Greer looked over the tray of rings that Dalton West pulled out of the fancy jewelry case to show them.

He watched Holly pick out the smallest one, which was saying something. He admired her eye sight for selecting that one, because he needed a magnifying glass to see a stone in any of them.

“How much is this one?” Holly slid it onto her slender finger, staring at it with a misty expression.

“Doesn’t matter how much it costs; that’s not the one.” Greer took the ring off, putting it back in the tray.

“Let me look at the other ones. This time, make sure they have a stone in them.” Greer stared the snobbish son of a bitch down.

Dalton put the tray away, glancing around the store as if mentally tabulating how much Greer would be able to spend. “If you want to step to the side, I can show you a nice tray of previously used.”

Dalton had made a fatal error where Greer was concerned.

Reaching into his jean pocket, he handed Holly his truck keys. “Go outside and wait for me.”

She clutched his arm, not leaving. “Greer—”

“Go … to … the … truck now.”

If she hesitated one second more, he would paddle her ass when he got back to his truck.

Greer didn’t miss the motion that Dalton made toward the security guard beside the door.

“Greer, I don’t want any trouble. I want you to leave. I’m sorry I didn’t have anything that would suit your needs.”

“Dalton, I don’t know how you let men treat that rich bitch of yours, but the woman who walked out that door is mine. The only reason I stepped in this store was because I didn’t want to take money out of a man’s pocket because he picked the wrong woman to marry.”

“You’re not fit enough to lick the soles of Lisa’s feet. You’re nothing but a weed dealer. I saved us a lot time and trouble. I don’t take weed as payment for my diamonds.” Dalton’s hand came down on the glass of his display case.

Greer looked at the fleshy pale hands that would never know a day of hard work. Giving Dalton a mockingly innocent look, Greer tilted his hat to the back of his head. “You’re defaming my character? My fiancée works with Diamond Richards-Bates, and she’ll sue your ass if I find you repeating those accusations. Don’t forget my cousin Drake is the town mayor. He won’t be happy to hear that a business owner is calling his kin trailer trash.”

“If you’re done, feel free to leave and take your business elsewhere.”

“I’m going.” Ignoring Dalton as if he was a pissant, Greer held his hand out to Virgil, the security guard. “I haven’t seen you at Rosie’s in a while. You doing good?”

“Can’t complain. Congratulations on your engagement. She’s a pretty little thing.”

“Thanks. I’ll have Tate call you to let you know when I’m having my bachelor party.”

“I wouldn’t miss it.”

Greer took another minute to shoot the shit just to aggravate the windbag behind him.

He was whistling when he got back in his truck, winking at Holly as he turned the truck toward Jamestown.

“I kept waiting for the security guard to throw you out or see Knox’s squad car pulling into the parking lot.”

“Virgil couldn’t throw a stray cat outside. He got an old football injury in his shoulder. Dalton wouldn’t call Knox until lunch time. He’s trying to knock Diamond up.”

Holly covered her mouth. “It’s being gossiped about around town? How do they know? Diamond only told me today, and Knox wouldn’t tell—”

“He doesn’t have to. Everyone sees his squad car parked in front of their house, and he puts anyone who disturbs them in jail if they call out.”

“That doesn’t mean anything. Knox isn’t very friendly, anyway.”

“He also has the busiest busybody in town manning the front desk.”

Holly started laughing. “Diamond said she must own her own tanning booth, and that she must be seventy yet dresses like a twenty-year-old.”

“That pretty much describes her.”

“Where are we going?”

“Jamestown. Unless you want to drive to Lexington?”

“No. We have to pick up Logan after school.”

Greer turned the radio up as they drove, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel.

“How did Diamond react when you told her we’re getting hitched?”

“She said I’m off her guest list if the zombie apocalypse hits.”

He flashed her a quick smile before turning his attention back to the road. “Don’t worry; if the apocalypse hits, she’ll be begging us to come. I don’t see Knox foraging for food, do you?”

“They won’t have to. Diamond has built up enough supplies they could live there indefinitely.”

“Your boss is crazy as a coon dog.”

“How’s my dog doing?”

“Lazy bastard hates to hunt. He only gets up when he wants a treat you keep in the jar.”

“Poor baby. I need to come visit him and check on my chickens.”

“They are all doing fine. No need you coming out.”

Suspicion filled her face. “All eighteen of my chickens better be okay.”

Greer screwed his face up in a frown. “I only counted twelve this morning.” He laughed, hitting the steering wheel at her expression. “All eighteen are still breathing and getting fat.”

“That’s good for you, then.”

“Why me?”

“I’m counting my chickens before I say I do.”

She was still laughing when he parked in front of the jewelry store.

Getting out of the truck, he opened her door.

