"Jayden?" Wilson asked.
Jayden stepped closer and took the ring Wilson held out to him. He was actually quite surprised at how much he did like it. It was a nice bright shiny gold ring with three small diamonds set in the wide band. Despite the diamonds, the ring was quite masculine looking.
"These are nice. The diamonds are flush with the band so they won't get caught on anything."
"So, you like these then?"
Jayden eyed the diamond-embedded gold ring then glanced toward the jeweler. "How much?"
"Oh, price is no object, darling. I just want you to have the ring of your dreams."
Jayden's jaw dropped. Could Wilson get any cheesier? The sparkle in his brown eyes said he knew exactly what he was saying. Well, two could play at that game.
Jayden grinned as he set the ring down next to its twin. "These are perfect, love." He kept the smile wide on his face as he turned to look at Mr. Jenkins. "We'd also like them engraved if you can get it done in the next couple of days. We're getting married this weekend."
"I do all my own engraving so that shouldn't be a problem," Mr. Jenkins replied. "What would you like them to say?"
Jayden gave Wilson a hard stare. "My everlasting love."
Wilson sucked in a barely discernible breath. Jayden probably wouldn't have known if he hadn't been watching so closely.
For a moment, a breath, something flickered between them, something that tugged at Jayden's soul. A current of electricity buzzed across his skin, and his stomach did a funny little flip. His heart swelled with a feeling he never thought to feel, one he had no clue how to feel.
"I could have these to you by Thursday," Mr. Jenkins said, breaking the moment.
Jayden blinked several times as he glanced away.
"Yes, that would be fine," Wilson said before nudging Jayden. "Why don't you go wait in the car while I sign the paperwork?"
Yeah, Jayden could use a few minutes to himself. He didn't understand what had just happened, and he wasn't sure he wanted to figure it out. It had given life to that secret part of himself that wanted this all to be real and not some dramatic scheme to keep the media from finding out about Wilson's son.
Jayden walked out of the jewelers and headed for the car. Instead of climbing inside, he leaned back against it. This whole thing was insane. He knew he should just walk away. He couldn't figure out why he wasn't.
True, he owed Wilson for informing Marv on him in the first place, but this seemed a little excessive to make up for that. Just how far did Wilson intend to take this little farce anyway? Marriage was serious stuff, not a game to be played to entertain others.
"Jayden?"
He looked up then smiled. It was hard not to when faced with such a special man. "Hey, Happy." He nodded to the deputy beside him. "Marc."
"What are you doing out here all by yourself?" Happy asked. "Working on another story?"
"Something like that."
"Anything we can help with?"
That was a loaded question.
"Not at the moment, but I'll let you know."
"Did you get everything you need on the diamond story?" Marc asked.
"I did, but I'm not sure it's going to be published."
"Was there something wrong with what I said?" Happy asked.
"Oh, no, not at all," Jayden quickly said. He'd known within minutes of meeting Happy that he was a special kind of man, not because it sometimes took a little longer for him to answer questions but because he had the world's biggest heart. "No, but I don't work for the newspaper anymore."
"Oh." Happy's brow flickered. "I don't think our newspaper is hiring. Mr. Moorgate is getting ready to sell the Cade Creek Chronicle."
