Sirenz - By Charlotte Bennardo Page 0,46

jaunty fedora, and five-inch heels seemed to be made from the same material, or at least they were all the same shade. When she moved under an overhead light, I discovered I was right—her outfit shimmered. If she wasn’t standing so close, she’d look like a statue. Even the dog had a matching gold-toned collar. How Hollywood A-List. At least she should’ve looked better than the dog.

A large group left the store and the line shuffled up several feet. Now there were only a couple of people, including Blondie, in front of us.

“List,” I said.

“Here you are.” Meg held up the pad. “I think I’ll get the same as Jeremy. It sounds good.” She smiled faintly. I knew where her thoughts were going, and I envied her. My naughty thoughts had nowhere to go.

Meg pulled out Jeremy’s House of Romanov credit card just as I was about to search for Hades’.

I clicked my tongue. “Which one should we use?”

“Does it really matter?” she offered. “It’s probably all coming from the same place.”

“But what if he gets mad?”

Meg waved a hand. “Pffft! Come on Shar, he wants you so bad you could buy Rockefeller Center on his Visa and he wouldn’t flinch. Besides, it’s kind of like a business expense.”

The line advanced and Blondie was up. She had turned slightly and I could see her profile. Her skin was golden and perfect, and her features were fashion-magazine quality. The guy behind the counter started talking to her, and I turned my attention back to Meg, who was picking at a hangnail. I reached into my purse to get my wallet. I so didn’t want to use Hades’ card; the hologram was too suggestive. Seeing any more of him might burn my retinas.

I choked.

“What’s wrong?” Meg asked, her voice low.

“My purse shook.” Slowly I pulled out a small blue box tied with a white ribbon.

“What’s that?” she asked.

“The box is from Tiffany’s, so it has to be good!”

Meg looked confused.“We didn’t go there together. When did you manage to sneak out?”

“I didn’t! It has to be a gift. From you know who. Oh, this is going to be so awesome !”

“You’re not going to keep it, are you?”

“You bet I’m keeping it—it’s from Tiffany’s. Oh, don’t give me that look, Meg, it’s probably something small and tasteful.”

“Greeks bearing gifts,” she mumbled.

One tug on the thick satin bow freed the lid of the box. Slowly I peeled it off. Now we both gasped. A chunky, square-shaped, crystal-clear blue diamond winked at us from a white velvet cushion. I stopped breathing. It had to be over five carats.

“I think that falls into the category of big and ostentatious,” she said acerbically.

“I didn’t make any promises!” I blurted.

“Next!”

It was our turn at the counter. Blondie had stepped aside and was arranging her packages and dog while she waited for her order. As we stepped up, she gave us a piercing glance that for some reason made me shiver, despite the fact that it was hot and close in the crowded room.

“Nice ring,” she drawled. The little dog whimpered and she gently tapped it on its nose.

“A gift,” I said, shoving the box deep into my purse. Blondie’s order came up and she left. It was our turn.

I read the list to the man in the grubby apron behind the counter, and told Meg, “Wait here for the food while I go get the drinks.” I pushed the list into her hands and made my way through the line, which had grown to the back of the shop again, to the fridge case and started pulling out bottles.

Even through all the background noise, I heard the deli man. “You want these sandwiches toasted?”

Before I could run back and respond, Meg answered him.

“No, don’t toast them, but cut them into quarters and—” The words had hardly left her lips when she jumped and rubbed her rear. I grabbed the drinks and hurried forward.

“Anything for you, Miss!” The guy behind the counter gave her a toothy grin. Then he took the sandwiches from the line worker standing next to him and started cutting them up himself.

“Can I get you anything else?” he fawned.

“Ase me isihi,” said Meg under her breath, and slipped out. Once our order was ready, I quickly signed the credit receipt and met her on the street.

“I’m going to be a walking feather mattress,” Meg said, stomping back to the office.

“I think I need another Claritin.” My nose was running and my eyes were starting