He shook his head. “Diamonds will always sell, no matter where they came from or who distributes them.”
I glanced out the window at a white truck down below. “I suppose. Dutch, you have nothing to worry about. Our customers are entirely different, so it’s not like we’re hurting your business.”
He came up behind me. “Did I say I was worried?”
He didn’t have to. Dutch implied my jewelry was not up to par with his and that he’d felt threatened by the new shop in the neighborhood. I wondered if any of his customers had asked him for directions to Moonglow. Did he want to compete by selling similar items? Why else would he have come into the shop to purchase the very earrings that were creating a buzz on the streets? It must have frustrated him to see me profiting from something that wasn’t high-end enough to sell in his own store.
When I turned around, Dutch had his hands in his pockets.
“Do you forgive me for running out?” he asked, his expression guarded. “I’m not a man who needs his feelings coddled, so be honest. Let me know what I can do to make it right between us. I don’t like making enemies who smile to my face.”
“You have a nice smile,” I observed, circling around him and collecting our glasses. “What happened back at the bar doesn’t bother me. But something else does. Why did you want to purchase my earrings if they’re not your style? You don’t have a woman or else you wouldn’t be here alone in my apartment.” I set the glasses in the sink and then turned around, inching up to the edge of the island.
Dutch strolled into the kitchen, chin down but eyes up. “I admire your business tactics.”
My brows arched. “Tactics? I love each and every piece I create. There’s nothing tactical about that.”
He placed his hands on the granite countertop. “Ah, but there is. You could have purchased feathers from any wholesale dealer, but you chose to use Shifter feathers and create letters of authenticity or something along those lines. At least, that’s what one woman told me. I wanted to see for myself what came with the purchase.”
“You don’t provide documents with your precious stones? My intention is to share the history and origin. For many, owning something unique with a history behind it is special. It connects them to the Breed world when so many things in today’s culture disconnect us. My mother made this bowl,” I said, sliding the fruit bowl toward him. “It’s irreplaceable and means more to me than the crystal bowl on top of the fridge.”
He leaned forward and tipped his head to the side. “So who’s your dealer?”
My lips eased into a grin. “Trying to steal my business?”
“Just curious who would sell you their feathers.”
“Why not ask about my gemstone dealer?”
Dutch stood up and waved his hand dismissively. “Everyone knows Shikoba only deals with Natives.”
“Ah. So you’ve tried.”
He shrugged. “You have to give the people what they want. But if I can’t strike a deal with the most reputable guy in his field, then it’s not worth pursuing.”
“You spend a lot of time pursuing perfection.”
“I’m a man of refined taste.”
I tucked my hair behind my ear. “Someday you’ll meet a woman so flawed that all you can see is how perfect she is.”
Dutch folded his arms. “Doubtful. Women see me as a means to the finer things in life.”
“You can’t be serious.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Can’t I? My looks are appealing, but not as much as my money.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “If you don’t think relationships can be genuine, why do you spend so much time searching for perfection?”
He dropped his arms to his sides. “If a woman stands to gain from a relationship with me, then why should I not have high standards? I’m not cold, Hope. I’m just… practical.”
“What about love?”
“Love is irrelevant. One thing you should accept with your success is that you’ll never know the genuine affections you call love. Companionship is a suitable compromise. Why should I give my heart away like a commodity?” The light dimmed from his eyes. “I can buy anything I want, but I can’t buy love. I can’t even earn it. It’s the tragic fate of success. You’re an ambitious woman, but be careful how well you do in this world. Everyone has ulterior motives, and everything comes at a price.”
Despite the niceties, I wasn’t Dutch’s type. Perhaps he wondered if a woman with equal success could be a suitable match, or maybe asking me out had been a ruse to gain information. The trouble with Dutch was that I couldn’t begin to guess his true intentions. I was used to being around people who were straightforward. He danced around words and always left me feeling as though I knew even less about him than what he revealed.
I worried my lip and glanced over at the folded-up paper next to the bowl. I finally gathered the courage to slide it in front of him. “Did you write this?”
