Diamond (Rare Gems Series) (12 page)

“
There’s an opening here if you want it, but you have to find your replacement before—”

“
Done. I’ve been training someone for my vacation anyway, and I’ll step up the training. Where am I moving to anyway?” He told her. “Okay, I’ll have to find somewhere to stay until…Christ, did you say Ohio?”

“
Yes. It’s a nice little town and you’ll love it.” Diamond turned to look at him as he continued talking to Jane. “You will be notified by the bank up here, a man by the name of Robert Beck. He’s going to verify that I have the funds to purchase mine and Diamond’s little house.”

Diamond snorted at him
, and he pulled her closer to his body. Jane laughed. “Little, huh? You don’t strike me as a little bugaboo sort of guy.”

“
It’s not. But Diamond loves it, and I want her to have it. Make sure that happens for me too.” He knew that she’d understand that he wanted the house in her name, and when she asked about her middle initial, he had to ask Diamond what it was.

“
It’s Ava. Why?” Thad kissed her nose and relayed the information to Jane. After asking her to let him know when she found out anything about Ward, he hung up.

“
I’ve bought the house, or we have. As of an hour ago.” Thad watched her absorb this information before he continued. “I don’t want you to be upset, but the house will be in your name as owner.”

“
I can’t afford this thing.” He smiled. “What happens if you decide you no longer want me, or worse yet, you decide this little town isn’t what you had in mind? I could never pay the bills on this thing, much less the mortgage.”

“
The house will be paid in full, and as for me leaving you, that’s not going to happen either.” He took her hand and they descended the stairs to what he had hoped would be his office. After she was seated, he sat as well. “I know you have no reason to believe or trust me, but I want you to try, for me; no, I guess I want you to try for us.”

Thad watched her closely.
She was processing and he loved that about her. Emptying her head out to work out a problem wasn’t something that she did. He could almost see her making a long list of things she wanted to say and going through each one of them and tweaking it, marking it off if she found the answers.

When she looked up at him Thad realized two things at once.
One, he was in love with her. Not the sort of staggering love that he knew that Blair and Sapphire had, but a gentle I-need-you-to-function love. It wasn’t that he didn’t think they’d get to the I-fucking-can’t-live-without-you love, but for now, this was enough.

And second, Thad realized he wasn
’t going to be bored again. Smiling, he waited for her to begin because he had no doubt she would soon enough. When she looked at him, he saw the tears sprinkled in her lashes and felt his heart take a tight twist. Maybe he was wrong about the kind of love he was in; he thought he had fallen right into the “can’t live” one.

“
I know you have a great deal of money…that’s not true. I know you have money, but the amount is just too staggering to take in right now, so I’m leaving it at that. But I don’t know how to be the kind of person you need.” When he started to ask her what she meant, she continued. “You need a woman who can be in the background. The kind that would look beautiful on your arm and smile at the kind of people I hate. I don’t know how to run a house the size of the one my family lives in, much less the one you bought. How am I supposed to keep up with it? And there’s the pool and the—”

Thad got up and went to her,
kneeling before her as she sobbed quietly. Lifting her chin up, he looked into her eyes and found that he was a goner. This was the woman he was going to spend the rest of his life not only loving, but worshiping as well. Smiling at her, he brushed away her tears with his thumb.

“
I have a staff. Not nearly large enough for this house, but one that can run this one as well as the two of us. I’ve already called Benson. He’s the head of the house in Texas. I told him what I needed. He’ll be calling you in a couple of days.” Thad didn’t know if now was the time or not, but he decided that she might as well know it all. “I’ve asked Jane to set up your name on all my accounts, personal as well as business. You won’t be able to make any decisions with the business without some more experience, but you’ll be able to do that soon I’m sure. I’ve also had her order you a cell phone. I noticed that while you have one, it’s out of date and I want to be able to reach you when I need to just hear your voice.”

“
You’re leaving, aren’t you?” He nodded. “I guess I assumed you would but I didn’t…how long will you be gone?”

