Seth Quinn’s hand slipped back into his pocket, his fingers tapping lightly on the small jewelry box. ’I should just give this to her now,’ he thought. ’Maybe if she accepts it, she’ll be too embarrassed to stay mad.’
Since no one had picked up the song after Poppy Vance, the main lights in the private room had been turned back on, making it a little too bright.
Everyone would see if he gave her the gift now, but after a mont’s hesitation, Seth Quinn gripped the jewelry box firmly in his hand anyway.
Across the room, Poppy Vance stole a glance at Seth Quinn before leaning in to whisper sothing in Linden Jennings’s ear. Linden looked slightly stunned and asked in disbelief, "You really saw her? She’s back?"
"Of course, it’s true!" Poppy Vance insisted, certain she hadn’t been mistaken.
But Linden Jennings was still skeptical. "Are you sure you weren’t mistaken?"
It was no wonder he was having trouble believing it. For soone who had been gone for so long to suddenly reappear without a word—anyone would find it jarring.
"I wasn’t mistaken. I saw her clear as day. It was her. She may have been gone for over a year, but it’s not like I wouldn’t recognize her, right?"
Linden Jennings finally nodded thoughtfully. Poppy Vance added, "She looked like she was searching for soone. You don’t think she’s here for Brother Quinn, do you?"
As she spoke, she glanced worriedly at Seth Quinn and Clara Grant.
Linden Jennings’s gaze also shifted to Seth Quinn. "It’s possible," he said.
"So, should we tell Brother Quinn?"
Linden Jennings thought it would be best to tell him, just so he could be prepared. He nodded, about to say they should, when he suddenly saw Seth Quinn pull a jewelry box from his pocket and present it to Clara Grant.
The words on the tip of his tongue changed to, "Let’s wait a second." He gave Poppy Vance a aningful look, and she followed his gaze to see the scene unfold.
"Whoa, Brother Quinn is giving Clara a gift!" Poppy Vance sounded thrilled, as if she were the one receiving it. "Honey, you don’t think he’s giving her a belated wedding ring, do you?"
Linden Jennings glanced at her, an amused smile in his eyes. "What’s this? Are you jealous? I’ll buy one for you tomorrow."
"That’s not it! I’m just happy for Clara." Poppy Vance gave him a shy glare. "We’re not getting married, so why would you give a wedding ring?"
"Fine," Linden Jennings said, his face full of adoration. "Then I’ll give you one when we get married."
Clara Grant was just reaching for another snack when a beautiful little box suddenly appeared in front of her. She froze for a mont, then looked at Seth Quinn and asked instinctively, "What’s this?"
"Open it and see." Even though this was Seth Quinn’s first ti giving a woman a gift, he knew how to create a little suspense. ’The surprise cos when she opens the box herself. It’s not a surprise if I just tell her, is it?’
By now, River Sterling and Chase Childs had also noticed. Chase remained expressionless, watching silently.
River Sterling, on the other hand, let out a sharp whistle. "Seth, you’re giving a woman a gift? Did hell just freeze over or sothing?"
Hearing River Sterling’s comnt, Clara Grant glanced up at Seth Quinn. ’This is... his first ti giving a gift to a woman?’
’Sohow, I find that hard to believe!’
When he saw that she was just staring at him instead of taking the box, Seth Quinn started to get anxious. "You don’t want it?"
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