Read Online Diamonds and Toads: A Modern Fairy Tale by K.E. Saxon - Free Book Online Page A

made a beeline for the French doors. She found him leaning
against the balcony rail, smoking a cigarette. She moved to stand
beside him. “I thought you quit after your mother’s funeral.”
    He started and swung his head around. “I did.
This is my first and last one since.”
    She slid her hand back and forth along the
top of the railing and looked out into the twinkle-lights that
illuminated the garden below them. “Your father told me about
what’s going on with your business. Was that why you tried to
persuade me to let you manage my money?”
    He didn’t answer right away, as if he were
weighing his response carefully. “Yes, but,” He turned his body
toward her and placed his hand over hers, “I was going to pay you
back every cent I borrowed. With interest, I swear it.”
    “I believe you.” It took every ounce of
courage she had in her to ask the next: “Is that why you asked me
to marry you? To gain access to my money?”
    The truth formed on Chas’s tongue before he
swallowed it. It slid down his throat like a bitter tonic, but he
just couldn’t hurt her that way, especially not after their night
together, and certainly not now that he was sure he was in love
with her. Had been, probably, for months now, but just too wrapped
up in his problems to see it for what it was. The glow from the
strung lights over their heads illuminated the soft beauty of her
face, the fluid grace of her lovely lavender-silk encased form and
he couldn’t catch his breath. He wanted her for himself. And if
that meant adding one more lie to the heap, so be it. He’d tell her
the truth on their fiftieth wedding anniversary. He pulled himself
up straight, tucked his hands in his pockets, and gave her his best
offended look, keeping his eyes focused on her furrowed brow. “How
could you think that? I did not ask you to marry me to gain
access to your money. Yes, I wanted to borrow some of your funds
for a few months without telling you, but only because I was
worried you would not want to marry me if you knew the straights I
was in.” He captured her gaze. “Which, incidentally, I know I can
swing back in my favor in a matter of mere months. But I’d never
bind myself for life to someone just for their money, Delilah. Why
should I, when I’m perfectly capable of making my own fortune?”
    Delilah was quiet a moment. He could tell by
the look on her face that she wanted to believe him, but was having
to wrestle with her misgivings.
    He hated like hell to do this, but she needed
an extra nudge. “If I had not intended to ask you to marry me—why
did I have a ring already picked out?”
    A thrilled smile brightened her face and her
hand gripped his arm. “Oh, Chas! I forgot!” She clucked. “Were you
really worried that I wouldn’t want to marry you?”
    He looked down, petulant. “Yes, I was.”
    She gave him a hug, then reached up and
kissed him on the cheek. “Silly boy.” He put his arm around her
waist. They stood there in silence for a long moment. “Chas,” she
said finally, “I’m going to give you the money you need, but before
I do, there’s something you should know about it.”
    He only heard the first part of what she
said. His heart beat a happy Sousa march in his chest as he turned
and grasped her shoulders. “Really? Are you sure? But, it’ll only
be a loan—I won’t take your money otherwise, agreed?”
    “Chas, listen first. You may not want it
after I tell you this.”
    That worried him. “What’s the problem?”
    She nibbled her lip with her teeth.
    He shook her a little. “What?”
    “Do you believe in magic?”
    “Huh?”
    “Magic. You know, charms imposed by fey folk
and the like?”
    “Uh, no.”
    “Well that’s a pity, because the money’s
charmed. A gift from the Perrault family fairy.”
    Oh, God, she’s legally insane. “The
Perrault family fairy?” he said carefully.
    “Chas, I know it sounds crazy, but it’s the
absolute truth—ask my stepmother, she’ll back me