lindy.” The diamond was a lovely solitaire set in a wide band of gold. The style and shape were perfect for Lindy’s long, elegant finger.
“I didn’t know if I should wear it until you and I had talked, but I couldn’t make myself take it off this morning.”
“Of course you should wear it!” The fact that Paul had been carrying it around when he’d had dinner with her didn’t exactly flatter Cait’s ego, but she was so thrilled for Lindy that seemed a minor concern.
Lindy splayed her fingers out in front of her to better show off the ring. “When he slipped it on my finger, I swear it was the most romantic moment of my life. Before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face. I still don’t understand why I started crying. I think Paul was as surprised as I was.”
There must have been something in the air that reduced susceptible females to tears, Cait decided. Whatever it was had certainly affected her.
“Now you’ve sidetracked me,” Lindy said, looking up from her diamond, her gaze dreamy. “You were telling me about you and Joe.”
“I was?”
