Page 10 of Queen of Diamonds
She didn’t even have to think about it. “Skydive and attend a fashion show in Paris.”
“Interesting choices. One’s daring and one relates to fashion, something you love.”
“Exactly. Although I’m not sure if I’d have the nerve to jump out of a plane.”
“I think you would. Ready to go?”
“Yes. Thank you for lunch.”
“My pleasure, Kinsey, believe me.”
After he paid, he walked her to her car, keeping his hand on her lower back. Nothing had felt more right… that warmth from his palm seeping into her skin.
At her car door he slipped his hands into his pockets and settled an intense gaze on her. “I’d like to see you again.”
“I’d like that, too.” And for more than to learn what he knew about her brothers. He was fascinating, a mix of aristocrat, seriously sexy man, and old soul. She’d caught glimpses of pain in his eyes when he let his guard down, and she wanted to know what had put the sadness there.
“I’ll call you.” He leaned down and brushed his mouth over hers.
It was a brief kiss, nothing more than a feathering of their lips, but it told her one thing. She wanted more. He waited for her to get in her car, and as she drove away, she watched him in her rearview mirror as he stood, alone in the parking lot.
“You’re a mystery, Rand Stevens,” she whispered as he faded from sight. “An irresistible one.”
Back home, Kinsey grabbed the bag of birdseed at seeing Oscar come to a fluttering stop on her birdbath. As soon as she walked onto the patio, the macaw said, “Hello, pretty.”
She smiled. “Thank you, Oscar.” He was the pretty one with his red head and tail and his blue wings. She and the bird had become good friends in the last few weeks. “And how is Oscar today?”
“Naughty Oscar,” he said in a high-pitched voice that seemed like it should have been coming from an older woman and not a macaw.
He always said that, making her wonder if he’d been such a bad bird that his owner had opened her door and allowed him to fly away. If so, that was just sad. It was obvious that he was used to being taken care of and wouldn’t be able to survive on his own. She’d never had a pet growing up. She had always wanted a puppy and would have promised to care for it, but she’d never asked, knowing money was tight. Oscar wasn’t the dog she’d longed for, but he was fascinating. Because of her job she was gone all day, so getting a puppy was out of the question. Oscar would do just fine as her pet friend.
She’d watched the classifieds for a lost macaw, but no one was looking for him, nor had anyone who’d responded to her lost-and-found ad been able to tell her his name. Tomorrow she’d buy a cage and more food. Then she’d lure him into her apartment.
“So, Oscar, I met a man. Want to hear about him?”
