Nailed - Opal Carew Page 0,68

wear.

Kane wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close, then kissed her cheek. “I want you to pick whatever you like. I want you to be happy with it. If you want to look at something else, just look around.”

She nodded as another necklace in the display case caught her eye. When she gazed at it, her breath caught.

It was colorful and dramatic, with an array of glittering butterflies of different sizes, looking like they were fluttering away en masse. The palette of colors included shades of blue, purple, pink, red, yellow, and orange. Each butterfly was a single color, but the bodies were set with white diamonds, the delicate lines of their wings radiating outward to deepening tones of the same color.

She loved it. It was so her.

But she was sure Kane wouldn’t approve.

She sighed and shifted her gaze back to the choices laid out on the black velvet cloth.

“I think the opal one,” she said.

“You don’t sound very enthusiastic. Is that really the one you want?” Kane asked.

Her gaze fell back to the butterflies.

“You want me to wear whatever necklace makes me happy?” she asked.

“Of course.”

She pursed her lips. “What I really like is that one.” She pointed at the necklace calling out to her.

“Excellent choice,” the clerk said as he brought it out and laid it on the black cloth.

River held her breath, waiting for Kane’s look of disapproval.

“That is quite stunning,” he said.

River glanced at him in surprise. “Really? You’re okay with me wearing that to the party?”

He smiled. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be? It fits you so well.”

River stood in shock as the clerk packaged up the necklace in a fancy velvet box.

Could it be that all her insecurities about Kane thinking she didn’t fit into his world were exactly that … her insecurities? Had she been blowing his comments out of proportion?

Early this morning, when he’d carried her back to the master bedroom, he’d said he’d only been looking out for her feelings. Not wanting her to be hurt by others’ comments at the party. She had discounted his words, but now realized that his suggestions last night had been because he was trying to protect her. And as much as she’d like to think she didn’t need that kind of protection from him, clearly she was overly sensitive to other people’s opinions of her, even if she chose to fly in the face of those opinions. With this party, it was important to her to fit in, and Kane obviously sensed that.

Kane took the bag from the clerk, and offered his elbow to River with a smile. She rested her hand on it and returned his smile.

Was it possible this marriage could work out after all?

* * *

When they arrived at the house Saturday morning, River was amazed by how beautiful everything looked. The inside was beautifully decorated with flowers and candles, and the backyard looked like a fairyland, with minilights, outdoor candles, and lanterns. The event planner had done an amazing job.

They took their bags upstairs, then went for a swim and enjoyed the sunny afternoon together. Kane had arranged for the caterers, who were preparing the hors d’oeuvres for the party, to prepare a nice dinner for them, which they ate on the patio overlooking the pool.

Unfortunately, by the time they finished dinner and it was time to get ready for the party, River was plagued by another headache.

Kane accompanied her to the bedroom and fetched a painkiller and a glass of water while she sat on the bed. He watched as she took it, and stroked her hair back with a gentle touch.

“You just relax.”

She nodded and lay on the bed, waiting for the painkillers to kick in as Kane took his shower.

“How are you doing?” Kane asked as he walked into the bedroom from the en suite bathroom and closed the door behind him.

“It’s a little better, but I’m going to be late getting ready.”

“Don’t worry about it. You can be fashionably late. Just come down when you feel better.”

She watched him slide off his robe, revealing his naked back to her … and his round, firm butt. Then he pulled on his boxers. As he dressed, she concentrated on willing the pounding in her head to go away.

She knew it was just that she was stressed. She tended to get headaches when she was under a lot of stress, and with the total change of her life over the past few weeks, it had definitely