Thad was thrilled to no end that she
knew he was returning. “I’ll have to leave today. I’m sorry but I have to…I have a brother. His name is Ward. He’s murdered someone and I have to go down and see what kind of mess he’s left behind for me to clean up.”

“
Murdered? You’re not going to pay people off, are you?” He was shocked, but then realized that had been what he’d first thought, too, when Jane had told him. “I won’t stand for you using your money to make a murderer go free.”

“
He won’t. Ward is a pain in my ass, and according to Jane, the murder was brutal and he is on the run. I don’t know if he’ll come here or not, but I’ve already made some arrangements for security to come here and set up the house. The cleaning crew will be here in the morning.”

“
You work fast.” He nodded at her and smiled. “I thought there was some sort of waiting period or something. But I guess if you have enough money, things sort of happen fast.”

“
Something like that.” He reached into his pocket, then took her hand. “I know that this is going to be fast as well, but I was wondering if you’d marry me.”

“
Oh my.” Thad moved the ring over her knuckles to set it home. “You do work fast. This is…Thad, this is beautiful.”

“
Is that a yes?” Smiling, she nodded and Thad felt his life settle. Diamond Erickson was going to be his wife.

Chapter 12

Sapphire walked into the kitchen to grab a glass of tea before she headed to her home office.
Grandmother was standing at the stove staring at Diamond, who looked like she was deep in thought. Sapphire looked at her grandmother.

“
I don’t know what’s wrong with her. I came in just to start on dinner and she was sitting there staring at that glass like it was going to give her the secrets of life. And don’t even bother speaking to her. She’s not uttered a single word.” Grandmother huffed as she continued. “And Thad left too. I got this off the table.”

Sapphire took the note and read it quickly.
I’ll be back before you know it. Do all the things we discussed and don’t forget to call me if you have any problems. Love, Thad.

Jade and Ruby came in just as Sapphire sat across from Diamond. Each of them sat down when Grandmother told them what was going on.
Diamond continued to sit very still as Emerald walked in.

“
What’s up?” Grandmother explained to Emerald what she’d just told the other two. “So she’s upset that he’s left her already? What an idiotic turd head.”

“
Who’s an idiotic turd head? And where do you get those names you call people,” Opal asked as she entered the melee. “I swear you just reach out and grab a couple of words and mash them together.”

“
I do. And it’s Diamond. She’s in a trance or something because lover-boy has left her and she’s more than likely knocked up and will resort to drugs when—” Sapphire cut Emerald off.

“
Do you mind not making up stories right now? This is serious. I think she’s depressed.” Sapphire was just reaching for her phone to call Thad and give him a piece of her mind when Diamond spoke.

“
I have a house now. A great big one. I have to go and buy things for it. There’s furniture but no sheets and towels for us to use. Benson will be here on Friday, but he will be busy hiring a staff.” Diamond laid a credit card on the table, and that’s when Sapphire saw the ring. “I’m to use that to do it all.”

Emerald grabbed Diamond
’s hand and whistled. “Good Christ, did he rob a bank while he was at it? This is the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen. I guess he popped the question.”

“
He did. And I said yes, but now I’m…you want to go shopping with me?” Diamond looked at them all. “I could take you to the house to show you around. Then you can help me get whatever we’re going to need.”

There was a great deal of
desperation there and Sapphire had a feeling they all heard it and not just her. She did pull out her cell then and contacted her office while she noticed the rest of them were making arrangements as well. When Allen, Blair’s dad, walked in the kitchen, he was absorbed in the shopping spree as well. Before any of them had a chance to ask any more questions, a large man in a black suit knocked on the back door.

“
Miss Erickson?” They all nodded, confusing the man. “Diamond Erickson? My name is Jon, and I’m going to be your driver and security guard today. Mr. Galloway asked that someone be with you at all times.”

He handed Diamond an envelope and stood very still while he waited for
her to read it. When Diamond handed it to her, she laughed at what was there.

