Doug stared at her for a long moment, his eyes dark with so much distress that she wanted to cry. “You’ve ‘fallen in love’ before. It didn’t last. Ever. Why are you getting engaged this time?”
Kelsey heard Amy and Jared’s voices approaching, heard the clink of the glasses against the bottle of champagne. “I’ve never really been in love before, Doug. Jared…makes me feel things I’ve never felt before.”
That much was true enough. The man frequently left her baffled, a welter of emotions in her chest, hot rivers of longing sweeping through her.
“You’re not wearing a ring,” Doug said abruptly, staring at her hand, his tone almost triumphant.
Kelsey glanced down at her bare hand, swearing suddenly to herself. How could she have forgotten that particular bit of window dressing?
“That’s because I haven’t given it to her yet,” Jared said from the doorway as he wrestled the cork out of the wine bottle.
“Oh.” Doug’s smile was almost smug.
Kelsey felt her heart sink. Damn, damn, damn. Why hadn’t she bought herself a ring?
“I was waiting for just the right moment,” Jared said, handing the bottle to Amy, “but I can’t let my lovely bride-to-be go around with a bare finger.”
Surprised, Kelsey watched him draw a small velvet box out of his pocket. Jared popped the lid open to reveal a beautiful, obviously antique, sapphire and diamond ring.
“Ohhhh,” she whispered as he lifted her hand and slid the ring into place. “It’s wonderful.”
“Wow,” Amy exclaimed softly. “How beautiful.”
“No more so than Kelsey,” Jared said, his voice low as he lowered his lips to hers.
She clung to him, feeling weak and warm all at once, her head all muzzy and her body completely distracted from the job at hand. Fortunately, Jared ended the kiss before complete brain meltdown set in.
The rest of the visit passed in a blur, the engagement ring a faint weight on her hand. They drank a glass of wine, Doug looking more morose than celebratory. Amy, on the other hand, looked almost as happy as if she were the intended bride.
It was, Kelsey decided, a surreal fifteen minutes, what with the emotional spectrum displayed between Doug and Amy, and the strangely tender look on Jared’s face. Kelsey could only rejoice when Jared stood up and said they had to be going.
As they went to the door, she was surprised when Doug reached out and hugged her, his voice fierce in her ear. “I’ve always been your friend and I always will be.”
She smiled at him unsteadily as her sister hugged her. His assurance might have been comforting if it hadn’t been uttered as if he were making a vow to wait for her.
Jared held her hand as they walked down the stairs in silence. Kelsey couldn’t shake her abstraction even when they reached the street and walked to where his car was parked at the curb.
She’d committed herself to this course of action, knowing it was her only hope of making things right. Now, as the reality of the situation sunk in, she was beginning to wonder what the next year held. She was actually going to marry Jared Barrett.
“I think they both bought it,” she commented nervously.
“Of course they bought it,” Jared said. “It’s true. We’re getting married.”
He opened the car door for her and she slid in, the rich smell of leather upholstery surrounding her. He got in and started the engine.
His hands were relaxed on the steering wheel as he drove through the busy city streets, reminding her once again that Jared seemed at ease with most every situation. A laid-back, understated confidence existed in his every movement.
She could feel herself relaxing into the seat, the tension of announcing their scheme to Doug and her sister seeping away.
“Thanks for…remembering the ring,” she said after a moment. “It’s the most beautiful thing. Of course, I’ll give it back when we separate.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Jared said blandly, reaching out to lift her hand and look at the ring. “Fits you perfectly.”
“Yes, it does,” she acknowledged, reclaiming her fingers from his hand. It seemed odd that the ring was just what she’d have chosen herself. Warmer than a diamond, the central sapphire stone glowed dark and mysterious.
She couldn’t help being relieved that he hadn’t gone all out for a big chunk of diamond. Jared could afford it, but she didn’t want to cost him more than necessary and she’d have hated worrying about losing the thing.
“So,” Jared said casually, “I figure we get married as quickly as we can pull a wedding together.”
“What?” Kelsey straightened. “Right away?”