Double Contract Love novel · Chapter 4 of 24

Chapter 4: The Rigging Ring

Gwen crossed the parking lot with her heels clicking, and a clerk coming out of the courthouse slowed down to watch.

"Dalton," she said, and she held out her hand like a queen.

Dal looked at it, then took it.

"Ma'am."

"Such a firm shake. Lillian, you've always had a taste for the hands-on type."

"Gwen," I said. "How did you know where I was?"

"Your hotel charged the room to the family account, honey. I've been paying your bills for two years."

That was a lie, because I had paid my own bills for two years, and she knew I knew it.

Tabitha pushed off the fender and walked over slowly.

She was wearing a pale yellow sundress and she looked beautiful and bored.

She looked at the steel ring on my hand.

"Is that a washer?" she said.

"It's a rigging ring," Dal said. "It holds a climbing rope. It's rated for four thousand pounds."

"How romantic," Tabitha said.

"It is," I said. "It won't break."

Tabitha's eyes flicked up to mine, and for half a second she did not look bored.

Then she smiled the old smile and stepped in to hug me.

"Congratulations, big sister," she said loudly, for the benefit of the lot.

Her arms were stiff and her perfume was gardenia.

I felt something slide into my tote bag.

She let go and stepped back, and I did not look down.

"Sunday, one o'clock, the Harlan Club," Gwen said. "Wear something nice, Mr. Yarbrough. It's a members' dining room."

"I own a tie," Dal said.

"How fortunate."

Gwen turned and got into the Lincoln, and Tabitha followed her.

The Lincoln pulled out slowly, so that the whole lot could watch it go.

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