Read Fallen for Her: Book 2 for Free Online

of champagne and uncorked it, Bob, took the deciding sip and nodded.  The man poured and the server behind him took the dinner order and disappeared. 
     
    “It’s a special night, honey.”  Bob smiled, his blue eyes twinkling as if he had some sort of deep secret.  Just at that moment Bob’s phone rang and his eye contact with her broke as he glanced down at it.  “I’ve got to take this call, it’s important.” 
     
    Ella sipped the soft champagne while Bob spoke on his cell phone, loudly of course, and everyone in the dining room was now glaring at their table.  She felt as if she wanted to slink away to the ladies room and stay there until he finished the call.  Bob’s face was animated and finally he told the caller he was eating dinner.  He wrapped up his discussion and placed the phone back on the table. 
     
    “I’ll be getting another call in a moment.  There’s another client ready to sign with us.  If I had stayed in Palm Springs just one more day , I would’ve gotten that one, too.  And, he’s a bigger fish than the first.  They’re in the same club and golf together.  Plus their wives are friends.  You’ve no idea what a big deal this could be.” 
     
    Ella just stared at him and smiled her usual fake smile.  Bob was gorgeous on the outside, confident, handsome, assertive, everything she thought she wanted.  But he seemed to be running in a totally different direction than her.  There was never laughter or quiet moments.  Their home was just a stopping off point for him to prepare for the next trip, the next deal, and to get some sort of sexual gratification from her. 
     
    “Yes, I can hear you…” Bob was on the phone again.  Ella ate her meal and cringed as everyone in the hushed atmosphere of the club heard his every word on the call. 
     
    “Great, yes, I’ll make sure the contract is written that way.  You know you can count on me.  I greatly appreciate it.  Yes. Yes. I’ll catch you at the club when I fly out to Palm Springs next time.  I’ll be back out next month.  Again, thanks for your confidence.”  By the time he hung up the phone, Ella had finished most of her meal and some of the patrons of the club had gotten up and left.
     
    “Waiter,” Bob called loudly, and the maître d' rushed to their table.  “Can you heat this meal up?  I had an important call.”  The waiter swept Bob’s plate away and left quietly for the kitchen.  Bob’s eyes met hers with excitement.
     
    “Another client, honey.” He was jovial, lively.  Happy – for the moment.  Money, that’s what thrilled him.  Ella watched as Bob reached into his jacket pocket.  He rummaged around for a moment. 
     
    “I have something for you, honey.  I hope you like it.”  Bob handed a small turquoise box to her.  Ella immediately saw the words Tiffany & Company imprinted on the top.  Oh, God.  He was proposing to her.  She had wondered about his intentions for nearly two years and now she didn’t want to open the box, but she did.
     
    “Oh Bob, you really shouldn’t have…” she blurted as she took the nine-carat diamond out of the cushioned setting in the box. 
     
    Bob reached across the table and slipped the ring onto her finger.  The nine-carat stone was so big it covered her whole finger and then some.  It was beyond huge, it was colossal and over-the-top.  But it screamed wealth, status, money, and Bob considered it to be a thing of beauty.  Ella smiled as the remaining diners around them nodded and applauded.  Their table was the center of attention in the country club.  The waiter brought the reheated meal out to Bob.
     
    “Well, what do you think?  Do you like it?  Marry me, Ella.”  Bob didn’t seem to be asking, it was more like a demand.  
     
    With everyone’s eyes upon her at that moment, Ella smiled and whispered, “I can’t accept this, Bob.”   
     
    Ella watched surprise, then disappointment register on his face. She