Project Seduction

by Tatiana March

They reached the busy downtown shopping area in record time. “Look,” Andy yelled, flattening her hands against the car window. “That's my dad's truck. He must be around here somewhere."

  "The jeweler is a block away on the left,” Howie told them. “The name's Stern. There's a green banner over the door."

  "Howie,” Roy yelled. “You son-of-a-bitch. Have you been blowing your cash on the ladies?"

  "It's for my mother,” Howie explained, sounding embarrassed. “I got her a brooch for Christmas. Silver and turquoise. A Navajo design."

  "Ethnic jewelry is very fashionable at the moment,” Georgina said in an encouraging tone.

  "I'll have to let you out here.” Roy pulled up at the curb in the gap next to the fire hydrant. He'd already turned off the siren when they entered the city. “It's a one-way street. A block that way.” He pointed into the crowd of shoppers.

  "Thanks.” Georgina slid across the seat to exit after Andy on the pavement side.

  "You want us to wait?” Howie asked.

  "No.” Georgina said. “No need for that. Rick can take us back."

  "Georgina!” Roy called after them when they were about to disappear out of sight.

  "What?” Georgina and Andy both turned to look back.

  "Tell the son-of-a bitch he is one lucky guy!"

  "I will.” Georgina raised her arm in a salute. Then she grabbed Andy's hand and hurried the girl along. Andy dilly-dallied in front of a shop window filled with teenage clothes. “Later,” Georgina said. “We can come back and do a proper shop later."

  "Dad doesn't let me wear tube tops or micro skirts. You've got to help me,” Andy said. “I want one of those.” She pointed at an outfit made of two stretchy pieces of material each about ten inches long.

  "No. No way,” Georgina said. “That's tacky. You can look nice without looking tacky.” She pulled Andy away from the window. “Come on. We can talk about it later."

  The Stern store had a discreet front with a window divided into little alcoves. Only a few quality pieces were displayed in each. The door alarm buzzed when Georgina and Andy marched through.

  It was a small shop. A man in a dark suit stood behind the counter. In front of him a petite blonde leaned low, inspecting a selection of rings scattered on a black velvet tray. Diamonds sparkled under the halogen lights. Next to the woman, a tall man waited patiently. A camelhair overcoat hung over his arm. He kept patting his jacket pocket, in a manner that identified him as a smoker desperate for a fix.

  "I'm looking for a gentleman called Ricardo Matisse,” Georgina said. “I expected to find him here."

  The suited attendant behind the counter raised one eyebrow and regarded her with disapproval. Georgina glanced at her reflection in the mirrored wall behind the display cases. Her slept-in jeans were crumpled, and her sweater was in need of a wash. “He is a large man with dark hair,” she added. “He came with the intention of returning an engagement ring."

  "Oh, the one and a half carat princess-cut solitaire,” the suit said, with an instant upgrading of his approval rating. “That gentleman is in the back, having coffee with Mr. Stern.” He took a step toward Georgina. Then he jerked back to the diamonds glittering on the counter, as though connected to them by an invisible string.

  "Don't worry,” Georgina said. “I'll find my own way.” She turned and tried the first door on her right. That led to a dark passage containing nothing but a huge safe.

  The next door opened into a cluttered office. A small sandy-haired man in his sixties sat behind a desk. Rick sat opposite him, leaning back in a small padded armchair. Love washed over Georgina like a tidal wave, propelling her toward Rick, but a sudden doubt rooted her feet to the floor. Rick looked relaxed and not particularly heartbroken at all. A frothy cup of coffee stood on the table in front of him. The sandy-haired man sipped from an identical cup. He slowly lowered his hand, contemplating Georgina with a pair of myopic eyes squinting behind thick lenses.

  "Where is it?” Georgina said, brushing her hesitation aside. To get the right outcome, she had to approach the situation like she approached work tasks. She would pit her steely determination against any obstacles that lay in her way

  "Where's what?” Rick said. His voice was a little too blunt, which Georgina found reassuring. There had to be some heartbreak involved, for a man to behave in a manner that appeared unnecessarily rude.

  "My ring,” she said. “Where's my ring? I want it back."

