Jim and Tasha both nodded as Jim slid the ring he’d requested onto Tasha’s finger, although the lack of price tags suggested to Tasha that a complete ring was likely to have far too many zeros on the cost without adding a personalised design to it.
“I like this one,” Tasha said, admiring the ring that looked as near to perfect on her finger as she could imagine anything could.
“Like, as in, we’re getting somewhere towards what you want or like it as in, this is what you want?” asked Jim.
“I really like it. It’s right for me.” She continued admiring it. “Do you like it?”
“It’s beautiful, but I will love whatever you choose. I just want you to be happy with it. You’ll be wearing it for a long time, so choose carefully.” He grinned, making her reciprocate.
Rebekah interjected. “It is a twenty-four carat platinum solitaire engagement ring with a round brilliant cut diamond weighing approximately eight carats. Would you like the price on that one?”
“No,” snapped Jim. “The price is irrelevant, it just needs to be the one my girlfriend likes.”
“I like this one,” she confirmed. “But is it too big? Does it look garish?”
“No, baby. Some of the others did, but it suits your hands, all English and tasteful.” He smiled at her, warmth and love filling his eyes at the sight of her before him looking beautiful, happy and engaged. “We’ll take it.”
Tasha watched from the opposite end of the shop as Jim followed Rebekah to pay for the ring. She was sure Rebekah had said a price starting with one hundred something and a ninety-nine at the end, one hundred…no, it would cost more than that, one-hundred-thousand? One hundred and ninety-nine-thousand? Fuck! She would be scared to wear it outdoors at that price. For an accountant and savvy businessman he was crazy with money, although maybe because he was an accountant and a savvy businessman that might explain why he was so rich and could afford to spend almost two hundred thousand dollars on an engagement ring. She made a mental note that she shouldn’t take him car shopping or she’d end up with a car to match his.
“You can wear it if you want to,” he said from behind her.
“I should call my grandparents, Pippa and Dan first.”
“Phone them tonight then,” he said a little impatiently.
“Yeah, maybe.” She took his hand.
“Call them, Tasha, because you’ll be wearing the ring to my parent’s tomorrow night,” he said firmly.
She nodded her agreement and began to worry about wearing that much on her finger.
“Let’s go and look at cars.” He put the ring in the inside pocket of the navy blue suit he wore today with a white shirt and navy tie with white specks.
“I will sort a car next week—”
“But we’ll look this afternoon.” Jim didn’t miss a beat as he strode out, taking her with him and she was in no doubt that they were going to look at cars, but she would not let him buy a car for her this afternoon.
They were looking around yet another dealership, this was an Audi one. They had already done BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar and Lexus and although Jim had chatted with salespeople at all of them Tasha had not found a suitable car.
“The A3 is nice,” said the salesman. “Enough power, but economical. Nice for around town.”
Tasha smiled at him as Jim talked specifications, but seemed less than impressed. Jim took the salesman’s card and led Tasha away.
“Have you seen anything you think you’d like to drive?”
Tasha shook her head.
“I’d rather just get a small hatchback or maybe a Mini or something like I have at home.”
Jim flinched as she referred to London as home.
“But this is home now. There is another dealership down the road,” he started. “Porsche…”
“No, leave it till next week. I’ll ask Mike to take me to a few places, please” she said taking his hand.
“Mmm, we’ll see.”
He bristled as he opened the car door for her, but was that because she wanted Mike to go car shopping with her, her refusal to wear her ring immediately or her reference to anywhere other than L.A. as home, anywhere that wasn’t with him.
