Cordinas Crown Jewel by Nora Roberts

pulled out of the lot again. The man was a complete blockhead. Ordering her, pushing her, cutting her off before she completed a sentence. She’d never been treated so rudely, so carelessly in her life.
    It was beyond her comprehension why she enjoyed it.
    Regardless, she’d be damned if she wouldn’t see something of the town before he hauled her back to the cave for another week. Squaring her shoulders, she headed off to explore.
    The pristine and practical New England village didn’t run to pawnshops, but she did find a lovely jewelry store with a fine selection of estate pieces. And the earrings
were
tempting. Still, she controlled herself and earmarked the shop as a possibility for selling her watch should it become necessary.
    She wandered into a drugstore. Though the choices of eye cream didn’t include her usual brand, she settled for what she could get. She also picked up some very nice scented candles, a few bags of potpourri.
    An antique store proved a treasure trove. It pained her to have to pass up the crystal-and-silver inkwell. It would’ve made a lovely gift for her uncle Alex—but was beyond her current budget unless she risked the credit card.
    Still, she found some interesting old bottles for a reasonable price, and snapped them up. They’d be perfect for wildflowers and twigs, and would perk up the cabin considerably.
    The clerk was a woman about Camilla’s age, with dark blond hair worn in a sleek ponytail and sharp blue eyes that had noted her customer lingering over the inkwell. She smiled as she wrapped the bottles in protective paper.
    “That inkwell’s nineteenth century. It’s a nice piece for a collector—at a good price.”
    “Yes, it’s lovely. You have a very nice shop.”
    “We take a lot of pride in it. Visiting the area?”
    “Yes.”
    “If you’re staying at one of the registered B&B’s, we offer a ten percent discount on purchases over a hundred dollars.”
    “Oh, well. No … no, I’m not.” She glanced back to the desk where the inkwell was displayed. Her uncle’s birthday was only three months away. “I wonder, would you take a small deposit to hold it for me?”
    The clerk considered, giving Camilla a careful measure. “You could put twenty down. I’ll hold it for you for two weeks.”
    “Thanks.” Camilla took the bill from her dwindling supply.
    “No problem.” The clerk began to write out a receipt for the deposit. “Your name?”
    “My … Breen.”
    “I’ll put a hold tag on it for you, Miss Breen. You can come in anytime within the next two weeks with the balance.”
    Camilla fingered her watch, and a glance at it widened her eyes. “I’m late. Delaney’s going to be furious.”
    “Delaney? Caine?”
    “Yes. I was supposed to meet him five minutes ago.” Camilla gathered her bags and rushed toward the door.
    “Miss! Wait!” The clerk bolted after her. “Your receipt.”
    “Oh, sorry. He’s just so easily annoyed.”
    “Yes, I know.” The woman’s eyes danced with a combination of laughter and curiosity. “We went out once or twice.”
    “Oh. I’m not sure if I should congratulate you or offer my sympathies.” So she offered a smile. “I’m working for him, temporarily.”
    “In the cabin? Then I’ll offer you
my
sympathies. Tell him Sarah Lattimer sends her best.”
    “I will. I have to run or I’ll be hiking back to the cabin.”
    You got that right, Sarah mused as she watched Camilla dash away. Del wasn’t a man known for his patience. Still, she sighed a little, remembering how she’d nearly convinced herself she could change him—tame him—when she’d been twenty.
    She shook her head at the idea as she walked back to put the hold tag on the inkwell. She wished the pretty redhead plenty of luck. Funny, she thought now, the woman had looked familiar somehow. Like a movie star or celebrity or something.
    Sarah shrugged. It would nag at her until she figured out just who Del’s new assistant resembled. But she’d get