I know you can more than likely kill anything that dares to come at you
with ill intent, but for my own peace of mind, could you please allow Jon to hang around with you today? Also, take your sisters and grandmother with you today and have them help you. And don’t be overwhelmed again. You’re going to be fine. Love, T.

“
I guess we’re all going shopping.” As they all piled into the extra-long Hummer, Diamond looked as nervous as Sapphire’d ever seen her. Sapphire wasn’t sure if it was the house or the fact that Thad was going to be gone for a few days. Allen helped them figure it out.

“
Heard tell you got this house big enough for ten families to live in. You gonna fill it with some grandkids for your grandmother or you gonna be selfish like this one is being?” Sapphire flushed, not wanting to mention to anyone that she thought she was pregnant just yet. “I’ve been waiting my whole life for a grandson and haven’t gotten a single one to show for it.”

“
I don’t know.” Diamond smiled at Allen as she continued. “I really don’t want kids, and I’m pretty sure Thad doesn’t either. Sapphire and Blair told me that they were never having babies. They’re too messy.”

Allen
’s mouth opened and closed several times before he glared at Diamond. When she laughed, he glared harder.

“
You, young lady, are not funny. To tease an old man like that about his legacy? That’s shameful.” Allen crossed his arms over his chest and looked at her. “I suppose I’ll have to wait until next season for a baby to hold from you as well.”

“
I’m not sure. We’ll let you know when we know.” Allen huffed at her. “You should know that I do plan to tell my husband before I do you anyway.”

The house
, if one could call it simply a house, was much bigger than she’d imagined. Blair had told her how many square feet it was, but this…this was amazing. The front entrance alone was breathtaking, but the deeper they got into the house, the more Sapphire could see why her sister was overwhelmed. And the pool was something she could see herself using if they had one.

“
You’ll come over all the time, right? And bring bread crumbs?” She and Diamond were in the master suite taking an inventory of what was needed in there. The list wasn’t as long as it could have been, but they were still finding things the young couple would need.

“
I’d say bread crumbs would be a good start. You’ll need a great deal of help to keep this place just dusted.” Diamond nodded as she moved to the large window near the gas fireplace. “Diamond, tell me what’s wrong.”

“
I don’t know how to be rich.” Sapphire started to laugh, but when her sister continued, she was glad that she hadn’t. “I mean look at this place. How on earth am I going to ever feel comfortable here?”

Sapphire thought she already did but didn
’t comment on that. “What makes you feel like this? The house or the man?”

“
He doesn’t love me.” Sapphire sat next to her on the bed. “He said he liked me a few days ago, but he gave me this house because I liked it. Who gives someone a house because they liked it?”

“
Men.” Diamond laughed as Sapphire continued. “You have to realize that they only know how to fix things either by manly means or buying new. I don’t know if Thad doesn’t love you or not. If he doesn’t, he’s very close. Do you love him?”

“
Yes.” Diamond got up to go to the closet as she finished telling her what was bothering her the most. “What if I embarrass him at some function?”

“
Embarrass him how? By saying the wrong thing? Telling someone to kiss your ass? I’m pretty sure he knows you well enough by now to realize you’re not the sit back sort of woman.”

“
I told him that too, and he told me he wanted me to be that way. What will happen if I say that to some dick who’s making me want to shift and tear out his throat?” Diamond turned back to her as she spoke. “I don’t want to lose him.”

“
You won’t. And if you tear out someone’s throat, I’ll help you bury the body.” Diamond hugged her. “I love you very much. I want you to be happy here. Will you be?”

“
Yes. I love this house. I know it’s huge and I’ll get lost in it a lot at first, but I really do love it. We’re going to have so much fun here.” She moved to the bathroom before she continued. “But we need to get some towels in here or no one will have a good time.”

