Diamond Rings Are Deadly Things

by Rachelle J. Christensen

  Chapter 25

  Chocolate Chip Raspberries

  Place one chocolate chip in the center of each raspberry and fill serving cups with berries. Garnish with mint leaves.

  Courtesy of www.mashedpotatoesandcrafts.com.

  Dallas entered the shop a few minutes before four o’clock, looking delicious in dark blue jeans and a gray V-necked shirt. He had taken extra care in styling his hair. The shiny black strands were spiked in the front and combed neatly around his ears. His hands were behind his back, and he grinned when he caught me staring. I lifted one eyebrow as he stepped forward and surprised me with a bouquet of white daisies.

  “Thank you.” I moved to kiss him on the cheek, but he turned his head and intercepted my mouth. I noticed the intensity in his eyes again. It made my stomach clench with apprehension, remembering what Lorea and I had discussed. “Let me put these in a vase.”

  The daisies were lovely, but as I went to put them in water, it took all my willpower not to glance at the roses blooming on my desk. I shook off thoughts of Luke and concentrated on what Dallas had to offer and how he made me feel. It was nice to be loved. I hoped that spending time with him would help me make a decision. I smiled as I returned to the front of the shop and extended my hand. “Ready?”

  “Definitely.”

  I laughed and tugged on his arm as we headed to the Mountaineer. “Let’s go.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to drive?” he asked.

  “I actually prefer to drive so I don’t have to worry about getting carsick on the winding roads.” I breathed in deeply. “It’s a beautiful day today. I’m so glad we’re going up the mountain.”

  He opened the door for me. “You’re in a good mood today.”

  The compliment made me realize just how much stress I’d been under recently. I hadn’t been hiding it as well as I thought. Maybe that was the reason my brain was so muddled when it came to dating. I waited for Dallas to buckle up before pulling out of the parking lot. “I’m trying hard to forget that someone is stalking me. Concentrate on the good things, you know.”

  “Good things?”

  “Like, the last of our stolen dresses was recovered at a consignment store today.”

  “That is good news. It must not have been ripped to shreds like the others, if you’re happy about it.”

  “In perfect condition.” That part still amazed me and was the most significant clue that Sylvia’s dress was not part of the diamond smuggling operation. I explained to Dallas how Necia had called me and my resulting suspicions regarding Sylvia’s involvement.

  “But steal her own dress? I don’t think she’d take that risk,” he said.

  “I agree. I think someone nabbed it for her. I know the why. I just have to figure out the who.”

  “Does your mind ever stop?”

  “Not even when I sleep. If you could see my dreams . . .” I winked at him. “Thanks for coming with me today.”

  “Thanks for making time for me.”

  I felt a little guilty. Dallas had done so much to show he cared, and I hadn’t been able to reciprocate much. His patience was probably the biggest reason why I had given him so many chances. I glanced at him and then cleared my mind of relationship worries for the moment.

  Natalie and Brock had met at the hot springs off Warm Springs Road, and they wanted to exchange vows in a meadow not far from there. In March, I had gone with Natalie and Brock in his Hummer through mud and snowy vegetation to scope out the area. Now I needed to see how everything looked in bloom. It would be much more fun with Dallas tagging along—I was determined to put the disturbing photo of Luke and me out of my mind and enjoy the day with Dallas.

  I filled Dallas in on a few of the details of my wedding planner life as we drove, and he shared a funny story about a house he had shown that turned out to be inhabited by bats. We followed Warm Springs Road and entered the Sawtooth National Forest on a bumpy, graveled road. Dallas leaned forward when he saw the wooden sign that read “Frenchmen’s Bend Hot Springs 6.5 miles.”

  “Almost there,” he said with a smile.

  “On this road, it’ll take us at least another fifteen minutes,” I said. “But check out this next sign.”

  Dallas read aloud, ‘“Entering burned area. Beware of falling trees, rockslides’—when did this happen?”