“You can give it, but you can’t take it,” she teased, patting his cheek mockingly.

“Woman, I can take anything you dish out.”

Pressing her against his truck, he lowered his mouth to hers, crushing her petal-soft lips under his and using his tongue to plunder her mouth. It was different than the other kisses he had given her.

Changing tactics, switching from exploring to demanding her response, he didn’t give her time to be swept along. He demanded she took the ride of desire with him. When he heard her breathy moan, he released her.

“You ready to go do this?”

She blinked several times. “Do what?”

He gave her an exasperated look. “Go pick out your ring.” Taking her arm, he bustled her into the jewelry store before she could get her wits back.

“How do you do that?”

Greer slung an arm over her shoulders, pulling her close. “It’s called being a stud.”

Holly tried to wiggle out from under his arm as he guided her to one of the counters to distract her from wanting to kill him.

An elegant woman without a hair out of place gave them a welcoming smile. “May I help you?”

“You sure can, pretty lady. I’m trying to find my girl a ring. Can you help me find what I’m looking for?”

Her lips stretched in wide smile. “Yes, I can. What’s the budget you’re thinking of?”

“No budget. It just has to have a lot of sparkle to match the fire in her eyes.”

The saleswoman practically swooned as she directed them to an office where they would be out sight of the customers milling around the store.

“Now, this woman wants to make a sale,” he muttered when the woman left them to bring in a selection of rings.

“Greer, I thought we would spend five hundred. A thousand at the most. Let’s leave. I’ll call Dustin and get him to pick Logan up so we can go to Lexington. They’ll be cheaper there.”

“Woman, are you trying to insult me?”

“Of course not. It’s just that now she thinks we’re going to buy an expensive ring.”

He dropped his arm from around her shoulders. “You trying to cut off my balls or—”

“No.” Her tear-filled voice had him turning toward her from the blank wall. “It’s just, an expensive ring never meant much to me. You know I love you. It’s not exactly secret. I just want to marry you. I would have been happy with one of those rings Dalton had that were previously owned.”

“I’m not buying you a ring that another man meant for another woman.” Sighing, he lowered his pride long enough to keep from spoiling the day. “I won’t buy anything I can’t afford, okay? When we walk out, the ring that will be on your finger will be bought and paid for with cash.”

“Okay.” She reached out her hand, and Greer took it in his.

He wasn’t much for displays of affection, but the dreamy look she was giving him had him puffing out his chest as the saleswoman came back into the room, holding a tray.

“I didn’t know what cut you wanted, so I brought several to help you decide.”

Greer watched Holly’s eyes flicker over the precious stones. Her eyes lit up on one in the top corner before skittering away. She then reached for one in the lower corner, but Greer stopped her, plucking the ring she had first glanced at and handing it to her.

“Try this one on,” he ordered, knowing when she bit her lip that she wanted to ask how much. “Holly, trust me. Try this one.”

Her hand trembled when he slid the ring onto her finger. It was a perfect fit.

“That’s an excellent choice. It’s the best ring we have in the store.” She started explaining the cut and clarity that made it so unique. “If you go to the window, you’ll really be able to see how the sun will play over the yellow diamond.” The jeweler laughed. “You said you wanted sparkle; that ring has it.”

“Yes, it does.” Greer stood up, taking Holly’s arm to lift her to her feet then taking her to the window so the ring would hit the light just right.”

“It’s beautiful,” she breathed out.

“You like it?”

“I love it,” she admitted, then shook her head as if to pull herself out of a daze. “But we don’t know how much it—”

“Don’t matter.” He turned back to the saleswoman. “We’ll take it.”

Even the saleswoman raised an eyebrow at the quick choice, hesitating. “It’s twenty-two thousand dollars.”

“Is that best price you can do? I saw a bunch of sale banners outside.”

“I can ask my manager if we can give a small discount,” she said, getting up.

“Bring him in here. Let’s make this happen.” He sat back down at the desk, and Holly sat down beside him. When she would have taken the ring off, he stopped her. “Keep it on. Possession is ninety-nine percent of the law.”

The salesclerk practically ran out of the room at that.

When Holly gave him a furious glare, he shrugged. “I was jerking her chain.”

“Will you please try to behave?”

“I ain’t making no promises.” He straightened his relaxed posture when the manager came into the room.

“Hello, Cheira told me you want to buy a ring.”

“That’s a beautiful name for a beautiful woman.” Greer gave her a flattering smile before setting his sights on the manager. “There’s no if about it.” Greer reached out, lifting Holly’s hand to the jeweler so the man could see the ring he intended to buy.

“That’s an excellent choice.”

Greer decided it was time to quit fooling around. It was time to talk money.

