Addison wasn’t blind. When Joanna had descended the stairs at The Oaks, she had indeed admired the woman who was her wife, but Addison had hidden her admiration behind a painted-on scowl. In the Rolls, her own nerves had caused her to waver. Forgetting for a moment about Easterbrook and contracts, she had stolen a few glances and even a touch, but once they walked into Bradley’s home, Addison forced herself to keep her mind on business. It wasn’t easy. Actually, it took every ounce of concentration she had not to allow her eyes to stray. Somewhere in the crowded room was a woman who made all other women pale in comparison.

Single-minded, Addison sauntered across the room. Sidestepping guest after guest, she remained focused on her goal, drinking in the view every step of the way. Earlier, she had noticed Joanna’s upswept hairstyle, but it wasn’t until now, in the brilliance cast by crystal chandeliers, she saw how Joanna’s hair shimmered in the light. A few loose tendrils were framing her face perfectly, and as Addison’s eyes wandered, they found the bare skin of Joanna’s shoulders and arms, which seemed to hold a delicious mystery all their own.

Slowly, Addison’s gaze slid downward and her breath caught in her throat. As if being strapless wasn’t enough, with the help of the gown’s deeply cut neckline, Joanna’s breasts presented themselves like a banquet above the fabric. Creamy rounds, soft and full, blossomed forth, and in the shadows of her cleavage was nestled the lowest jewel dangling from the necklace Addison had chosen.

It had been a detail Fran had overlooked, but Addison had not. Although she balked at attending parties, some had been necessary, and Addison knew that when an event demanded formal evening gowns and tuxedos, most of the women in attendance would be draped in jewels.

A week before the party, Addison strolled into Garrards. While others may have perused diamond hearts on chains of gold and ruby necklaces on ropes of silver, Addison wasn’t looking for ordinary. Calling ahead, Herbert Fitzsimmons met her at the door and escorted her to a private room which housed collections that rarely saw the light of day since very few could afford to lease them let alone buy them. In that small room smelling of leather and polish, Addison found what she sought. Connected to a choker filled with alternating diamonds in round and square were twelve three-stone pendants, each of which held brilliant-cut diamonds in shapes of oval, round, and pear. It was as magnificent as it was opulent, and at first, Addison found it to be pretentious...but that was then.