  “A couple of years ago. The burn pattern is really interesting. You’ll see.” And he did, a few minutes later, as we drove farther into the forest. Black scorch marks reached up the sides of several trees. The fire had devoured parts of the east side of the mountain, but in some areas, the scorch marks took a curious hit-and-miss attitude. We passed entire sections of burned-out forest with fallen logs and then other spots where the fire had merely danced through the trees, licking the dry bark. The charred remnants stood out among the new growth of wildflowers and grasses. I pointed out the creek winding close to the road and veering off only to meet back up with us after a few more switchbacks.

  “Pretty amazing that the whole forest didn’t burn up,” Dallas said.

  I nodded. “I know. I’m grateful it didn’t.” We rounded another bend and left the remnants of the forest fire behind. “Okay, I need to be in wedding planner mode for a bit.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “I want you to take everything in as a potential guest. See what you notice on the way to the wedding ceremony.” I tossed him one of my notebooks. “Feel free to jot stuff down.”

  He picked up the pen from my console and twirled it in his fingers. I could feel him staring at me, and I glanced in his direction. “What?”

  “I notice you. You will be a beautiful bride.”

  I nearly snorted but choked instead, because I realized he wasn’t joking. “Thanks.” Okay, time to change the subject. “Natalie and Brock have limited the guest list, but there will still be plenty of the elite in attendance. I want you to help me notice potential problems—things people might complain about because this setting is so different.”

  “It is a ways out here,” Dallas said. “I guess it will make it harder for people to crash the wedding.”

  “Exactly.”

  I pulled the Mountaineer off to the side of the road and grabbed my camera. “This is nature’s chapel, according to Natalie.” I motioned to the meandering creek making its way through a grassy meadow.

  “Are you going to haul dance floors and tables out here?” Dallas stepped from the vehicle into the meadow.

  “No, the reception will be held at Brock’s house—triple the attendance of the ceremony.” I clicked a few pictures and surveyed the site. The open expanse of flat land against the backdrop of the mountain was a beautiful setting. Blue wildflowers peeked above the grasses, as if a child had interwoven the blossoms in a stunning design.

  The ground felt firm, save a few marshy spots near the creek that I figured would dry up in the next two weeks of higher temperatures. Dallas and I walked the perimeter of the meadow, and I noted the natural backdrop of two blue spruce trees growing above the scrubby bushes by the creek. “We’ll set up chairs and place stepping-stones as a walkway to the altar. That way Natalie’s heels won’t sink into the ground.”

  “I’m surprised she isn’t going barefoot,” Dallas said with a smirk.

  “Natalie is definitely not someone you can fit into a mold. She constantly surprises me. I think that’s why Brock loves her so much.” I followed the course that Natalie would take and stood under the shade of the tree. It would be warm, but the shade would keep the bride and groom from sweating. Hopefully, the wedding party wouldn’t melt. A large gauzy canopy would dull the sun’s rays, but I planned on breezy summer weather to come through with some light air-conditioning.

  Dallas crouched and examined a few wildflowers while I continued to snap pictures and take notes. It cheered me to think of Natalie’s special day. She would get the small, private wedding ceremony she wanted, and the reception would placate Brock’s megastar friends. “I think I
’ve taken enough pictures. Should we go on up to the springs?”

  “I’m ready.” Dallas twirled a yellow wildflower in his fingers. He reached forward, and I moved to take the flower, but he held it out of my grasp and proceeded to weave it into my hair. He stood back and studied me for a moment. “Beautiful. Let me take your picture.”

  I handed him my camera. “You have to hold that button down—” I stopped when Dallas snapped a picture. “Hey, I wasn’t ready.”

  Dallas laughed. “You’re cute, though. Ready—one, two, three.” I grinned, and he snapped another picture. Then he set the camera on a rock, pushed a couple of buttons, and put his arm around me. The timer blinked, and we waited for another shot.

  He flipped the camera around so we could view the picture. “What a great couple.”

  I tickled his side. “You look great, as usual. And you’re good with a camera.” Lorea still hadn’t figured out how to focus my Canon DSLR.

  He pulled me close and planted a kiss on my cheek. “It’s easy when the subject is breathtaking.”