  "It's legally impossible to ask back something you never accepted in the first place,” Rick advised her.

  "I'm accepting it now,” Georgina told him. “You haven't withdrawn your offer."

  "An offer can be terminated by rejection or lapsing, as well as withdrawal. Two out of three is more than adequate,” Rick said.

  "Don't you try to play lawyer with me."

  "Don't have to.” Rick gave her an inscrutable look. “I happen to have a degree in criminology."

  He wasn't going to make it easy for her. Georgina racked her brain, trying to come up with a plan. “You.” She pointed her finger at the sandy-haired man. “You are Mr. Stern?"

  The man nodded. He glanced at Rick from the corner of his eye, before hastily returning his gaze to Georgina.

  "You own this shop, right?"

  "Yes. I am the proprietor."

  "In that case, it is in your interest to help me,” Georgina told him. “I can restore your sale of a very expensive diamond ring."

  "But Mr. Matisse is my friend,” Mr. Stern said. Amusement brimmed in his short-sighted eyes. “It is in my interest to remain friends with him."

  "The two goals don't have to be mutually exclusive,” Georgina insisted. “Where's my ring?"

  "Your ring has been returned to the display,” Mr. Stern said. He didn't quite manage to keep the smile off his face. “Jeremy will find it for you."

  Georgina tore back into the shop, with Andy in tow. “Where's my ring,” she shouted at the suit behind the counter.

  The man placed a raised index finger over his lips and made a hissing sound. He motioned his head toward the petite blonde, who held a white-hot square stone up to the light.

  "That's mine?” Georgina whispered.

  Jeremy gave a small angry shake of his head. “Not any more,” he said. “Now it's for sale again.” Then he ignored her, instead addressing the blonde to praise the excellent quality of the stone.

  "Help me,” Georgina murmured, clutching Andy's arm.

  "What should I do?” Andy murmured back.

  "Use your head.” Georgina cleared her throat. “I hope that lady isn't superstitious,” she said in a loud voice.

  When Andy said nothing, Georgina pinched the girl's shoulder.

  Andy glanced up, looking confused. Georgina spun her finger in the air.

  "What do you mean superstitious?” Andy said hesitantly.

  Georgina gave an approving nod. “You know, the old superstition about an engagement ring that was first bought for another woman."

  "Right,” Andy said, gaining confidence. “That superstition. What is it?"

  "You know,” Georgina said. “If you get an engagement ring that was first bought for another woman, your marriage is doomed.” She had intended to say that the groom would die in a horrible accident before the wedding, but the blonde was already looking concerned, so she watered it down. “There'll be a divorce before the first anniversary."

  The blonde kept examining the ring against the light. Then she glanced over at Georgina, and lowered the ring on the velvet tray. “Perhaps the teardrop after all,” she said to Jeremy. “May I see that again?"

  Georgina swooped in and snagged the ring with the square setting from the velvet tray. “Good choice. I'm sure you'll be very happy. Thank you.” She ran back to the office, just when the camelhair overcoat came back inside, carrying a cloud of cigarette smoke with him.

  "Here.” Georgina held the ring up to Rick. “Put it on my finger."

  Rick lounged in the armchair, survey
ing her through half-closed lids. He made no effort to rise to his feet.

  "Dad.” Andy was leaping up and down behind Georgina. “Do it, Dad, do it. Quick, before she changes her mind."

  Georgina turned around. She grinned at Andy. “I'm not going to change my mind. You're stuck with me now."

  "Do it, Dad,” Andy groaned. “Hurry up."

  "Be quiet, pumpkin."

  "Dad!"

  "I said, be quiet,” Rick thundered.

  Georgina could feel Andy shrinking back behind her. She reached out and found a set of trembling fingers. She wrapped her hand around them.

  "I guess you're into women's equality and all that crap,” Rick said to her.

  "Where's this leading to?” Georgina demanded to know.

  "If you want that ring on your finger, it's your turn to do the asking.” A quick smile passed over Rick's face, but he banished it instantly. “Unless of course you want to buy it yourself. I can't stop you. You can take it back to England as a souvenir."