“Those are exactly the same words Cheira used. Darling, let me see that ring for a minute,” he asked of Holly, not taking his eyes off the manager.

Taking the ring when Holly handed it to him, with his other hand, he reached in his pocket. Feeling Holly jerk, his lips curled in a reassuring smile as he took out his loupe, showing the salespeople he had brought his own.

“You mind?”

The manager’s eyes narrowed on his. “No, go ahead. We certify our diamonds to very exacting standards.”

Greer didn’t become distracted, searching for the clarity. The loupe on the desk was a standard 10x magnification. His was stronger and had an achromatic, aplanatic lens. He would be able to see the tiniest inclusions that feathered out in the stone.

Standing up, he went back to the window, making sure it didn’t affect the appearance of the diamond. It also didn’t affect the stone itself.

Greer lowered the loupe, staring at the stunning beauty of a ring. It was the ring he wanted to see on her hand.

“I’ll give you fifteen.” Giving the low-ball offer, he returned to his seat, taking Holly’s hand and sliding the ring back on her finger.

“It’s twenty-two thousand. I may be able to come down slightly if you apply for a credit card—”

“No credit card. I have cash.”

“We don’t take checks.”

“It’s not a check in my back pocket; it’s green. I’ll give you sixteen. The diamond is yellow; how many women come into your store looking for yellow diamonds?”

The manager’s mouth started flapping like a fish without water. “Yellow diamonds are popular right now—”

“Not that popular in Jamestown. I bet my woman is the first woman to try that ring on. How long have you had it in the store?”

“It doesn’t matter. We have a branch in Lexington. If I can’t sell it here, I’ll send it there.”

“I’m willing to bet that they sent it here, hoping you could sucker someone into buying it.”

The manager on the other side of the desk took a thin calculator out of his suit pocket. “I can discount the ring to twenty thousand.”

“You want to stay in Jamestown forever? You sell that ring, that’ll make the store in Lexington take notice.”

He punched numbers in the calculator again. “Nineteen five. And that’s as low I can go.”

“I think sixteen five sounds better. We know the mark-up in jewelry. I’ll tell you what, you sell that ring for sixteen five, and I’ll make sure everyone buying jewelry in Treepoint comes here. I also have a friend who lives here in Jamestown who is always buying his wife a pretty piece of jewelry. I’ll make sure he shops here and mentions it to all his friends.”

“What’s your friend’s name. Maybe I already know him?”

“I don’t know his last name, but I’ll make sure when Stud comes by to introduce himself.”

“Stud?”

“He’s the president of the Destructor’s Motorcycle Club. You know him?”

The manager’s face went white. “I’ve heard of them.”

“Have you heard of The Last Riders, too? They have a club in Treepoint and a branch in Ohio.”

“I heard of them, too.”

“Me and Viper are best friend. He’s the president, and he’s always buying his wife jewelry. I’m his daughter’s godfather.” He kept his face impassive as the manager began to sweat. He held his out for the man to shake. “We got a deal?”

The unnerved man put his calculator back in his pocket before shaking his hand. “Let Cheira take the ring. She’ll clean it and put it in a box for you.”

“Holly will wear it. You can put the box in a bag.”

The manager watched at his assistant left with the ring, drawing a ticket book toward himself and scribbling the price of the ring on a ticket before handing it to him.

Greer pulled an envelope of cash out of his back pocket, letting the manager stare at it greedily as he counted out the hundred-dollar bills. He took out enough to pay for the ring, mentally calculating the tax. Closing the envelope, he shoved the remaining wad of cash back into his pocket.

When the manager excused himself, Greer leaned back in his seat, satisfied with the deal he had worked out. Whistling, he saw Holly staring at him.

“What?”

“You browbeat that poor man to give that ring for a lower price.”

“Damn right. He saw I wasn’t a sucker when I walked in through that door.”

“You’re no sucker. You’re a—”

“Careful. You might hurt my feelings again.”

She gave an exaggerated sigh, and Greer whistled louder then stopped when the saleswoman came in with the ring and the change from the sale. The manager obviously didn’t want to see his face again.

Taking the change, he thumbed through the bills, taking a fifty-dollar bill and handing it to the woman. “Buy yourself dinner from me. I appreciate your help.”

The flustered woman took the fifty, tucking it into her pocket. “Thank you.”

Taking the ring from her, Greer slid it on Holly’s finger. Turning her palm over, he then placed a kiss on it before pressing her fingers closed.

“What was that for?” Holly stared up at him, enraptured, as the saleswoman looked on approvingly.

“For agreeing to marry me.”

“You’re a lucky woman.” The salesclerk went all misty-eyed.

Greer grinned cockily, puffing his chest out. “Yes, she is.”