  I gave him a light kiss on the lips. Then I took his hand and tugged it. “Let’s go.”

  Ten minutes later, we pulled into the makeshift parking area in the woods. “Here we are.” I indicated the sign for the springs that banned parking beyond that point. A person could drive farther up the trail, but the road was too narrow to park next to the springs. “It’s less than a five-minute walk.”

  Dallas took my hand as we hiked up the gravel road. The rushing of the creek brought back so many good memories. “My family used to come up here nearly every summer with our old camper. We’d fish upstream and then sit in the hot pots. It’s pretty much the same now as it was twenty years ago.”

  We stopped in front of the rocks surrounding the first hot springs we came to. Dallas helped me down near the bank of the creek. “That’s incredible it’s still here. So how many springs are along this stretch?”

  “They’re mostly in this area—not more than a hundred yards. Look there.” I pointed to a wisp of rising steam. “You can see where the hot water is flowing right out of the mountain into the stream.”

  Dallas looked in the direction of the boiling volcanic water coming from underground. I sat on a large boulder and kicked off my sandals. Three main pools had been created long ago when someone moved large rocks to block the flow of the frigid creek water from diluting the hot water of the springs. As I dipped my toe in the water, I breathed in the sulfur-scented air and wrinkled my nose. Dallas watched me and laughed.

  “That part hasn’t changed.” I rubbed my nose. “I remember complaining of that stink to my parents.”

  Dallas sank his feet into the water beside me. “I guess that’s the price you pay for a hot tub in the mountains.”

  “A lot of people come here for health benefits and the healing properties of the springs. I think it doesn’t hurt to relax.” The water lapped gently at my calves, and I could feel some of the tension of the last few weeks trickling out. “Did you know this is where Natalie and Brock met?”

  “Really? How?”

  “Natalie and Lorea were up here soaking in that pool right there.” I indicated a group of rocks across the creek. “A lot of people don’t like to cross because it’s so cold, but that pot is hotter. So last year, they were soaking, and along comes Brock. Turns out he’d been coming once a week for some solitude. Natalie was sitting in his preferred spot. She says it was meant to be.”

  “Kind of like how we met.” Dallas put his arm around me and pulled me close. “I wasn’t supposed to work that night, but someone called in sick.”

  The look in his eyes hinted as to what his next words would be, and then we’d be back to that awkward place with me struggling to say the ‘L’ word. I let my feet slip on the smooth river rock, and I lurched forward out of his grasp with a little shriek.

  Dallas grabbed me and helped me to a standing position. “Easy there.”

  “Thanks—I didn’t bring my swimsuit. Guess I should have.”

  “I agree.”

  I shook my head. “Tempting, but I didn’t feel like I had the time.”

  “You really need to slow down and let someone help you.” His hands rested on my arms, and he drew me in to his chest. “You have amazing talent. You don’t want to burn yourself out.”

  “You sound like my mother.”

  “Sorry.” He brought his face closer to mine, tilting his head slightly as our lips met. He kissed me and then pulled back. “I’m not your mother.”

  I laughed and looked into his green eyes. “I know.” My mouth was a breath apart from his, and my heart beat double time. I parted my lips and kissed him, feeling his hold on me tighten. He sucked gently on my bottom lip, and I relaxed into him, allowing the kiss to deepen. The hot springs swirled around our feet, and the steam enveloped us in its mist.

  “I love you, Adri.”

  My eyes dropped down to the rippling water. Dallas put a finger under my chin and lifted it so I had to meet his gaze. “I know you’re not comfortable yet with those words, and it’s okay. I can see you’re having trouble deciding what your heart wants. I’ve tried not to push you with all the stress you’ve been under, but I can’t help telling you how I feel.”

  I hesitated. My heart warmed at his honest evaluation of me. He was so kind. I thought about forcing myself to say what he wanted to hear, but he stopped me.

  “You don’t have to say anything.” He kissed me again and let his words sink into my heart as his lips lingered over mine. “Can I come over to your house tonight?” he murmured.

