Diamonds and Toads: A Modern Fairy Tale by K.E. Saxon Page A

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Chas—staid, conservative Chas—act like this before  and she’d
be the worst kind of liar if she didn’t admit that it excited her a
little. But she was through being a milquetoast, and it was time
he, and everyone else, learned it. I am Delilah, hear me
roar. She sat up and scowled at him as he settled behind the
steering wheel and put the car in drive.
    Just before he pressed the gas pedal, he
caught her gaze in the rearview and said, “I should have known
you’d pull something like this. It took me forever to get another
elevator down and then I—don’t ask me why—but I thought you
might’ve gone to Eudora’s house since I saw her dragging your
sister into an elevator not long before you ran out on me. When I
didn’t find you there, I went to your house. I was actually headed
for that twenty-four hour diner you like when it dawned on me where
I’d probably find you.”
    She lifted a brow at him.
    He swung around to face her. “I love you,
Dee—”
    “—Ha!”
    “—and I’m going to prove it.”
    “Don’t bother.” She relaxed against the seat
and gazed out the window. “I’m only letting you get away with this
because your caveman routine amuses me.”
    He chuckled under his breath as if she’d
reminded him of a private joke. Facing forward, he put the car in
motion. When he met her eyes again in the rearview, there was a
distinct twinkle in them. “I can’t wait to get you pregnant—do they
make maternity domme costumes?”
    How was it possible that he could turn her on and break her heart at the same time? “I’m sure I have no
idea. And, as far as the other—I swear to God, I’ll do the high
kick right into your groin if you even attempt to whip it out on
me.”
    “Ouch.”
    “Where are you taking me anyway?”
    “Back to the gala.”
    Her pulse pounded as she sat straight up. “I
don’t think so.”
    “I’ve got something I want to give you, but
it’s in my dad’s possession at the moment.”
    “This is ridiculous. Whatever it is, I don’t
want it. Just—just take me back to my car.”
    “No. I’ve only got until midnight to change
your mind. That’s only”—he looked at his watch again—“a half hour
from now.”
    “Why? Do you turn into a toad?” She snorted
at her own joke.
    “Something like that.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “This is still about the
money isn’t it?” She sat forward. “What? Your creditors want a
check by midnight, or something?”
    “I don’t give a damn about the money. This is
about you and me. You, me, our life together, and love.”
    She rolled her eyes and curled her lip. Love. Crossing her legs and arms, she sat back, giving him
her profile. What a liar.
    * * *
    This was not going well. Not going well at
all. Chas took another peek in his rearview at the now deathly
silent and totally withdrawn woman he’d hurt so badly with his
thoughtlessly executed proposal. It was time to start explaining.
“That fairy of yours is a real freaky lady, isn’t she?
    Delilah pierced him with her gaze. “How do you know?”
    “She visited me.”
    Delilah shot forward, both hands on the back
of his seat.  “When?”
    “The morning after our engagement party. She
was—”
    “What did she say to you?”
    “She said quite a bit actually. But the gist
was that I could either have your money or have you.”
    “Let me guess: You chose the money.” She
plopped back against the seat and turned her face from him.
    Chas pressed his lips together in a thin
line. Now this was the tricky part. “Yes—and no. I wanted to choose
you over my dad’s company. Wanted to with all my heart—”
    “Stop lying! The jig’s up, there’s really no
need.”
    Chas was quickly losing confidence that he
was going to be able to change her mind—at least about the depth of
feelings he had for her. But he could at least show her he wasn’t
the monster she believed him to be. “I tried talking to my dad
about it—I told him that I might lose the company,