Page 26 of Theirs to Treasure
Zev narrows his eyes as he studies his older sibling.
“We’ll be late for our reservations,” he explains with an easy shrug.
“I’m sure it won’t take long.” I hate to be a burden, but this is really important to me.
In the time since I recklessly downed four shots of whiskey, I’ve sobered up…at least a little. Maybe.
At any rate, my brain is working overtime.
I hate being in debt, and I already owe the brothers a lot of money. “I need funds to buy a plane ticket to get back home.” And to pay for transportation to the airport here and in Houston. The cash I have won’t last long, even if I’m frugal. “I should have enough left over to cover the cost of the clothes and drinks you bought me.” At least I hope so.
“I’ll give you a loan against it,” Forrest says immediately. “What terms would you like? One hundred twenty days? A year?”
Scowling, I shake my head. “I don’t want a loan. I want to get rid of it.”
I dig into my clutch and pull out the hated reminder of the terrible mistake I almost made. It glitters in the light, and I remember almost swooning over its radiance and the fact I was going to become a bride. Now my greatest hope is never looking at it again.
Forrest extends his hand, and I drop the piece jewelry into his palm.
“Hmm.”
“What does that mean?”
“The diamond is a little small.”
“What?”To me, the gem was ridiculously big, like my dreams and hopes.
“And the cut is designed to hide the flaws.” He looks at me. “Inclusions.”
Do you have any idea how to behave in polite society?
As if he’s some sort of expert, Forrest continues to study the multifaceted thing. “I would never allow a woman of mine to wear this. I’d be too embarrassed.”
Flabbergasted, my cheeks heat as I gawk at him.
“I’ll give you twenty-five thousand for it.”
I blink. That’s more than I thought I’d get for the piece on the resale market, but it’s considerably less than Edward had coughed up at the jewelry store.
After everything he’s just said, I’m surprised by Forrest’s more-than generous offer. “Look Mr. Donnelly?—”
“Forrest,” he ruthlessly interrupts. “Since we’ll be fucking later, I think we should be on a first-name basis. Don’t you?”
His crassness renders me speechless.
“Knock it off,” Zev warns. “You’re being an asshole.”
I’m glad he said it. Saves me the words.
Determinedly, I return to my point. “I don’t want your charity.”
“What Forrest means is that he believes he can sell it for at least that much. We’ll get our money back.”
Zev’s statements reassure me, and I exhale. “In that case, make it thirty thousand.” Then I decide to challenge Forrest. “Cash.”
Forrest’s beautiful, tempting lips quirk into a smile. “Done. Now can we go to dinner?”
“I should have asked for thirty-five.”