  I thought about it for a moment. Holding on to his arms, I stepped back and swallowed. Through the strong sulphur-coated air, I suddenly smelled the light scent of roses. Pink-and-white antique roses—from Luke. His face flashed through my mind, and my heart somersaulted with a new emotion.

  I looked at Dallas. He was right. I couldn’t say that I loved him, but what he didn’t know was I’d never be able to say it. No matter how kind and gentle he was, the connection wasn’t there. His devotion to me was sweet, but it wasn’t Dallas’s face that kept flitting through my mind at random moments during the day. Why did I keep thinking about Luke?

  Dallas rubbed his thumb in a slow circle on the back of my hand. The look in his eyes made me feel guilty about my realization. Remembering the deal I’d made with Lorea, I nodded. “Sure. Thanks for understanding my feelings.”

  He embraced me again. “Thanks for letting me share mine.”

  I stepped out of his embrace and smiled brightly. “Are you hungry? I brought sandwiches from the deli.”

  “Starving.” Dallas rubbed his stomach, and I mentally compared his lean physique to Luke’s chiseled abs before scolding myself to stay in the moment.

  We ate our sandwiches, sitting on the bank of the creek as the sun sped across the sky, nearing its descent. I pulled out a container of raspberries dotted with chocolate chips and handed it to Dallas. “Try these. It’s one of the appetizer ideas we came up with for our July wedding.”

  He popped a few in his mouth and nodded. “Those are delicious. They look nice, too.”

  I smiled and ate a handful. “Glad you like them.”

  Dallas finished off his raspberries and then put his arm around me. “Do you have tons of work to do tonight? I don’t want to bother you.”

  “It’ll be fine. I need to go over my notes and the pictures I took to put everything in line with the plans for the wedding, but I’m allowing myself some time off for you.” Hopefully, I could work up the nerve to tell Dallas that I didn’t see a future with him.

  Part of me wanted to tell him how I felt right then, before I had a chance to chicken out, but it would be awkward to have to ride together another thirty minutes after that, especially if Dallas wasn’t too keen on breaking up. My nerves buzzed with my hidden worries as we got into the Mountaineer. If only he weren’t so sweet, it would be easy to let him go.

  “Are the police still watching
your house?”

  “I need to call and check. I wonder if they’ve found out anything about that picture.” I brought up Tony’s number and waited for the call to go through. When he answered, I got right to the point. “Do I have the okay to go back to my house? Dallas is with me.” He wouldn’t be staying the night, but I didn’t want to go into details with Dallas listening to my end of the conversation.

  “Do you trust him?”

  “Obviously.”

  “I’d feel better if you stayed somewhere else,” Tony grumbled. “I’ll still have someone drive by your place, but we’re short staffed tonight because of the ice show and a couple officers out sick.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

  “And, Adri . . .” Tony hesitated.

  “Yes?”

  “We found the area where the camera was set up. It was just outside Brock’s fence. Looks like the perp climbed a tree and probably used a high-powered zoom.”

  “Oh.” The information sent a shiver down my spine. I was already creeped out. Why was Tony telling me this?

  “We’re still operating under the suspicion that the photographer is a male, but that means he doesn’t weigh more than two hundred pounds. The tree branches couldn’t support more than that. Hamilton climbed partway up and broke a couple of branches.”

  “So it could be a woman?”

  “Anything is possible. I’m telling you this because I want to scare you in hopes that you’ll be extra cautious.”

  “That’s nice of you,” I replied, letting an edge of sarcasm into my voice.

  Tony laughed. “What would be nice is if we can figure out who’s stalking you and why, especially since the diamonds have been recovered.”

  The unsettling feeling of the danger that lurked somewhere unknown sent a chill down my spine. “Okay, you win. I’m scared to death.”

  Dallas raised his eyebrows, and I gave him a weak smile.

  “I’ll call you as soon as we know more,” Tony said.

  I ended the call and slowed to ease the bumps of the washboard road. “Tony said they’re not sure if the person taking pictures is a man or a woman.”