“Relax,” My hand slides to the naked skin on her lower back and she laughs nervously.
“I just don’t understand how he’s going to pull it off. There’s security everywhere.
“He already did.” I snicker at her astonished look.
Gasping, her hands fly to her neck. “No way. When?”
“Remember how Mrs. Chu leaned over to greet you? My dad made mention of a tag on her dress and as he tucked it in, removed her necklace and replaced it with yours.”
“But I was wearing mine.” At her increased volume, I dance her further away from the others.
Smiling, I keep my voice low and play with her earring. “During the first course your purse slipped to the floor. Dad picked it up and as he gave it back, touched the back of your head, remarking on your curls.”
“Oh my God. But my beads never left my neck.”
“No, sweetheart, they did and now you’re wearing the priceless antiquity.” As I let that sink in, we sway to the music.
At one point I catch Oliver’s eye and he nods with a finger to his nose. Dad claims to suffer from a bout of sciatica and limps a little as he thanks his host, then leaves.
Done dancing, I sit with her at an empty seat by the water and grow melancholy. Once tonight is over, she won’t need to stay with me. She’ll go back to piloting and me to,,, well the stuff I do.
I can’t let her go. I must tell her how I feel but how?
“I think she’s lonely.” Landy points to a lone glow bug circling around our candle.
“She should wait for the male to signal, then respond with a flash of her own.”
“Sounds chauvinistic.” She snuggles closer and I lift my arm to pull her tight.
“Google it.”
“No, I believe you. So, if she responds, what then?”
“If they like what they see, they fall in love, and make lots of baby lamps.”
“Sounds nice.” Her dark eyes capture mine and when her lips part, I understand the plight of the male insect.
Do I say it? Do I risk all or do I wait? Taking a deep breath, I whisper just barely loud enough for her to hear. “I love you.”
Sighing, she points out the other fireflies who have jointed the mating ritual. “I love you, too, bounty man.”
~ Chapter 30 ~
Landy
Two weeks later.
After a day in the air flying Dash’s new MD600, I sit with a drink in my hand, unable to eat another bite. A plate of crab shells sits on a paper plate and beyond, in the New York Harbor, a miniature Statue of Liberty, stands tall in the distance, backlit by flaming orange sky.
Dash, sitting next to me on the picnic table hangs up with Oliver and kisses my neck. “It’s over. The Chinese government has given the US assurances there will be no more retribution from Jian Zhang or any of his men.
“Can you trust them? You know what they say. If anything sounds too good to be true, it’s probably bullshit.”
He laughs. “Chou’s security team will see to it promises are kept. It was their job to keep the necklace safe. If I even suspect Jiang is resuming activities, I will release to the press that the jade necklace worn by the ambassador’s wife is a fake.”
My heart skips a beat as I picture the green beads in my cheap jewelry box. “Wait. You didn’t give it back?”
“I couldn’t very well cause an international incident, could I?” I tweak her nose.
