Christmas Diamonds Read Online Free PDF Page A

married depend on us to help them find the perfect rings to signify their bond of love.”
    “Of course.” Chase glanced at the finger where his wedding band had been. He’d decided a few months ago that it was time to remove it, though he would always treasure the ring as a keepsake of his love for Rochelle.
    “It’s almost time for you to head to Antwerp,” Sylvester said, eyeing him. “Are you ready for it?”
    One to two times a year, Chase went to Antwerp, Belgium, known as the diamond capital of the world. As a member of the Independent Jewelers Association, he would make the trek to purchase diamonds for their stores and also act as a diamond broker for select customers.
    “I’m always up for the trip,” Chase responded. It was true—though not as much as when Rochelle had been alive. They had always taken advantage of the opportunity to enjoy Antwerp as a romantic getaway. The last two times he’d gone, he’d been there alone and had felt totally miserable, reminded with each place he visited of her and the memories they’d created.

    “That’s what I like to hear.” Sylvester leaned back in his chair. “By the way, how did the meeting go this afternoon with the interior decorator?”
    “Good. She’s hired.”
    “I thought she might win you over.” His father smiled. “She’ll do a great job.”
    “I’m sure she will,” Chase said pensively.
    “In fact, you might want to keep her around to redecorate the whole house.”
    Chase lowered his brows. “I’m not sure I’m ready to take away everything Rochelle put her blood, sweat and tears into.”
    “You’ll never take it away from inside you, son.” Sylvester put a fist to his chest. “It doesn’t mean you love her any less if the house is redecorated to represent that you’re moving on with life, like Rochelle would have wanted you to do.”
    “I know.” Chase sighed. “I just want to take one room at a time and see how it goes.”
    “That’s understandable.” Sylvester drummed his fingers on his desk pad. “So, what did you think of Paula?”
    “She seems professional enough,” Chase said nonchalantly.
    “Beyond that,” Sylvester probed.
    “What do you mean?”
    Sylvester grinned. “How did you like her as a woman?”
    Chase chuckled uneasily. “Did you recommend her to date, or to redecorate my great room?”
    “Both,” he said candidly. “If she can get it done for you on both counts, then that’s even better.”
    “Dad, don’t.” Chase decided it was best to stop this train in its tracks in spite of his father’s good intentions.
    Sylvester displayed a look of disappointment. “What? She’s a pretty lady, and you’re a chip off the old block when it comes to being urbane, educated and handsome. I just thought that if you two met, well…you could both help each other in more ways than one.”
    “Thanks, but I’m okay right now on my own,” Chase clarified.

    “I don’t doubt that for a minute. But you need more than just being okay. Having a woman in your life again who you can be serious about would make it worthwhile in ways that this business could never achieve, no matter the success.”
    Chase couldn’t deny that he often felt empty and lonely. A woman’s touch that meant something was one of the things he missed most about Rochelle, along with the camaraderie found in a loving relationship. But Paula? Yes, she was certainly the type of woman he was attracted to physically. But her character was a whole different matter.
    “Paula and I aren’t on the same wavelength when it comes to romance,” he voiced straightforwardly. Or was he being presumptuous?
    Sylvester gazed at him with a cocked brow. “How can you be so sure?”
    Chase stiffened. “We had a run-in beforehand, and clearly there were some issues.”
    “Since when have you ever shied away from a challenge?” Sylvester asked.
    “I’m not shying away from anything,” Chase said with a defensive edge to his tone. “I’d rather