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“We still need to look at furniture,” Becca said. “I know you’re tired after working. I’d planned on making this quick.”
“We’re fine.”
Becca smiled and followed the saleswoman into the store.
Once inside, the woman unhooked the ruby-studded gold chain from her neck and slipped it around Becca’s neck.
“Doesn’t she look exquisite wearing the necklace?”
The woman was an excellent salesperson. She was definitely working hard to earn her commission.
“She is exquisite even without the necklace,” he said.
He smiled as he watched Becca’s cheeks turn a pretty shade of pink. It reminded him of how color had touched her features last night as he’d made love to her in the firelight.
“Try on the ring, too.” The woman took it off her finger and handed it to Becca.
“Historically, rubies have been associated with passion. They’re also a symbol of romance and adventure. So, Romeo, this is a nice gift to get your sweetheart.”
Yes, she was definitely working it. He had to admire her tenacity.
“Do you want the necklace?” he asked. “I’d like for you to have it.”
“Oh, no, Nick, I couldn’t. I mean, it’s gorgeous, but it’s far too expensive. I was just trying it on for fun.”
Apologetically, she turned to the saleswoman. “I didn’t mean to waste your time.”
The woman smiled at her. “No apology needed. We’re slow right now, anyway. I’m happy you tried it on.”
As Becca took one last wistful glance in the mirror, the woman slipped Nick her card and mouthed, For Christmas?
Nick nodded. It would be a good present, he thought as he tucked the card into his pocket.
As they walked away from the store, Becca said, “I’m sorry that woman put you in an awkward position. It was sweet of you to offer to get me the necklace. But you didn’t have to.”
“One thing you definitely need to know about me is that it’s not easy to coerce me into anything I don’t want to do. I wouldn’t have offered if I’d felt pressured.”
“Good to know,” Becca said, and a sensuous light passed between them.
He hated to potentially kill the mood. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.”
“Should I be worried?”
“No,” he said as they entered the department store. “In fact, it should be something to ease your mind.”
She slanted him a dubious look. “Okay. Why is that not comforting?”
“You haven’t even heard what I have to say.” They got on the escalator to the second floor, where apparently they kept the baby furniture. This was foreign territory. “After Dr. Stevens mentioned that a twin pregnancy was considered slightly high risk, I did some research.”
He told her about the hospital in Dallas that specialized in high-risk births.
She frowned but didn’t say anything.
“Think about it,” he said. “Your obstetrician is in Dallas, and you work there. You’re there almost as much as you’re in Celebration. So, really, it only makes sense.”
They stepped off the escalator and followed the signs to the baby department.
“What if I go into labor in the middle of the night? It would be just my luck.”
“You can call me and I’ll come and get you.”
“I don’t know if it makes sense, since Celebration Memorial is five minutes from my condo. I’m having twins, not brain surgery. I’m healthy. Do we really need to make the twenty-minute drive?”
She pointed at a crib that was adorned with a yellow checked blanket turned down over yellow flannel sheets. “What do you think? Natural wood or white for the furniture?”
“Whatever you want,” he said. “Will you just agree to go for the tour? The hospital set it up for me as a professional courtesy.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Fair enough. The appointment isn’t until December 9, but that’ll be here sooner than you think.”
“Becca?”
They both turned at a woman’s voice behind them. Nick watched all the color drain out of Becca’s cheeks when she saw her sister, Rosanna.
“What are you doing here? Are you looking at baby furniture?”
“Rosanna, hi. No, we are shopping for a baby gift.”
“Oh, really? From my angle it looked like you were looking at furniture.”
“Sorry to disappoint you, but we aren’t.” The clipped tone Becca used with her sister was foreign and far from the sweet, gentle nature that he’d come to know.
