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That took her back a step. Move in with a guy before marrying him? “Mom and Dad are going to kill you.”
Hope winced, and her gaze returned to the box. “What if it’s a key? He really wants me to move in. Do you think it’s a key?” She shook the box. There was a suspicious thunk. Sounded like a key.
“Maybe. Open it.”
Hope balanced the box on her palm and prodded the ribbon.
Grrr. It’s like Christmas all over again. Mia dove right in, and Hope assessed all the angles first. Open it already.
Hope peered under the ribbon. “What do you think?” Her golden hair slipped forward into her face, so she pulled the strands back and wound them around a thin paintbrush in an artist-style updo.
“I think, open it.”
“No.” Hope stilled her examination. “About me moving in with Niko?”
It would leave Mia by herself, but Niko made Hope happy, really happy. And that’s what she wanted for her sister, a lifetime of being really happy. “It’s cool with me.”
Hope grinned wide at the permission and went after the gift. She slid the ribbon off the corner, then peeled the paper away. She lifted the lid and peered in. Her eyebrows arched, and she bit her lip.
“What? What is it?”
“Nothing.” Hope shoved the lid back on and clenched it with tight fingers.
Nothing? It was delivered by a courier in a wrapped box. It wasn’t nothing. Mia held out her palm. “Let me see.”
Hope dropped the box on the counter and nudged it toward Mia with one finger as if any sudden movement would awaken what was within.
Chapter 2
Mia had to look in now. A diamond-encrusted charm in the shape of the letter ‘N’ lay in the box. It hung from the thickest gold rope chain she’d ever seen. Without a doubt, it was the most garish, hideous necklace ever created. And Hope, who loved beauty, would have to wear it. Mia bit her lip, and tears burned her eyes. Don’t laugh. Don’t laugh.
“What could it mean?” Hope asked.
It meant Niko had bad, bad taste, and Hope was in for a lifetime of returns. Mia reached into the box. Perfect Niko had to have a flaw, and they’d just found it.
Hope waved. “Don’t touch it.”
“I have to.” Mia lifted the heavy necklace to the light. It sparkled, but not in a good way. It was fascinating, almost blinding. She thumped the heavy diamond. Pain shot through her fingernail, and the charm bounced like a trapped thing wanting to go free. “What did the card say?”
“Love, Niko.”
Gray-suit-wearing conservative Niko had not bought this. “Was the card typed?”
“Handwritten, but not his handwriting.”
“Put it on. I’ll snap your picture while you make the peace sign. I can post it online.” Mia held out the chain. Videos were all the marketing rage. She’d tag it blinding glory.
Hope flinched. “It’s not funny.” She twisted her hands.
It was funny. Mia pinched her lips on her smile. “Relax. There was probably a mix-up at the jewelry store.”
“Do you think he picked that out himself?” Hope’s voice thinned, and she wrapped her arms around her waist. Hope took things too seriously, too much to heart. That gave her artistry depth, but it made her vulnerable.
Good thing she had Mia. “Please, you don’t even wear jewelry. There’s no way he picked this.”
“Then who?”
Mia pointed toward the upper floors of the building. “Who’s his secretary? Isn’t that what rich guys do? Order gifts through their secretaries?” That’s what the charmers did in British romance novels. Maybe it was a British guy thing. Niko was half-British and half-Greek. Which half had made this purchase? He needed a kick.
