Trading Christmas - Debbie Macomber [121]
“But then at other times?” Lindy prompted.
“At other times I love him so much I hurt all the way through. I love everything about him. Even those loony stunts of his. In fact, I usually laugh as hard as everyone else. Even if I don’t always want him to know it.”
“So what’s going to happen with you two?” Lindy asked. She took a sip of coffee and as she did, Cait caught a flash of diamond.
“Lindy?” Cait demanded, jumping out of her seat. “What’s that on your finger?”
Lindy’s face broke into a smile so bright Cait was nearly blinded. “You noticed.”
“Of course I did.”
“It’s from Paul. After he had dinner with you, he came over to my apartment. We talked for hours and then…he asked me to marry him. At first I didn’t know what to say. It seems so soon. We…we hardly know each other.”
“Good grief, you’ve worked together for ages.”
“I know,” Lindy said with a shy smile. “That’s what Paul told me. It didn’t take him long to convince me. He had the ring all picked out. Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Oh, Lindy.” The diamond was a lovely solitaire set in a wide band of gold. The style and shape were perfect for Lindy’s long, elegant finger.
“I didn’t know if I should wear it until you and I had talked, but I couldn’t make myself take it off this morning.”
“Of course you should wear it!” The fact that Paul had been carrying it around when he’d had dinner with her didn’t exactly flatter Cait’s ego, but she was so thrilled for Lindy that seemed a minor concern.
Lindy splayed her fingers out in front of her to better show off the ring. “When he slipped it on my finger, I swear it was the most romantic moment of my life. Before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face. I still don’t understand why I started crying. I think Paul was as surprised as I was.”
There must have been something in the air that reduced susceptible females to tears, Cait decided. Whatever it was had certainly affected her.
“Now you’ve sidetracked me,” Lindy said, looking up from her diamond, her gaze dreamy. “You were telling me about you and Joe.”
“I was?”
“Yes, you were,” Lindy insisted.
“There’s nothing to tell. If there was, you’d be the first person to hear. I know,” she admitted before her friend could bring up the point, “we have seen a lot of each other recently, but I don’t think it meant anything to Joe. When he found out Paul had invited me to dinner, he seemed downright delighted.”
“I’m sure it was all an act.”
Cait shrugged. She wished she could believe that. Oh, how she wished it.
“You’re sure you’re in love with him?” Lindy asked hesitantly.
Cait nodded and lowered her eyes. It hurt to think about Joe. Everything was a game to him—a big joke. Lindy had been right about one thing, though. Love was the most wonderful experience of her life. And the most painful.
The New York Stock Exchange had closed and Cait was punching some figures into her computer when Joe strode into her office and closed the door.
“Feel free to come in,” she muttered, continuing her work. Her heart was pounding but she dared not let him know the effect he had on her.
“I will make myself at home, thank you,” he answered cheerfully, ignoring her sarcasm. He pulled out a chair and sat down expansively, resting one ankle on the opposite knee and relaxing as if he was in a movie theater, waiting for the main feature to begin.
“If you’re here to discuss business, might I suggest investing in blue-chip stocks? They’re always a safe bet.” Cait went on typing, doing her best to ignore Joe—which was nearly impossible, although she gave an Oscar-winning performance, if she did say so herself.
“I’m here to talk business, all right,” Joe said, “but it has nothing to do with the stock market.”
“What business could the two of us possibly have?