“I know what you’re thinking,” he said.
She laughed. “I doubt that.”
“You’re wondering if you get a present from me.”
“Not at all.” She waved at the restaurant. “This is my present and it’s wonderful.”
“That’s not all.” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small box.
Cathy stared at it. The trembling started again because she knew it was going to be amazing. “Thank you,” she whispered, and had to fight back tears.
“You haven’t opened it yet.”
“Oh, you’re right.” She fumbled with the small box, then finally pulled up the lid. Nestled on a bed of white velvet was a pair of square-cut emerald earrings surrounded by diamonds. They glittered in the candlelight.
Her breath caught in her throat, and she could barely speak. “They’re stunning.”
“Don’t you dare say they’re too much or some of that other nonsense women insist on mouthing at times like this. I wanted to get you something nice, so I did.”
The gruffness in his voice gave him away, she thought as she reached out and touched his hand. “Then I won’t say any of that. They’re the most perfect present anyone has ever given me. Thank you, Stone. I’ll treasure them always.”
“That’s better,” he grumbled.
She pulled out her simple gold hoops and exchanged them for the emeralds. Then she tucked her hair behind her ears and turned her head back and forth for his inspection. “What do you think?”
“They’re very nice.” He frowned.
“What is it?”
“I was just thinking, you need somewhere special to wear them.”
“This is special.”
“That’s not what I mean.” His frown deepened.
“Stone?”
“It’s nothing. Just that this is the first time I’ve been out to dinner since—” He shrugged. “In a long time.”
Since Evelyn had died, she filled in silently. “You should get out more. I’ve been telling you that for months.”
“I know. I’m not comfortable with that, but I do have social obligations I’ve been ignoring. Perhaps there’s a way to take care of that.”
“I’m intrigued. What did you have in mind?”
The frown faded and he smiled. “A masked party. I’ll be the phantom of the opera.”
They both started to laugh. They were still laughing when Art returned to take away their plates. He stared at them strangely, but they both ignored him.
* * *
“I can’t do this,” Cathy whispered into the cellular phone, even though she was alone in the car and there was no one to hear her.
“Then why did you agree to go?” Stone asked.
She exhaled sharply and glanced around at the parking lot. “If you’re going to be logical, I absolutely refuse to have this conversation with you.”
“Cathy, you’ll be fine. They’re expecting you, they know you’re brilliant and they’ll go out of their way to make you feel comfortable.”
