His Sugar Baby(53)
The understated store front only hinted at what was inside. A bell above the door tinkled as they entered the shop. She saw at once that it was a high-end establishment. Crystal chandeliers, dark wainscoting and plush carpets were the perfect elegant foil for the gleaming showcases.
A well-dressed clerk approached. “May I be of assistance?” he asked quietly.
Her inner agitation increased. Michael can’t be thinking of a ring.
“Yes, we’d like to look at your necklaces.”
Winter went almost limp with relief, but at the same time, a sharp disappointment cut through her. She was astonished at her incomprehensible reaction.
The clerk inclined his head. “This way.” He ushered them forward with a polite gesture, leading them farther into the interior of the exclusive shop. As the clerk slid behind a locked showcase, Michael stopped to look down at its contents. Within a very few minutes, he had pointed out a selection, which the attentive clerk carefully drew out of the case for inspection.
Michael looked at her with a smile curving his lips. “What do you think, Winter?”
She stared at the fabulous piece that the clerk was holding across his open palms. She was dazzled by it. Shaped like a sickle moon, it was a wide hammered silver band, set with diamonds, edged with gold, and hung from a thick silver chain. It was utterly beautiful. There was, of course, no price tag in evidence. She knew that the piece must be exorbitantly expensive. She puckered her brows in bewilderment. And Michael wanted to spend that kind of money on her! What was he thinking? It was crazy!
“Don’t you like it?”
Winter looked up at him quickly. His expression had faded into a faint frown. He looked as though he was displeased by her lack of response. She hurried to reassure him. “Michael, it’s beautiful, truly beautiful! It’s probably the most beautiful piece I’ve ever seen.”
There was a gleam in his eyes, and a smile slanted over his face. “I hear a ‘but’ in there.”
She shook her head, helplessly. “It-it’s too much. I wouldn’t be comfortable.” As she looked down again at the necklace, Winter suppressed her natural desire and reminded herself how many of the bills the cost of it might cover. It was criminal to think of wearing something like that when she was in such dire need. The price of such a beautiful piece might even stretch to cover the salary of a home nurse for Chloe, she thought wistfully. If she had in cash only a part of what Michael was willing to spend for the necklace…
A wild notion sprang into her mind. She swallowed. If she dared ask, would he go for it? There was only one way to find out. “Michael, would you mind terribly giving me an American Express Gift Card instead?” There, she had done it. She willed herself to hold his astonished gaze. Her pulse beat heavy in her throat while she held her breath.
He regarded her for a long, agonizing moment. There was an unreadable expression in his ice-blue eyes. “Is that really what you would prefer?”
“I think so, yes.” She tried to keep her tone casual, but she couldn’t help nervously fingering the strap of her purse.
His cool gaze never leaving her face, Michael nodded slowly. “All right, Winter. But I’d still like to get you something here. Why don’t you look around, and show me what you like?”
Winter felt the heat of guilt rise to her face. Quickly, she turned her head to hide her expression form his too-penetrating gaze. Her heartbeat was still too fast. While she attempted to get hold of herself, she made a pretense of looking at the contents of all of the showcases. As her nerves steadied, she was able to make a suggestion. “A bracelet would be nice, I think.”
“All right.”
She was grateful that he hadn’t questioned her decision. After some debate with him on the rival merits of several pieces, she settled on a pretty, wide, solid-gold bangle. It wasn’t a particularly showy piece, but it was something that she could pair with her suits or her jeans. She tried it on, admiring it. “It’s lovely, Michael. Thank you.”
He smiled at her, a wicked gleam entering his eyes. “It will be my pleasure,” he said in a low intimate voice.
She knew exactly what he was referring to, and it wasn’t the bracelet. Warmth tinged her cheeks. She turned her head, afraid that she would give away her thoughts in front of the clerk.
Michael slipped out a credit card. She almost choked when she heard what the bracelet cost, but he didn’t bat an eye. She couldn’t begin to guess at what the necklace was priced. She wondered, not for the first time, how much he was really worth financially. He had given her a cell phone, bought her clothes and lingerie and small pieces of jewelry, leased a Lexus for her, and now he had plunked down for an expensive piece of jewelry. There was also the small matter of the monthly salary that he was depositing into her bank account. Michael had told her that he was in IT. She had always heard that it was a lucrative field, but he must really hold an influential position in some company. Either that or he was a drug lord, she thought dryly.
Before they left the jewelry shop, Michael insisted that he wanted an inscription cut inside the wide bracelet. He did not tell her what he wanted inscribed but wrote it out for the clerk who assured them that it would take only a few moments for the jeweler to do the inscription if they would like to wait. Michael agreed, and the clerk carried the bracelet to the back of the shop.
Michael turned to her and asked what her plans were for the remainder of the weekend. Winter tensed slightly. “I have some family matters to take care of.” She hoped that he would not inquire too closely for details or ask her to change her plans to accommodate him. She couldn’t do that, not with Chloe coming home.