Ыоуве Been Warned   ::   Patterson James

“Truly?”

“Truly.” He reaches into his pocket. “And in the meantime, there’s this.”

He pulls out a narrow rectangular case – red leather with a white bow.

I can feel the smile breaking out on my face. “Oh, you’re scoring some huge points tonight, Turnbull!”

“I do play to win, don’t I?” He places it in my hand. “And no, it’s not a pen.”

It certainly isn’t.

Slowly, I open the elegant case, the hinges providing just enough tantalizing resistance.

Then I stare in disbelief.

It’s a bracelet. A diamond-and-sapphire bracelet! The sparkle is so bright my hands are glowing.

“It’s so beautiful!” I gush.

“Just like you,” says Michael. “Here, put it on. No, let me do it for you.”

He gently snaps it around my wrist, and I can’t take my eyes off it. Partly because I love it, but mostly because it’s from him.

“So, do you like it?” he asks. Then his voice becomes low and soft. “I’m always afraid when I pick out things for you. I want you to be happy.”

“I love it! I love you! ”

“Good answer.”

I kiss and hug him, squeezing tight. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“Let me see that wink of yours,” Michael says.

So of course I wink, my killer wink.

“Just promise me one thing,” he says with a grin.

“What’s that?”

“Don’t wear it to work.”



Chapter 18



I KEEP STARING at my stunning, unbelievably beautiful bracelet as Vincent drives me home.

Four diamonds… two sapphires… four diamonds… two sapphires… all the way around my wrist. A perfect circle.

Well done, Michael!

It’s almost enough to make me forget why I came rushing down to see him in the first place. Not quite, but almost. I’m certainly glad I did, though. Already, my awful day seems like a long time ago. That’s a very good thing.

The limo eases to a stop at a red light, and Vincent asks me if the temperature is okay “back dere.”

I glance up at the nape of his thick neck, where a jagged scar protrudes from beneath his shirt collar. “It’s fine,” I answer. “No, it’s perfect. Thank you for asking, Vincent.”

He’s driven me home a handful of times, and we’ve yet to have what could be considered an actual conversation, though he’s always very nice to me. It’s funny how big guys like him are never much for small talk.