Cindy clears her throat around another laugh. “Well, what kind of stuff does Libby like?”
“Stars,” I say immediately. “But that’s more her memory with her dad. I want something for us. She loves horses, her ranch, and she’s always wearing red and yellow. Maybe something gold, or something with a ruby?”
Cindy clucks her tongue. “That’s a little simple, Holt. Favorite colors? Horses?” She shakes her head. “Let’s try something else. Tell me about the first time you kissed.”
I eyeball her. “If I hear about this from anyone else…”
“Oh, I’m not asking for gossip!” she says with a snicker, her cheeks flushing. “Really, do you think I’m that bad?”
“Yes.”
“Maybe just a little.” Her smile turns impish, but it’s actually sweet, not flirty.
It feels like I’ve turned a corner.
Maybe some folks around here are starting to believe I’m not the scoundrel I used to be.
And maybe they’re rooting for me and Libby, too.
Not just waiting to see how I muck it all up.
I shake my head. “The first time, she actually kissed me. There’ve been a lot of kisses since then, but I could tell you about the night I kissed her. Right when I realized I was falling in love with her.”
“Please do.” Cindy’s eyes light up like she’s got a million stars in them.
Alaska nudges me. “Boss, did you just tell this nice lady you’re in love with Libby? I’m pretty sure you ain’t even said it to her yet?”
I wince, nodding.
“Never mind that,” Cindy says. “Tell me about the kiss!”
“All right, all right,” I say, laughing and rubbing the back of my neck. “It was at the Norton’s barn dance. She was all dolled up in the prettiest dress, and she just looked like a flower drifting every time she moved. We danced together until it was too hot to breathe. Then we went for a walk under the stars. We were talking about her daddy, about us, and I told her how she gets me all messed up inside.”
I can still see her that night.
Looking up at me with those sky-blue eyes that turn me inside out.
“I remember how all her colors turned silver in the moonlight, bright and pretty as you please. She looked like goddamn magic, Cindy.” I can’t stop smiling.
Cindy mouths a silent wow.
“That’s when it hit me. I knew I could look at Libby and want to kiss her for the rest of my life. She lit up my world like she was the moon and all the damn stars a man could ever need.”
There’s silence.
I realize I’ve been shooting my mouth off like some purple prose spewing kid with a crush. I look away sharply, clearing my throat.
“Think that’s how it went, anyway,” I mumble.
“Damn, boss,” Alaska says in a soft hush. There’s something like respect in his voice, though I don’t really understand why. “You’re serious about this bird.”
“Holt,” Cindy sighs, and Christ her voice is practically dripping with all this dreamy emotion. “That’s lovely. I think I know just the thing.”
Finally.
I’m ready to start cursing with relief.
It’s so embarrassing I want to get this done and get the hell out of here.
I’m also aching to be with Libby.
I think after a quick stop on-site to make sure the new framing is going okay, I’ll head back to the ranch and surprise her. Spend lunch with her before we both get back to work.
Cindy guides me away from that hideous case of rhinestones and over to another display, where delicate pieces are laid out against black velvet. They sparkle under the lights without overwhelming with too much glitter—letting you appreciate the more finer bits.
The moment I lay eyes on it, I know exactly what Cindy wants to show me without even being told.
It’s a bracelet.
At first, I’d have scoffed at it for Libby. She’s a rough and tumble girl who’ll break something so light in a heartbeat. That’s the thing with her, though.
She’s rough and tumble to her core, but she’s delicate, too.
She never breaks, and I know she won’t break this.
The chain is figaro-style, thread-thin, crafted so fine with tiny diamonds no bigger than seed pearls. They’re interspersed between the large links and the small ones, glittering like tiny stars.
And dangling from it, I smile when I see it.
A crescent moon.
Its framing is silver with crushed diamonds inside.
Fine as powder, like moondust itself, making that crescent moon shine as bright as the real moon did overhead while I looked down at Libby, all silver and gorgeous and breathtaking.
Yeah, fuck.
I can feel it in the swell of my chest, in the slow smile growing on my lips.
That’s the one.
“It’s perfect,” I say, and Cindy lights up with a pleased smile. “How much?”
“Three thousand dollars even,” she chirps.
Alaska lets out a soft whistle, giving me a troubled look. “Boss, with the cashflow issues lately…”