He sat back and crossed his arms. “Yes?”
She looked up at him with those big violet eyes. “I’d thought that—” She cleared her throat. “No, I remembered the times we were together… they were easy, we always….”
“Wanted each other?” he prompted. “And you think that hasn’t changed?”
“Has it?”
He opened his mouth to spit out a retort, but no words came. He’d never lied to Taina about anything—maybe he should have—and he wasn’t about to start now. “No, it hasn’t. When I look at you, I want to…” He paused. “Let’s just say I don’t foresee any difficulty. If our past coupling has been anything to go by, I’m sure creating a child won’t be too onerous for either of us.”
“Not too onerous,” she repeated. “Good. And the timing works.” She shot him a brief, tight smile, designed to hide her thoughts. “So… shall I come to the island or your apartment?” Her voice had suddenly taken on a husky note.
“I only go the island on the occasional weekend. My apartment is convenient for work. Come to my apartment. I’ll have someone pick up your things from the hotel. Yes, come there. Tonight. I’d like that.” The words slipped out before he could stop them.
“You would?”
“Why do you sound so surprised?”
“It’s just that…”
“We’ve come to an arrangement. And that arrangement can hardly be acted upon if you continue to live in a hotel. Besides, we have to keep up the happy front, don’t we?”
At that moment the door opened and the editor from Vogue entered and they both turned to her as one and smiled. The games had begun.
“So…” Milla, the sharp-eyed editor, looked from Daidan, to Taina and then lingeringly back to Daidan again. “The re-launch of Kielo diamonds.” She clicked on the digital recorder, crossed her legs and leaned toward him. “Tell me about it.”
Taina glanced at Daidan. “What would you like to know, Milla?”
“So much, Daidan…” she murmured. “So much. But I’ll begin with the company. My research shows it goes back to your grandfather, Taina?”
Taina cleared her throat. “Yes, he founded it. He owned land in northern Finland in the diamond fields which extend into Russia, into Ukrelia. He began mining on a small scale to begin with, where the diamonds were largest and most easily accessible.”
“Ah, and that would have been when he discovered the original Kielo diamond.” Milla slid a photo across the table. “One of the most fabled in the world. A collector’s dream.”
“And it will remain a dream,” interjected Daidan. “The piece was made into a necklace which my wife now owns.” They exchanged guarded glances. “And it’ll form the centerpiece of our collection.”
The reporter gave a low whistle. “The collection which will re-launch Kielo jewelry designs, a showcase for your family’s diamond mine. I hope you’ll have guards on hand!”
“Oh yes. The combined value of all the pieces will be in excess of ten million dollars. So we’ll be working with replicas most of the time. The originals will remain under lock and key in Helsinki except for the launch of course.”
“But you’ll give the press a viewing?” She smiled. “Maybe that’s something we could discuss over dinner?”
Daidan smiled back. “My wife and I would be delighted. We have plans tonight, but perhaps another evening?”
It seemed the editor was less delighted that Daidan’s wife would be joining them. She turned a cooler face to Taina. “And Taina, so nice to see you back. Tell me how was the Caribbean, or was it Aspen, or the Maldives?” She screwed up her face in mock confusion. “Where was it you went? Rumor had you placed in just about every hotspot over the past twelve months.”
Taina licked her suddenly dry mouth, unable to think how to respond. Daidan came to her rescue.
He leaned forward, his hands gathered loosely between his knees and cast the reporter an intent look. “I don’t think we’re here to discuss Taina’s holiday, do you, Milla?”
The reporter blushed and stammered. “Of course. So… tell me what it is you’re most looking forward to about the launch?”
Taina nodded to Daidan, she was on firmer ground now. “It’s a culmination of years of work. First by my father who sadly passed away before he could see the results of his labors.” She glanced at Daidan. “And then by Daidan who’s taken it beyond my father’s imaginings.”