If the Ring Fits.... Jackie Braun

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      “I was feeling sorry for myself,” she clarified. “Wallowing.”

      “English may be my second language, but I am familiar with the term.” He stepped behind her, helping her out of the coat she’d begun to slip off. She felt his breath graze her temple when he continued. “I have a hard time picturing you wallowing.”

      “I assure you, I can do a credible job of it when I put my mind to it.”

      “Allora… What is the reason for this pity party?”

      “My house has sold, and I have until Monday to be out.”

      “But the apartment upstairs cannot be ready so soon.” Tony nodded then. “Ah. I see. It is not ready. What will you do?”

      “I’m weighing my options.”

      Tony studied Rachel. From the way her mouth tightened, he decided none of them was to her liking.

      “If I may be so bold, what are those options?”

      “Oh, the usual. I can go and live with family. My mother and sister have already made the obligatory offer. I also could…” She shook her head and added resolutely, “No. I won’t even consider the condo.”

      “Why is this condo not worthy of consideration?”

      Rachel blinked. It was clear she didn’t realize that she’d shared that last part with him.

      “Sorry. I was thinking aloud. It’s just that my father, well, apparently he has a business associate who owns a condo where I could live rent-free for a few months.”

      “But you will not even consider it. Why?” Tony asked curiously.

      She sighed. “It’s complicated. My father and I are not on the best of terms.”

      “Ah.” That was all Tony said. He found that the less one prodded, the more some people opened up. Sure enough, after another sigh, Rachel started talking.

      “When it comes right down to it, I barely know him—my father.” She snorted out what passed for a laugh. “I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen him in the past half-dozen years.”

      “He and your mother are divorced.”

      “Since I was a little girl. My sister was practically a baby when he left us.”

      Rachel’s tone was matter-of-fact, but her expression was wounded. Interestingly, she appeared more broken up over her parents’ failed marriage than she did her own.

      “There was another woman,” Tony guessed.

      “That’s right.” Her laughter was humorless. “And I thought Mal would be safe.”

      “What do you mean by that?”

      “Never mind.” She worked up a smile. “That was just a little more wallowing on my part. See, I told you I was good at it.”

      Tony wasn’t ready to let her previous remark go just yet. “Instead of trying to remain safe, maybe you need to be reckless every now and then. Take more chances.”

      “I’m not a fan of taking chances.”

      “I think you are.” He stepped closer. “You are a businesswoman. That involves risk.”

      “True, but—”

      “And you are an artist. Again, you are putting yourself on the line.”

      Her brow furrowed, leaving Tony with the distinct impression he’d struck a chord. But then Rachel was shaking her head. “Let me clarify, I am not a fan of taking chances when it comes to personal relationships.”

      He nodded slowly. “It is much harder to put one’s self at risk emotionally, and that is what relationships require.”

      “Are you going to tell me you’re speaking from experience?” Her expression was droll.

      Tony laughed softly. “I confess. I am a far better teacher than student when it comes to such matters.”

      “I hope I won’t offend you, but I don’t think there is anything you could teach me when it comes to relationships.”

      He smiled even as she blushed.

      “Nothing?” He had the advantage and they both knew it. Tony took another step forward. Her back was literally to the wall.

      “Y-your track record with women says as much.”

      “Simply because a relationship does not end with me getting down on bended knee, does not make it a failure.”

      “What does that make it?”

      He shrugged and pushed away the thought that he might be missing something, denying himself something less obvious than permanence.

      “I enjoy myself. The woman I am with enjoys herself. It lasts as long as it lasts. There are no hurt feelings. No repercussions.” He leaned one forearm on the wall. He lowered his head, lowered his voice to a seductive whisper. “When was the last time you enjoyed yourself, signorina?”

      Her blush was telling, but when she spoke, her tone was so professional that he was left to marvel at her control…and fantasize about breaking it.

      “I think we’ve gotten off track here, Tony. Let’s see about that necklace.”

      Off track or not, she was finally calling him by his given name. Tony straightened and backed up a couple of steps. Very well. He had pushed her far enough, especially since he had no idea where he wanted her to go in the end.

      “Yes, the necklace. I am eager to see it.”

      Rachel turned and nearly tripped over a row of boxes that was lined up against the wall on the other side of her office door. If not for his hands on her waist, she would have fallen.

      “What is all of this?” he asked once her balance was restored.

      He needn’t have asked. The boxes bore labels such as Extra Linens, Holiday Decorations and Board Games.

      “Just some items I came across while clearing out my closets. I thought some of my employees might be able to use them.” She frowned as she studied the boxes. “It’s amazing the amount of stuff you accumulate over the years.”

      She continued to the safe then. After getting out the necklace, she took it to one of the display cases, where she draped it on a headless black-velvet-covered bust.

      Her expression was a mixture of pride and apprehension. Oh, she was a true artist, all right. And from his experience, artists were a passionate lot.

      “Well, what do you think?” she prodded, and it occurred to him that he’d been staring, not at the necklace but at Rachel.

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