  Georgina bit her lip. She huffed and puffed a little, but she accepted that she'd been beaten.

  "All right.” She inhaled a deep breath, getting ready.

  Rick interrupted her. “Before you say anything, I'd like to remind you that the customary position is kneeling down."

  "Let me get this right,” Georgina blustered. “You want me to get down on my knees and ask you to marry me."

  "Sounds good to me,” Rick said. He looked past Georgina and winked at Andy. “What do you say, pumpkin?"

  "Dad, please,” Andy fretted. “Don't make her mad. She'll go back to England."

  Ignoring them, Georgina dropped down on her knees. Going down on one knee seemed a masculine stance, so she knelt as though in prayer. She held up the ring. “Ricardo Matisse, will you marry me?"

  Rick regarded her, unsmiling. “My middle name is Alexandro,” he told her. “You'd better do it again."

  Georgina scrambled up. “That's as good as it gets,” she snapped at him. “Take it or leave it."

  "Dad,” Andy wailed. “Don't blow it."

  Rick reached out, circling his hand over Georgina's wrist. He held her steady while he plucked the ring out of her palm. Then he shifted his grip to her left hand, and slipped the ring over the tip of her third finger.

  "Are you sure?” he said, holding her hand still.

  "I'm sure,” Georgina said. “Completely and utterly sure."

  "Why?” Rick said, his voice falling to a soft murmur as he asked her the simple question.

  Georgina let her gaze drift from their joined hands up to his face. A tense frown lined his brow, and hesitation gave him a tired look. Georgina burst into a bright smile. She felt the joy in the curving of her lips, and in the crinkling of her yes. Happiness rose inside her until it nearly choked her chest. “Because I love you,” she told him.

  Rick's eyes widened in surprise, and Georgina rushed to take advantage of his distracted state. “I'm going to count to three,” she said. “If that ring isn't on my finger on the count of three, you can drive me to the airport."

  Rick's fingers over hers became like a band of steel.

  "One,” Georgina said.

  "Dad, please,” Andy screamed.

  "Two,” Georgina counted.

  Rick stood still, holding her hand.

  "Three."

  She had barely finished speaking, when Rick pushed the ring all the way down her finger, where it fitted snugly. He pulled her close. “When will you learn not to be so bossy?” Rick whispered into her ear.

  "Is it done now?” Andy asked, shoving between them. “Can I see?” She grabbed Georgina's hand. “Wow. It's cool."

  "You can choose another one if you don't like it,” Rick said to Georgina, still holding her close.

  "Are you crazy? I just fought another woman for it.” Georgina admired her hand. “It's perfect.” She dropped her hand and smiled up at him. “Can we go home now, so that I can unpack?"

  "Dad, you didn't say it back to her.” Andy tugged at Rick's sleeve. “You've got to tell her that you love her."

  Georgina felt Rick's arms tense around her, and suddenly she felt frightened. The world stopped turning around her, and she knew that the next few seconds would be the most important of her life. Not daring to analyze the stunned expression on Rick's face, she lowered her eyes to the sparking diamond on her finger. It Rick didn't say the words, the ring would have to come off again, and the rest of her life would become the same dreary existence it had always been.

  She felt Rick's warm breath brushing her cheek as he brought his lips close to her ear. “You are the most infuriating woman that I've ever met. You are bossy and stubborn and obsessed and argumentative.” He paused for an endless second. “But you are also the most exciting and interesting and challenging and kind and vulnerable woman I've ever met, and I'd be crazy not to have fallen in love you."

  Georgina raised her head slowly, allowing her gaze to inch up to his face. His solemn expression made her think of a condemned man. “You didn't say it,” she murmured up to him.

  "Dad, say it properly, the way we practiced,” Andy fretted beside them. “You've got to say it properly."

  Georgina watched Rick's nearly black eyes staring into hers, and saw the struggle deep inside them. Rick's lips moved. “I-Love-You.” He said it stiffly and awkwardly, but loud and firm. His body shifted as he moved to pull Andy to join Georgina in the circle of his arms.

  "I love you too,” Andy said, burying her face against Georgina's sweater.

