Mysterious Vows by Cassie Miles

Author:Cassie Miles
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction
ISBN: 9781459283725
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-07-16T11:53:53.281803+00:00

Chapter Nine

The interior of the St.

Sebastian was magnificent, with towering floral displays and marble

floors and elegant baroque furnishings.

Maria, in her disreputable T-shirt and I-evi’s, felt horribly

underdressed.

Though she had no recollection of ever being in this position, she knew

there were only two choices.

She could grovel and show her embarrassment, or she could throw back

her shoulders and put on her “lady of the manor” attitude and act like

she was so outrageously rich that she didn’t need to prove it with

clothes.

Opting for the latter, she sailed across the lobby on Jason’s arm.

They passed a bank of elevators and descended two stairs into a more

modern wing that included gallery space, a restaurant, and several

exclusive shops.

I The center atrium, babbling fountain and intricate glow of light

showed the influence of modern architect.

M.

Pei.

The marble entryway to Paktel’s was discreetly elegant.

There were no display cases, no signs of advertising sales-only the

name of the store in gold lettering that precisely matched the logo on

Maria’s wristwatch.

Inside the double glass doors of Paktel’s were several glass cases

edged in gold.

Jason’s cane tapped loudly on the marble floors, attracting the

irritated attention of a clerk who wore an impeccable Brooks Brothers’

suit.

“May I help you,” he said, disdainfully scrutinizing Maria’s T-shirt.

“This watch.”

She held it out.

“It’s one of yours.”

“Yes, I see. There’s Paktel on the face.”

“It’s very expensive, isn’t it?”

“Well, that depends.”

He sniffed.

“That depends upon your definition of cost.”

“Hey, it’s not a Rolex,” Jason said.

It had occurred to him that this exclusive hotel and jewelry store were

not the best places to be caught packing a pistol.

The security had to be state of the art.

He wanted to be out of there before he was tempted to shove his Beretta

up the clerk’s nose.

“You don’t have a registry of people who’ve purchased these watches, do

you?”

“Actually, we do in some cases. Especially if we’ve done the

engraving.”

The clerk took thelwatch from Maria and studied it.

“But there is no registry on this particular style. It has no

gemstones.”

“Dead end,” Jason said, taking the watch back.

He hooked his arm through Maria’s and turned her toward the exit.

She took two steps, then balked.

“What is it?”

he whispered.

“Over there. In the lobby. That man who’s leaning against the

pillar.

Isn’t he the guy in the yellow shirt at the marina?

He was.

Jason recognized him in a minute.

Stocky build.

Dark, lank hair sticking out from under a baseball cap.

Sunglasses.

His presence did not bode well.

The elegant clerk shooed them forward as if they were reluctant

chickens.

“If you have no other questions, I’m afraid I really must lock up

now.

On Sunday, we close at five o’clock precisely.

Jason turned to him and smiled.

“We’d like to see your collection of engagement rings.”

“Oh, really?”

he intoned.

“Would you now?”

“Not a diamond. They’re too common.”

Jason unscrewed the head of his silver cane.

Inside was a small compartment.

He took out a ring.

It was an exquisite piece of jewelry, set with perfect emeralds and

sapphires that shone with a cool blue flame.

Jason held it out for the clerk to examine.

“Something like this.”

The clerk peered through a gold eye loupe, then gaped at them.

“My God! These are real.”

“Of course,” Jason said smoothly.

“Can you help us?”

“Yes, sir. Of course, sir.

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