Read Online Buying Thyme by TJ Hamilton - Free Book Online

like a boulder now. Tench reaches out to my face and embraces me in an intense, persistent kiss. The music reaches its crescendo. The lyrics emulate the scene playing out before me. We rock slightly in our embrace, in time to the music. He pulls back and stares into my eyes, his hands still cupping my face.
    “Well not exactly what I had in mind but this definitely works for me.” He says with a beaming grin. A grin that I’ve never seen on him before, “It looks absolutely breathtaking on you Miranda. As I knew it would and I never would have thought of the spin you have put on it tonight. It highlights the exact reason why this diamond works in perfect harmony with your flawless, milky skin.” He expresses as he palms the stone around my neck. 
    I look up at him with wide eyes. I can’t feel to colour in my face anymore, “Are you ok?” He asks as he grips the bottom of my chin with his bent index finger.
    “Yeah sure.” I try and sound nonchalant, “I just don’t know why you are doing this for me Joe.”
    “I have my reasons. Come.” He clutches my hand and leads me through the candle-lined isle to the table.
     
    The moon shines brightly above us, casting beautiful shadows across Tench’s structured face. A man wearing a chef’s hat and checked pants appears out of the pool house on the side of the terrace, wheeling a sliver trolley full of plates of food. I start to feel my cheeks burn and I desperately want to cover my exposed breasts, but readjust my thoughts and I sit up straight and eye Tench who’s looking at me. An unfamiliar boyish smirk sets across his face. He holds out his champagne glass to me, which has recently been filled with the finest Pol Roger.
    “To there never being a dull moment with you Miranda.”
    “Nor with you Joe.” I meet his glass with my own and smile with my head slightly tilted, conjuring up as much seduction as possible in my current state of self-consciousness. 
    I faintly hear the chef gasp as he notices the practically naked girl at the table before him, but immediately drops his eyes when he sees Tench glaring at him. The poor shocked chef doesn’t dare look up beyond the trolley as he places the plates of half shell scallops on the table.
    “Local ‘alf shell scallops wit’ coriander an’ ‘azelnut butter monsieur an’ mademoiselle. Bon appetite.” The chef says with a strong French accent. He also places down a salad of Pear, Rocket, Parmesan, and Candied Walnuts, drizzled with a vincotto. Beside it he puts down a bowl of Zucchini Salad with raisins, pine nuts, mint and parsley. The chef then scurries back into the pool house, not daring to lift his eyes at either of us.
    “I figured you’ve had your fair share of oysters, so I thought we’d go with scallops tonight.” Tench says as he forks the spongy white scallop from its shell. The mixture of the walnut butter and the smoothness of the scallop are amazing as I take my first bite.
    “So do you like your new necklace?” Tench enquires as he takes another sip from his champagne flute.
    “It’s stunning, but you know I can’t seriously accept this as a gift Joe.” I don’t dare look him in his eye, for fear of my flushing cheeks giving away my hidden vulnerability.
    “Why not? I won it in a game of poker last week in Vegas and thought of you straight away.” He says imperturbably.
    I laugh, “A black heart reminded you of me? How very thoughtful of you Joe.” I mutter in between my mouthfuls.
    “I was thinking more about the rarity of it actually Miranda.” He snaps back.
    “Oh.” I feel myself start to flush but control my prickling cheeks by sipping on my champagne, allowing the cool contents inside my mouth to absorb the heat of my cheeks.
    “There has been a lot happen in my life recently Miranda, which has given me a great deal of opportunity to reflect upon the things around me.” Tench’s eyes meet mine and he pauses for a moment, “You have been very good to me, it’s