  Behind them, the sandy-haired man they'd been ignoring cleared his throat. “Congratulations.” He nodded at Rick. “I'm afraid you've got to give your credit card to Jeremy again. He already put the refund through."

  They thanked him and trooped back into the shop, where Jeremy brightened up when he got to restore the purchase he'd already thought he had lost his commission on.

  While they waited, Georgina stole a look at the display cases, trying to think of what to get Rick for Christmas. She'd never really liked those multi-dialed watches.

  The blonde and the camelhair overcoat were gone. Georgina didn't dare to ask Jeremy if they'd bought the tear-drop.

  "Mom, can I have pierced ears?"

  It took Georgina a while to realize it was Andy, and that the question was addressed to her.

  "I've told you before, not until you are eighteen,” Rick said from the counter where he was signing a purchase slip.

  "Shut up, Dad,” Andy told him. “Moms decide about stuff like earrings.” She turned to Georgina again. “Mom, can I have pierced ears?"

  Georgina looked at her. Then she looked at Jeremy, who didn't respond at all. She looked at Mr. Stern, who stood in the office doorway. She looked at the young man in a leather jacket trying on a Tag Heuer watch, and at the two women who'd just arrived and were toying with a selection of long strands of pearls.

  I can do this, Georgina thought. I am a Senior Vice President in charge of Compliance.

  "Fifteen,” she said firmly. “You can have pierced ears when you're fifteen."

  "All right,” Andy said. “Fifteen's cool."

  "What have I done,” Rick groaned. “There are two of you now.” He pocketed his wallet and came up to them.

  It was like entering a brand new world when Georgina walked out of the shop. A man's arm circled her shoulders, keeping her warm and safe. A child gripped her hand, demanding care and attention. And her heart beat strong and steady, brimming with love that she knew would last a lifetime.

  The End

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  About the Author

  Tatiana March learned to read at four, and since then no other pastime has matched the thrill of being transported to other worlds. She took up fiction writing six years ago while taking a break from her job as a senior director in a large international corporation.

  Tatiana lives in the UK near the river Thames. She loves to travel and has lived in several European countries, as wel
l as spending time in the US. One of her favorite destinations is Arizona, the setting of her historical romance Circle Star.

  When Tatiana is not reading or writing, she enjoys hiking, camping, and watching old movies on TV. She is hopeless at housework and can barely cook to keep from starvation. She used to like clothes, and fussing about her hair, but the older she gets the more she has realised that good looks matter less than a kind heart.

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  Also available from Resplendence Publishing

  Circle Star by Tatiana March

  After thirteen years in the East, Susanna Talbot stands to inherit the Arizona ranch she grew up on, but only provided she marries Connor McGregor, the young drifter who once forged a bond with her father. Susanna will do whatever it takes to claim her right to land—even seek a union with a man who believes she ruined his life.

  But first she must find him.

  Connor McGregor rode into the desert without a backward glance thirteen years ago, believing Susanna had banished him from Circle Star. Now a man of twenty-eight, he has no interest in coming to her aid. Will he bury his bitterness, or leave Susanna on the mercy of the ruthless neighbor Burt Hartman, who covets the ranch and will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

  $6.50 e-book $14.99 print

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  The Curse: Book One in the Legend of Blackbeard's Chalice by Maddie James.

  "I felt as if I lived every thrilling moment of THE CURSE. Maddie James writes pulse-pounding suspense and riveting romance!"

  Teresa Medeiros

  New York Times Bestselling Author

  Jack Porter is in hot pursuit of his kidnapped wife. Not an easy feat considering it is 1718 and the kidnapper is the notorious pirate, Edward Teach aka. Blackbeard. Determined to rescue his wife, Hannah, and take the pirate's head in the process, Jack sneaks aboard the pirate's ship but is too late. Hannah dies in his arms.

  Nearly 300 years later, Claire Winslow vacations on a secluded east coast island, where the image of a man walking the misty shore haunts her. Then he comes to her one night, kisses her, and disappears. The next night they make love and he tells her his name is Jack. But did they really make love? Or was it a dream? And why did he call her Hannah?