Page 54 of Arranging Ayra
“Oh, the red... oh, but the green is so cute. The green.”
“The green it is.” He picked one and held it up to me. “Just for you.”
“You’re too sweet, Barn,” I said as he paid for the bear.
“Let me carry that for you,” he said as he took the bag.
With the bear in a Harrods bag, we left the famed store.
I floated on a cloud as Barn led the way down Oxford Street where we ducked into Marks and Spencer.
“I love all the trinkets and pretty little things,” I said as I admired a shelf filled with biscuit tins.
“Here’s a neat little trinket that you might like,” he said holding up a pewter cat.
“Oh, that’s adorable.” I took the two-inch-tall cat from his hand and examined it. “Isn’t it so perfect.”
“It’s yours,” he said.
“I can’t, Barn,” I argued. “This is the second time that I say I love something, and you purchase it for me.”
He pulled me into his arms and kissed the tip of my nose. “That’s right. I’m ready to do anything to please you.”
My heart soared and I suddenly wished we could be alone.
“Come on,” he said as my knees turned to mush. “Let’s go grab lunch somewhere.”
We turned and came face to face with Rhonda. My heart instantly sank, and my legs went numb.
“Well, what a pleasant surprise,” Rhonda said her bright smile meant only for Barn. “Looks like the cast and crew ofPride and Prejudiceis out on the town.”
“This is great,” Barn said, a little too quickly. His eyes practically devoured her. “Kind of like a mini cast party.”
Great.
“Isn’t that right, Ayra?” he added.
“Yeah,” I said with a forced smile. “Nice.”
“We were just about to go grab some lunch,” Barn went on. “Why don’t you join us?”
“Sounds like fun,” she said.
Yeah. A real hoot.
“Where were you guys going to go?”
“We haven’t decided yet,” he said. “Where would you like to go?”
I could go for some fish and chips, I wanted to say but...
“I’ve been dieting these past weeks, but I could sure go for a big, beefy burger.”
“A burger joint it is,” Barn said without bothering to ask for my opinion.
They turned to head out of the shop seemingly forgetting all about me.
“Hey, Ayra,” Barn said as we all stepped out. “You don’t mind, do you?”
