Page 67 of Booked for Kidnapping

Without hesitation, she pointed at a band in the display case, which featured a band of diamonds similar to the set she’d picked for Bradley. “That one. We talk about that set often, and we’ve come to the conclusion that ring is probably the best match for it. It won’t overwhelm the red diamond, and you don’t want anything too flashy; the engagement band is meant to shine. It will complement rather than overwhelm.”

I held out my left hand and pointed at my ring finger. “I don’t know what size that thing is.”

Laughing, she took the rings and tested my finger until she found which one fit, and then she tested the ring, nodded her satisfaction, and slipped it on my finger. “Luck is with you. Let me check the size of the engagement ring.”

I took off the wedding band, and at a loss of where to put it, set it with the rings she’d suggested for Bradley. To my amusement, the woman pilfered the engagement band from the set, brought it to me, and put it on my finger. Like the first ring, it fit.

“The nice thing about having average sized fingers is that most rings are made in a small range of sizes, so you have good odds of not needing to have a ring adjusted.” The woman smiled, and she removed the red diamond ring before sliding the wedding band onto my finger. Then she replaced the engagement band and gave a satisfied nod. “Once wed, this is how they’re supposed to be worn. The wedding band should go closest to your heart. However, some women will wear the engagement band there instead, as it’s the order they were received. But during the ceremony, he should remove the engagement band, put your wedding band on, and then replace the engagement band. Some women opt to not wear the engagement ring during the ceremony, but I think this one is too special to hide.”

No kidding. With the necklace costing a ridiculous amount, I didn’t even want to think about how much the ring cost. “The older one is paying.”

The woman smiled, gathered the rings, and joined Bradley and his father, setting my acquisitions on the glass counter. “I need to measure your finger, sir.”

Without missing a beat, Bradley held out his left hand while listening to his father and the gentleman discuss the specifics of the jewelry set. The woman tested the rings on his finger, made a few notations, and returned to me. “His rings will need to be resized. It will take about a week. We will need to source some matching diamonds, as he has larger hands.”

I hadn’t noticed his hands being large. Waiting a week to lay my claim annoyed me, and I returned to the section with rings. “Do you have any solid gold bands in his size he can wear in the meantime?”

She chuckled, nodded, and rummaged through one of the collection of rings until she found one that matched my request. “It’s never bad to have a spare ring, and this would be good for him to wear if he’s doing outdoor work and doesn’t want to get the ring filthy.”

“Maybe I should get a set that’s plain, too.”

Smiling, she found us both a pair of plain gold rings in our sizes, and she added them to the collection on the counter. “While you wait on your gentlemen, do you have any questions? Is there anything you’d like to look at?”

“Show me something that’ll sticker shock me as bad as that necklace,” I suggested, hoping the newest onslaught to my delicate sensibilities would restore me to sanity.

“We have Patek Phillipe watches in stock, and we have a display piece that the owner would be willing to sell. I can say he won’t entertain any offers below thirty million for it.” She gestured to a golden pocket watch set in the center of the case. “This is the piece.”

My mouth dropped open. “Did you just say that watch is thirty million dollars?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Right. I’d asked to be sticker shocked. I went beyond shocked. The pocket watch, while beautiful, cost so much I struggled to comprehend its value. “Bradley?”

“Yes?”

“This watch is insanity.”

“If you like it, buy it,” he informed me, as his attention was fixated on the red necklace, which the gentleman guarding it handed over for his inspection. “Dad’s buying.”

“I’d bankrupt your father if I bought this.”

“He’d probably cry for a while but endure somehow.”

“Do you even like pocket watches?”

Bradley stilled, and after a moment of looking over the necklace, he handed it back to the gentleman and wandered my way. “You have my attention.”

“Boy, you’re supposed to be deciding if this is good enough for your woman,” Mr. Hampton complained.

“There will never be a necklace as beautiful as she is, but that one comes close to doing her some justice. And red suits her. Good luck, Dad.”

I stared at Bradley, wondering if I needed to take him to a doctor for an evaluation.

“There’s no luck involved with this purchase, you spoiled brat of a child.” Heaving a sigh, the older man said something, nodded, pulled out his wallet, and selected a black credit card, which he handed over before coming to join us. “Now what are you trying to make me buy?”

“The young lady inquired on a piece that could sticker shock her, which is this piece.”

The men stared at it, and I recognized the instant they’d gone from neutral to unhealthily interested in the treasures the case held. “No.”