Read Online Untrusting Hearts: A Contemporary New Orleans Romance by Madison Hartt, Evan Asher - Free Book Online
Authors: Madison Hartt, Evan Asher
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something you don’t want to miss. Possibly you’d go with me to the French Quarter one evening this week.”
“It’s hard to say right now,” she responded, her voice unsure. “Maylene might have other plans for me. She’s so sweet and she seems determined to keep me entertained.”
“You’re not scared to spend time alone with me, are you?” he challenged.
“Well, I don’t know you from Adam. Are you dangerous?”
“Not that I know of.”
“I didn’t think so, not really.”
“Wonderful! And in case you haven’t heard, rumor has it that I’m very charming. Handsome, thoughtful, gracious…”
“Vain?”
“You caught me. I may have a touch of narcissism. I hate to be rebuffed, especially by someone as beautiful as yourself.”
She didn’t know if he was sincere, but his flattery verged on endearing. Light laughter slipped out unbidden and she thought, another time I’d love to go out with you, Ty. But now is not that time. She was surprised how easily the men here flirted with her and she wasn’t quite sure how to respond.
“Can I plan on Bourbon Street, then?” he persevered.
She hesitantly agreed. “Yes, I suppose. Now you must excuse me.” Jade ran lightly up the stairs and down the hall to her bedroom, leaving Ty to see himself out.
After a quick shower she wrapped a towel around herself and stood in front of the bathroom mirror with her blow dryer. She let her hair fall around her shoulders, swept it all to the left, and finally decided to wear it up on one side, fastening it with a plain clip.
It had been easy to select a dress; she’d only brought two of full-length and the maid-of-honor gown was the only one elegant enough for a night like tonight. She skipped nylons since the dress was floor length, and stepped into a pair of white strapped heels.
“Jade?” Maylene entered her bedroom after a soft knock. “I forgot…oh, never mind, I see you have a dress. I wasn’t sure.”
Standing before the mirror, Jade nodded. “Will this be okay?” The deep scarlet of the silk gown enhanced her green eyes. Her bare shoulders shimmered with a dusting of powder.
“Dear, it’s beautiful. Now, I need to finish getting ready. Please stop by my room in about fifteen minutes.” She breezed through the door, trailing a light lavender scent, reminding Jade to apply a spritz of Wild Jasmine.
After checking her makeup, Jade picked up a small white purse and made her way down the hall to Maylene’s room. Knocking, Jade waited for permission to enter. Maylene was resplendent in a floor length, midnight-blue gown that fell freely from the shoulders. The three-quarter length sleeves and high neckline were graceful and stylish. She’d donned a pair of coordinating heels and had laid a matching bag out on the dressing table. Pearl earrings complimented the outfit.
“You look fantastic,” Jade gushed.
Maylene spun to face her. “As do you, sweetheart. But something is missing.”
Frowning, Jade glanced down at her attire.
“Here, let me show you.”
Maylene led Jade into her gigantic walk-in closet. She pressed a button and a cedar shelf of sweaters slid to the side, revealing a built-in cabinet of mahogany with several long narrow drawers. After thumbing a roller combination, she opened the top drawer and lifted a gorgeous necklace from its bed of plush velvet. Four small diamonds graced each side of an enormous ruby. All were set in white gold and gleamed in the subdued lighting of the closet.
Jade gasped. She waved her hands and backed away. “Oh, no! I couldn’t possibly wear that. It must be worth a fortune.”
“You will wear it, and the matching earrings.” She indicated a pair of long dangling chains with five diamonds hanging from elongated ruby encrusted posts. “These will look marvelous with the sparkling embellishments of your bodice. And what good is having jewelry if it’s never worn?”
“Oh, Maylene. They’re absolutely gorgeous,” she said, when she
“It’s hard to say right now,” she responded, her voice unsure. “Maylene might have other plans for me. She’s so sweet and she seems determined to keep me entertained.”
“You’re not scared to spend time alone with me, are you?” he challenged.
“Well, I don’t know you from Adam. Are you dangerous?”
“Not that I know of.”
“I didn’t think so, not really.”
“Wonderful! And in case you haven’t heard, rumor has it that I’m very charming. Handsome, thoughtful, gracious…”
“Vain?”
“You caught me. I may have a touch of narcissism. I hate to be rebuffed, especially by someone as beautiful as yourself.”
She didn’t know if he was sincere, but his flattery verged on endearing. Light laughter slipped out unbidden and she thought, another time I’d love to go out with you, Ty. But now is not that time. She was surprised how easily the men here flirted with her and she wasn’t quite sure how to respond.
“Can I plan on Bourbon Street, then?” he persevered.
She hesitantly agreed. “Yes, I suppose. Now you must excuse me.” Jade ran lightly up the stairs and down the hall to her bedroom, leaving Ty to see himself out.
After a quick shower she wrapped a towel around herself and stood in front of the bathroom mirror with her blow dryer. She let her hair fall around her shoulders, swept it all to the left, and finally decided to wear it up on one side, fastening it with a plain clip.
It had been easy to select a dress; she’d only brought two of full-length and the maid-of-honor gown was the only one elegant enough for a night like tonight. She skipped nylons since the dress was floor length, and stepped into a pair of white strapped heels.
“Jade?” Maylene entered her bedroom after a soft knock. “I forgot…oh, never mind, I see you have a dress. I wasn’t sure.”
Standing before the mirror, Jade nodded. “Will this be okay?” The deep scarlet of the silk gown enhanced her green eyes. Her bare shoulders shimmered with a dusting of powder.
“Dear, it’s beautiful. Now, I need to finish getting ready. Please stop by my room in about fifteen minutes.” She breezed through the door, trailing a light lavender scent, reminding Jade to apply a spritz of Wild Jasmine.
After checking her makeup, Jade picked up a small white purse and made her way down the hall to Maylene’s room. Knocking, Jade waited for permission to enter. Maylene was resplendent in a floor length, midnight-blue gown that fell freely from the shoulders. The three-quarter length sleeves and high neckline were graceful and stylish. She’d donned a pair of coordinating heels and had laid a matching bag out on the dressing table. Pearl earrings complimented the outfit.
“You look fantastic,” Jade gushed.
Maylene spun to face her. “As do you, sweetheart. But something is missing.”
Frowning, Jade glanced down at her attire.
“Here, let me show you.”
Maylene led Jade into her gigantic walk-in closet. She pressed a button and a cedar shelf of sweaters slid to the side, revealing a built-in cabinet of mahogany with several long narrow drawers. After thumbing a roller combination, she opened the top drawer and lifted a gorgeous necklace from its bed of plush velvet. Four small diamonds graced each side of an enormous ruby. All were set in white gold and gleamed in the subdued lighting of the closet.
Jade gasped. She waved her hands and backed away. “Oh, no! I couldn’t possibly wear that. It must be worth a fortune.”
“You will wear it, and the matching earrings.” She indicated a pair of long dangling chains with five diamonds hanging from elongated ruby encrusted posts. “These will look marvelous with the sparkling embellishments of your bodice. And what good is having jewelry if it’s never worn?”
“Oh, Maylene. They’re absolutely gorgeous,” she said, when she
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