The man's eyebrow lifted slightly. "It is very nice to meet you, Ms. Davis."
The next thing she knew, he was opening up a velvet case, much like the one the chapel attendant had under the counter. She gasped at the rings inside this one.
"No," she said, shaking her head and shooting a panicked glance at Cole. "You can't--I shouldn't--"
"Are these the biggest ones you could find?" Cole asked his friend in a clearly irritated tone.
Ignoring him, James told Anna, "Of course you will look beautiful in any of them. But now that I've met you, I think this one would be perfect."
He held out the only ring that had caught her eye, a princess-cut diamond surrounded by a circle of smaller diamonds. Still, she didn't reach out to touch it.
Frowning, Cole said, "Damn it, these diamonds aren't big enough." He pulled out the biggest one, so big she wasn't sure she'd be able to lift her hand with it on, and said, "How about we use this one tonight and then tomorrow morning we'll trade it in for something better?"
Standing in a Las Vegas wedding chapel, staring at a diamond that had to be at least five carats in the hands of a man she'd met approximately sixty minutes earlier, Anna stopped processing.
And starting laughing.
Both men stared at her as if she were completely off her rocker. She supposed they were right. After all, she was here, wasn't she?
"Cole," she finally said when she was able to speak, "these diamonds are all way too big."
"Too big?"
Cole looked utterly confused and she could have sworn his friend made a sound that was something between a cough and a barely-swallowed laugh.
"Way too big." Her gaze swung back to the one James had pointed out. "But that one's pretty. I guess I could get used to wearing it."
"Leave the ring."
James turned a bemused gaze to Cole. "Of course."
He put it on the counter, then closed the velvet box. He caught Anna by surprise with his smile, so friendly and genuine. "My best wishes to you, Anna." He left before wishing Cole luck.
"Wonderful, the ring has arrived!" The attendant returned, holding a clipboard and a pen.
"I just need to see photo IDs and have you fill out your addresses, social security numbers, and signatures and we can get straight to the ceremony."
"We'll tell you when we're ready," Cole bit out.
The man's eyebrows rose. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I just remembered one more thing I need to take care of. Excuse me."
Cole practically carried her over to a small sitting area in the corner of the room.
"You scared him," she said.
"I don't care about him. I care about you."
Her stomach fluttered. He cared about her?
Oh my.
"You're overwhelmed."
No question, he was a man of few words. Still, he managed to say everything that needed to be said.
"Who wouldn't be?"
Before she knew it, he had pulled her onto his lap. "I don't want to hurt you, Anna."