Three hours later
, after a huge lunch at Diamond’s favorite restaurant, they were hitting the mall. In pairs, they emptied the shelves. By dinnertime, not only were they exhausted, but had enough stuff purchased that they had to make arrangements to have a truck brought and loaded. Thad was going to be either completely surprised or one pissed off man. Sapphire thought he was going to be amazed rather than anything else.

~~~

Ward wasn’t happy. The airport wouldn’t give him a car without a valid driver’s license, and when he’d asked where his brother was staying, the woman at the information desk had simply walked away.

It wasn
’t like he thought the desk had all the information he needed, but his brother was the biggest thing these people would ever see, and Ward could not understand why they didn’t care who he was either. She’d looked at him like he was a blot on a wall when he’d explained to her twice who he was. Nothing, not even a little bit of recognition. Stupid cow. Ward ended up having to take a cab to his hotel, and that, too, had been a complete let down.

No limo service was
available to him. Not even being Ward Galloway had impressed them enough to call someone in to do it. How was that even possible? Didn’t these Podunk people know to have one in reserve for rich people like him?

Ward
was checking into the hotel when he saw a newspaper lying on the counter. He snatched it up so quickly he knocked several copies to the floor. When the clerk at the counter came to pick them up, he stopped her by putting his foot on the copies.

“
Is this true?” Ward pointed to the headline. “This says that my brother bought a house here. Why the hell would they print a lie like this and think to get away with it? He’d no more live in this nasty town than I would.”

“
You are not a nice person, are you?” She stood up and took the paper from him. “No, it’s not true. We have the paper lie for us every day so that we can watch the reaction of people on a daily basis. It’s a lifelong goal of mine to make someone have a heart attack one of these days.”

He wasn
’t amused and nearly told her so when he looked into her face. She was scary. Her name tag said her name was Diane and that she was with guest relations. Well, not when his brother found out about her.

It took Ward an hour to find out where his brother
’s new house was. It might have taken him less time had he been able to get any of the hotel staff to help him, but every time he called down to the desk, he was either put on hold for a long time or hung up on. He’d finally had to read the entire article himself, which had listed the address right on the page. Ward decided it was time to pay his brother a little visit.

The cab ride took nearly forty minutes
, and through the most run down parts of town. He supposed these people didn’t see it like he did, as he had the eyes of the rich and famous, but none of the houses were up to his standards and Ward wondered, not for the first time, what the hell his brother was thinking.

There were several vans in front of the
mansion as well as a few pick-up trucks with the name of a security firm on them. Now this was a house he could live in and vowed that he would. Ward decided that he’d move in now if it had any staff in it. He walked up on the front stairs and started to enter, but was blocked by a man that looked like he lifted trucks for fun.

“
You don’t belong here.” Ward nodded at him and reached for his wallet. “Unless you want me to rip your arm from its socket, you’d better just stand the fuck still.”

What scared Ward the most about the man
’s threat was that, first of all, it wasn’t one. A threat implied that he might do it. He had a feeling this man would do it with pleasure. And secondly, the way it had been delivered. No hard voice or even all that much inflection in his voice. He could have been telling Ward that it was going to snow in an hour. But there was no doubt that the man could and would do what he said.

“
I was going to show you my identification.” The man nodded, but Ward still didn’t reach again for it. “I’m…my brother owns this house. He’d tell you if you’ll call him out.”

“
You’re not going in unless someone tells me you can, and if Mr. Galloway is your brother, he didn’t mention it to me. His wife didn’t either.” Before Ward could tell the burly man that Thad wasn’t married, he corrected himself. “Future wife I mean. And Miss Erickson didn’t say a single word about you showing up either.”

“
My brother is not engaged.” The man didn’t say anything to him. “I would know if he was engaged, and our kind does not marry women from Ohio. We marry princesses from other countries and actresses. We do not marry below our station.”

The man shoved him in the chest and Ward went flying off the front stairs.
He might have tumbled over a few more times but he hit one of the other men who’d been going in and out of the house without anyone stopping him. Ward started to stand up but decided the view was better from there, and the man standing over him didn’t look as if he was going to let him stand up anyway.

“
You get yourself back into your little car there and tell that driver to haul your skinny little ass back to wherever it is you hatched from. We folks from Ohio don’t care for your kind either, and just as soon you didn’t fuck with our pretty little women who, by the way, could eat you for dinner and never break a sweat.”