Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 102166 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102166 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
“I have a ring,” Finn said.
“You do?” Henry asked. “Since when?”
“When you came up with this idea, I got my family’s jewelry out of the safety deposit box. When I met you, I knew which ring it had to be.”
There was something soft in his gaze that had Iris’s heart fluttering.
“Can I see it?”
“Come on,” Henry said. “Get the mermaid her shiny thing.”
“Hey,” Finn snapped before Iris could say anything.
“It’s a fact that mermaids enjoy shiny things. It’s like saying that the fae are repelled by iron.”
“I don’t care. It comes off as condescending,” Finn said. “I’ll get the ring,” he told Iris.
Despite her desire to really dislike the man, she felt her lips tipping up at his swiftness at jumping to her defense.
“I genuinely meant no offense,” Henry said. He put a hand to his heart. It was a practiced move. It was probably a practiced apology. Still, he wasn’t a man to apologize often, so she wasn’t going to be ungracious.
“Okay. Thanks.”
Finn was back in a moment, like he’d been keeping the ring close, looking for a chance to give it to her.
There was a dainty cream-colored leather ring box in his hand as he walked toward her. He set it down next to her coffee, allowing her the pleasure of opening it up.
Henry wasn’t exactly wrong. She loved shiny things. And she really loved gifts. Gifts of shiny things? Best of both worlds.
She reached for the box as her heartbeat skittered around in her chest.
She flipped the lid and found what had to be the most perfect ring.
It was a rectangular emerald-cut aquamarine stone on a platinum band.
“We might need to get it sized,” Finn warned as she pulled it out and slid it on her finger.
“No, it’s perfect.” She wiggled her finger, watching the way the light blue stone caught the light, casting sea glass shadows across her knuckles. A flicker of homesickness pulsed through her so fast, so sharp, it made her breath catch. The color was the ocean. The setting was not. The contradiction felt heavy on her hand—like a gift, and a chain, all at once.
“This made you think of me?” she asked, uncomfortable with how strong she had to blink to keep the moisture from gathering in her eyes.
“Is it not right?” Finn asked, looking genuinely concerned. “I have a whole box of—”
“No, this is mine,” she said, covering it with her other hand as if he was going to reach over and snatch it off her finger. The move made Finn’s lips curve up. “I like this one,” she added.
“Good. I’m glad.”
“Good, that’s handled. Back to the event. Yes, you need to be at the town hall like a doting spouse. Or, in this case, future spouse. You will just be standing with Finn, smile on your face. Don’t let the media catch you frowning. Especially when Finn is talking to different groups. They will spin it that you have some sort of bias.”
“The job is … arm candy?” Selene had taught her that phrase. She hated it.
“Pretty much. We’re hoping no one asks you anything directly.”
“Triton forbid I have an opinion or personality.”
“We’ve seen what happens when you go rogue.”
“All right. All right,” Finn said. He held his hands up. “Can we not go there today?”
“What packaging are you putting me in?” she asked.
Henry didn’t bite the bait. She saw his mouth part to do just that, but a glance toward Finn’s uncharacteristically hard face had him closing it again.
“Arden will be dropping off an outfit later. It’s not a formal event.”
“Do I have to wear heels?”
“In the interest of not having a meme of you falling on your face, we’re going with flats until you get more practice in the heels.”
“Really looking forward to that.”
Iris reached for her mug, getting momentarily distracted by the way her new ring shimmered in the light.
“After the town hall, you will have media training,” Henry said.
It was hit after hit, and she hadn’t even finished her coffee yet.
“Fine.”
“You all right?” Finn asked.
“Tired,” she admitted.
“Saw your light on at three.”
“I was reading.”
“The books I gave you?” Henry asked, surprised and hopeful.
“By the tides, no. It was a Caprica Coraline book.”
“The mermaid?” Finn asked.
“You know her?” Iris asked, head snapping up. Was she pleasantly surprised? Absolutely. Was she happy about that? Debatable.
“I do. She’s incredibly prolific.”
“Finn here has been brushing up on his mermaid customs. Her name came up.”
“You have?” Iris asked. She wasn’t sure if she was meant to be flattered by that. Because it was likely some ploy to know how to manipulate her better.
“I didn’t even have to suggest it,” Henry said, moving out of the kitchen at the sound of a knock at the door.
Iris glanced at her fiancé, trying to read something real beneath all the political polish.
“There’s my gorgeous little mermaid mannequin,” Arden greeted, breezing into the room in a pair of black slacks and a tight button-up black shirt patterned with little red hearts. He held a garment bag draped over one arm and a leather bag in his hand.