Read Online No Place Like Home by Leigh Michaels - Free Book Online
Authors: Leigh Michaels
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finger. On each side of the big square-cut stone was a fan of baguette diamonds, and the band itself was lined with tiny emeralds, perfectly matched and cut.
It felt as if she were wearing a searchlight.
But that’s just because I’ve never had anything really glamorous before, she told herself. Her jewelry had always been plain and simple, mostly because she couldn’t afford anything else. It would just take her a little while to get used to having things like this.
“ It’s beautiful,” she told Graham. “But I thought you said we were coming to the jewelers today just to look.”
He beamed. “That’s what I intended. But I stopped in earlier this week to let them know the sort of thing I wanted you to have, and as soon as I saw that stone, I knew it was yours. It’s just the color of your eyes, you know.”
“ It’s very rare,” the jeweler agreed, “to find an emerald that size, and so perfect. Of course, we’ve had a bit of a rush getting it ready for you by today.”
“ I designed the setting myself,” Graham said modestly. “We had to guess at the size. Is it all right?”
“ It feels just a little tight.”
The jeweler nodded, but said, “I’d recommend you try it for a day or two first. You may want a snug fit to keep it from slipping—it is quite a heavy ring.”
He could say that again, Kaye thought. She felt as if it took conscious effort to keep her left hand from dragging on the pavement as they left the shop.
“ Now that’s taken care of,” Graham said, with satisfaction in his voice, “let’s go and look at this house. If you’re right, and it really is satisfactory, we can set a date. Tell me, Kaye, would you like to be a June bride?”
June, she thought dreamily. Warm weather and sunshine—an organza wedding gown trimmed in delicate lace—the soft scent of daisies and summer roses...
“ I’ll be glad to have a date set,” she said. “It’s a little embarrassing to keep getting congratulations from people before the announcement’s even been made. Angela Warren came into the travel agency this week to wish me well, and just yesterday she asked if we’d set a date yet.”
She swallowed the rest of that statement; having a drink with Brendan in the middle of the afternoon to celebrate had been aboveboard and perfectly acceptable, but she wasn’t quite sure how Graham would take it – especially if he found out that they had run into his lawyer’s wife at that quiet little bar. Angela Warren had looked quite intrigued herself. It had made Kaye nervous, and she’d been a little clumsy when she introduced Brendan. Angela hadn’t missed that, either, Kaye was sure.
“ Has that been happening to you, too? There will be a lot of interest in us, I’m afraid. But the time will go by before we know it. You said the house was in good shape, though?”
She nodded. “Of course there are things I’d like to change, but nothing that has to be done. We could actually move into it right away, if we wanted.” She couldn’t resist a jab. “Unlike the Aynsley house, which would have taken a year of work.”
She had told him over lunch what Brendan had said about the Aynsley house. Graham had shrugged off the story. Now he said calmly, “I doubt Andy knew all the details. He was only doing it out of friendship, anyway.”
“ Friendship for whom? You or the Aynsleys? It looks to me as if you would have been left holding the bag.” She leaned forward in her seat. “Look, Graham. You can catch just a glimpse of the house there on the hillside.”
“ Where? I didn’t see anything.”
“ That’s one of the beauties of it, I think. It’s so private that unless you know exactly where to look, you can’t see it at all. The driveway is up the next hill and off to the right, and Brendan should already be there.”
“ You’re on a first-name basis?”
“ Yes,” she said mildly. “Do you object?”
“ I don’t suppose it makes any
It felt as if she were wearing a searchlight.
But that’s just because I’ve never had anything really glamorous before, she told herself. Her jewelry had always been plain and simple, mostly because she couldn’t afford anything else. It would just take her a little while to get used to having things like this.
“ It’s beautiful,” she told Graham. “But I thought you said we were coming to the jewelers today just to look.”
He beamed. “That’s what I intended. But I stopped in earlier this week to let them know the sort of thing I wanted you to have, and as soon as I saw that stone, I knew it was yours. It’s just the color of your eyes, you know.”
“ It’s very rare,” the jeweler agreed, “to find an emerald that size, and so perfect. Of course, we’ve had a bit of a rush getting it ready for you by today.”
“ I designed the setting myself,” Graham said modestly. “We had to guess at the size. Is it all right?”
“ It feels just a little tight.”
The jeweler nodded, but said, “I’d recommend you try it for a day or two first. You may want a snug fit to keep it from slipping—it is quite a heavy ring.”
He could say that again, Kaye thought. She felt as if it took conscious effort to keep her left hand from dragging on the pavement as they left the shop.
“ Now that’s taken care of,” Graham said, with satisfaction in his voice, “let’s go and look at this house. If you’re right, and it really is satisfactory, we can set a date. Tell me, Kaye, would you like to be a June bride?”
June, she thought dreamily. Warm weather and sunshine—an organza wedding gown trimmed in delicate lace—the soft scent of daisies and summer roses...
“ I’ll be glad to have a date set,” she said. “It’s a little embarrassing to keep getting congratulations from people before the announcement’s even been made. Angela Warren came into the travel agency this week to wish me well, and just yesterday she asked if we’d set a date yet.”
She swallowed the rest of that statement; having a drink with Brendan in the middle of the afternoon to celebrate had been aboveboard and perfectly acceptable, but she wasn’t quite sure how Graham would take it – especially if he found out that they had run into his lawyer’s wife at that quiet little bar. Angela Warren had looked quite intrigued herself. It had made Kaye nervous, and she’d been a little clumsy when she introduced Brendan. Angela hadn’t missed that, either, Kaye was sure.
“ Has that been happening to you, too? There will be a lot of interest in us, I’m afraid. But the time will go by before we know it. You said the house was in good shape, though?”
She nodded. “Of course there are things I’d like to change, but nothing that has to be done. We could actually move into it right away, if we wanted.” She couldn’t resist a jab. “Unlike the Aynsley house, which would have taken a year of work.”
She had told him over lunch what Brendan had said about the Aynsley house. Graham had shrugged off the story. Now he said calmly, “I doubt Andy knew all the details. He was only doing it out of friendship, anyway.”
“ Friendship for whom? You or the Aynsleys? It looks to me as if you would have been left holding the bag.” She leaned forward in her seat. “Look, Graham. You can catch just a glimpse of the house there on the hillside.”
“ Where? I didn’t see anything.”
“ That’s one of the beauties of it, I think. It’s so private that unless you know exactly where to look, you can’t see it at all. The driveway is up the next hill and off to the right, and Brendan should already be there.”
“ You’re on a first-name basis?”
“ Yes,” she said mildly. “Do you object?”
“ I don’t suppose it makes any
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