“Many things.” Cold kissed Jimmy’s hand again, glancing to his sister. “I’m sure you’ll be more than happy to keep Jimmy company?”
“Is this before or after I kick your ass for all of this ridiculous drama?” Rowena rolled her eyes. “We all know you’re up to something.”
“Any so-called ass kicking will have to be later,” Cold tutted. “I’m busy.”
“Fine, whatever,” Rowena scoffed, adjusting her hair and reaching for the phone that rang up in the front of the limo. “Hey, Jerry darling. Take us over to Tiffany’s. We’re going to break my brother’s bank account because he’s being a dick mongrel.”
Cold scowled as Rowena hung up. “Charming. Very charming.”
Rowena gave him her sweetest smile and batted her eyes. “I’m the most charming person you know! Now, Jimmy. I’m not saying you should pick out the most expensive ring, but if it is? I’d be very happy.”
Jimmy found himself blushing, giving Cold’s hand a squeeze. With all of the terrible risks they’d faced over the last few weeks, this should have been easy. Yet, he suddenly felt more nervous about picking out a wedding ring than he had walking into court that morning.
They pulled up to the jewelry store and Cold got out with them, kissing Jimmy’s cheek in farewell.
“Riding with Jules?” Jimmy asked, watching Jules’ El Camino park behind the limo.
“Yes,” Cold said. “I’ll see you back at the house.”
“For the party?” Jimmy grinned.
“No,” Cold grunted. “You and I have some business of our own to tend to, and there is not going to be a party.”
“There’s totally going to be a party!” Jules shouted from his car while Jimmy blushed. “Already got the boys working on it! Make sure you dress up real fuckin’ nice!”
Cold made a face.
“Sounds like there’s going to be one to me,” Rowena laughed, looping her arm with Jimmy’s. “See you tonight, Roddy!”
Cold stalked wordlessly to the El Camino, sitting down in the passenger seat with a scowl.
Jimmy couldn’t help but join in Rowena’s laughter. Roderick Legrand, mobster and fiend, was pouting because he didn’t want to have a party.
Rowena led Jimmy into the posh jewelry store, her eyes flashing all over the shiny cases. “Now! In all seriousness, do you have any idea what you want to get my brother?”
“In all seriousness?” Jimmy gulped. Even though he was fresh from court wearing a suit, he did not feel like he fit in this place at all. He was terrified to touch anything. “No freakin’ clue.”
“Come on!” Rowena pulled Jimmy up to a display case full of dazzling diamond rings. “You’ve got to have some idea what he likes!”
“Flashy but not too flashy,” Jimmy said carefully. “He definitely likes classic styles, he likes to look powerful and dangerous, but still like, really fashionable... uh... what sort of ring says ‘I just beat a murder rap but also dare to wear spats in the twenty-first century’?”
Rowena elbowed Jimmy playfully, snorting, “It should be more special than that! Your ring is oozing with sentimental value, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.” Jimmy smiled down at the little diamond glittering in his wedding band. “He spent so much time making this perfect for me. I was kinda a dick to him about it—”
“Well, he deserved it,” Rowena quipped, gliding over to browse another case of golden earrings.
“No, he totally did,” Jimmy amended, “but I want to give him something that shows how much I appreciate him. Diamonds just seem really cheap. Not that they’re cheap, but...”
“They’re not special.” Rowena nodded her head in understanding.
“Right.”
“Well,” Rowena said with a shrug, “you’ve gotta figure out what special means to you and Rod and then buy it!”
“Yup. On it.”
Jimmy kept looking through the men’s rings, hoping something would jump out at him. He knew Cold didn’t wear much jewelry, and he rarely accessorized other than his cufflinks and the occasional pocket watch.
