Page 40 of Mister Daddy

Truthers looks at me, a kindly smile on his face.

“Is this for a particular event?” he asks. “A celebration? A birthday? A wedding anniversary?”

My cheeks flush and I jump a bit.

“Oh no, we’re not married,” I say quickly, glancing at Carter. “We’re just buying something for fun.”

But my man steps in again.

“But don’t hold back on the diamonds. I want to get something gorgeous for Abby, and she’d look so good in something with a lot of sparkle, don’t you think?”

I go hot all over again. Oh my gosh, it sounds like Carter’s willing to spend the big bucks on this piece of jewelry and my mouth opens into a round O. Again, this is so unlike my past boyfriends that I’m not even sure how to behave. But Truthers takes the reins.

“Of course,” he says, bowing a bit. “May I show you some nautical-shaped trinkets? They are very popular with passengers these days, and we just got some new trinkets in from the manufacturer that have been selling like hot cakes. Give me just one minute,” he excuses himself.

The older man bows again and steps to the back, where he rummages with his keys before unlocking a drawer and pulling out several velvet trays. Carter and I look at each other with anticipation, although there’s a muted gleam in his eyes. I wonder what he’s thinking?

Truthers returns to where we stand, placing several velvet trays before us on the glass counter. I gasp. The trinkets are adorable. There are miniature anchors, miniature dolphins, whales spouting water, as well as starfish, hermit crabs, and even a tiny ship with a foghorn.

“Oh my gosh,” I gasp. “These are so gorgeous.”

“Yes,” chortles Truthers. “And you can link these charms to a filigree bracelet like so,” he says, pulling out a thin silver chain with circular loops attached every quarter inch. “You can wear as many as ten charms per bracelet, and we also have a necklace that serves the same purpose. The necklace is even better,” he says in a hushed voice, “because you can wear thirty charms per necklace, which is three times more than the bracelets.”

I nod, astonished at how beautiful the jewelry is. I’m just about to ask to see the little whale when Carter interrupts.

“I’m sorry, but why don’t we look at something a little more high-end too?” he growls in a low voice. “These are great and all, but sweetheart, I don’t want you covered in whales and dolphins. I want you to wear diamonds.”

“But there are diamonds on these,” I protest, pointing to the crystal sparkles embedded in each trinket. “See?”

He shakes his head.

“No sweetheart, those are diamante crytals. They’re pave, and it’s a nice look but I want you to have the real thing. Truthers, would you mind? Let’s see some diamonds of oh .. at least three carats.”

I gasp, turning wide eyes to him.

“Really?”

“I’m sure,” he nods. “Nothing but the best for my girl.”

Truthers, meanwhile, chortles and heads off to the back again. We can hear him rummaging around with various trays and keys until he comes back again, this time with two velvet trays laden with gorgeous earrings sparkling under the light.

“Now, I wasn’t sure what you meant, so I brought earrings which together, add up to three carats, or we have these,” he says, reaching into his pocket. He pulls out a velvet box and pops open the top, revealing an enormous pair of diamond earrings. Each stone is so big that I gasp again, my eyes go wide.

“Oh no, I couldn’t,” is my breathless reply. “It’s too much.”

But Carter won’t hear of it. He latches onto the diamond earrings and says, “Sweetheart, do you have pierced ears?”

I nod dumbly, and with big fingers he reaches into the box and pulls out a stud before turning to me.

“Here, let me put it on you,” he rumbles. His big fingers gently stroke my left lobe and it’s so intimate. We’re so close to one another, and I can feel his warm breath on my forehead as he attaches the diamond earring to my ear.

“Turn,” he directs. I’m so stunned that I do automatically as he commands and swivel so that my right ear faces him. Carter gently brushes my right ear with his fingertips, and before I realize it, the other stud is also in place.

“Beautiful,” he murmurs. “Absolutely gorgeous.”

“The lady is ravishing,” breathes Truthers. “Here you go, mademoiselle. Take a look.”

He proffers a small handheld mirror to me, and I gently clasp the gilded handle. I look at my reflection and gasp. The earrings are gorgeous, flashing in the light with soft brown curls hanging in a gentle see-through veil before each one.