Page 54 of King of Lies
“Yes.” I laugh.
We walk a little further and he stops outside a jewelry store. It’s a small shop, nothing fancy or over the top. Just a small brick building with glass windows and a glass front door. The windows hold displays of different items: earrings, watches, bracelets, and more. All of it artfully displayed in modest ways.
“Come along, Hen,” Rhys says, pulling me by the hand into the shop.
“I don’t need anything else,” I reply as I drag my feet. He’s spent way too much on me already.
“Aye, you do. And you’ve got that look about you, so I better not let go either.”
“What look about me?”
“The one where you’re about to run,” he says with a smug smirk.
“Don’t be rude.”
“I’m not, only honest. Now come along.”
He pulls me through the door and an older man with gray hair drops the jeweler’s loupe from his hand to clatter to the counter and his jaw drops open. Fortunately, he recovers fast, but I have to dip my head and bite my lip to keep from laughing. Rhys remains unmoved as if he has no reaction at all and I wonder if this is something they teach in future-king school.
“Good afternoon, Your Highness,” the man stammers. “How may I be of service today?”
“I’d like the gold lady’s watch and the matching heart bracelet in the window please,” Rhys says.
“Of course.” The man hurries over to the window and unlocks the back panel, pulling both items out and hurrying back. “Here you are, Your Highness.”
“Thank you, Mr. Stephens,” Rhys says as he picks up the watch and winds it to the correct time. “We’ll take both.”
“Absolutely. Would you like me to bill the estate?” he asks.
“No, I’d like to pay for these personally,” Rhys says before pulling a black AmEx from his wallet and handing it over.
“Of course,” Mr. Stephens says. “I’ll just be right back.”
He takes the card to the register and swipes it while Rhys takes my left hand in his and lifts it up. He lets his fingers trail over my wrist, making my heart beat faster. I wonder if he feels it too. No doubt he does; nothing gets past Rhys.
He takes the watch which has a small mother of pearl face in a gold setting on a band made of little gold leaves. It’s very delicate and beautiful and I love it instantly. He clasps the links and then attaches the small safety chain before reaching for the small bracelet of little gold hearts linked with diamonds and wrapping it around my left wrist as well, to stack just below the massive emerald and diamond engagement ring.
“An engagement present,” he whispers as he places a gentle kiss to my pulse point on the back of my wrist and then over my engagement ring.
“Thank you,” I whisper. “I didn’t need anything else.”
“I know.” He smiles. “‘Books are life’ but I still needed to do something. Besides, I find I rather like seeing you in things I’ve provided.”
“That’s kind of caveman of you, don’t you think?”
“I think I don’t care if it makes me a caveman because I like seeing my claim all over you. And I think, even though you’re not ready to admit it, that you do too.”
“Here’s your card and your receipt,” Mr. Stephens says as he races over, breaking the moment. And I have to admit that I’m both disappointed and thankful because Rhys is right, I do like it, and I also don’t want to admit how much. “Thank you so much for stopping by today.”
“Thank you,” Rhys replies blandly like he didn’t just rock my entire world.
He takes my hand again and leads me back outside. We walk a few more blocks up the cobblestone road and he pulls open the door to a tavern for me. It’s dark but not gloomy and filled with dark wood tables and booths. As we enter, no one seems surprised to see the crown prince so casually dressed, enter the pub.
He nods to the bartender in the back of the large room, behind the heavy oak bar, and leads me to a booth in the middle, where we can look out the windows to see the sea beyond. It’s absolutely beautiful.
Rhys takes my jacket and my scarf and hangs them on the hook on the side of the booth before doing the same with his own. We slide in on opposite sides and he grabs my hand from across the small table, playing with my fingers.
“How am I supposed to read the menu if I can’t pick it up?” I laugh.
