Greater Than Rubies, a Novella inspired by the Jewel Trilogy Read Free

never elope.”
    “Oh, I don’t know.” Wiggling his eyebrows, Tony said, “It could be fun.”
    Sarah swallowed a laugh and covered her mouth. “Tony!”
    Barry Anderson, former professional football player turned corporate lawyer, walked up to Tony, wool ski cap covering his ears and leather gloves on his large hands. He slapped Tony on the back. “My friend, congratulations.”
    Tony smiled and stood, shamelessly hugging Barry. “Barry, mi fratello !” He turned and faced the table. “Barry, my dearest brother, I would like to introduce you to Maxine Bartlett and Sarah Thomas, Robin’s sisters.” The two best friends could not have different appearances. Barry, a few inches shy of seven feet who had a body that gave evidence to his extensive workout regimen, blond hair, a thin blond goatee, and icy blue eyes, compared to Tony, dark coloring and just at six feet with a strong lean body strengthened by rowing. And yet they considered themselves brothers as if they’d been born to the same parents.
    Sarah was closest, and reached forward to shake Barry’s hand. He slipped the glove off of his right hand and gripped her petite hand, swamping it. Maxine, her eyes uncharacteristically wide, made no move to rise or shake his hand. She just said, “Nice to meet you.”
    “I should have realized Robin’s sisters would be just as lovely and beautiful as Robin. It is very much my honor to finally meet you both.” Barry nodded to each of them and looked them straight in the eye as he greeted them. Then he turned back to Tony. “Sorry I’m late. The flight out was delayed almost two hours.”
    “That big storm?” Tony inquired.
    “Yeah. The snow has really been picking up. We passed 12 or 15 foot drifts on the way to the airport. I guess it’s a good thing we made it out at all.”
    Tony nodded. “How was Christmas in the Alps?”
    Barry’s lips thinned. “Same thing every year.”
    “You should really think about Florida next year.” Tony chided. “You could water ski off the Keys instead of making snow angels.”
    Barry kept his face blank. “Maybe next year.” He pulled his ski cap off and gestured to the buffet table. “I’m going to get something to eat. That little plate they give you on the airline is never enough for me.”
    As he walked away, Maxine leaned in to Robin and said in a low voice, “Do you know who that is? That is the Barry Anderson.”
    “Yeah, that’s Barry. I told you about him helping my dad.”
    Maxine lightly thumped her sister on the forehead with her flat open palm. “No. That is Barry ‘The Bear’ Anderson. Like, that is really, really him. Don’t you remember him playing? Remember the Super Bowl that year? Are you really that out of it?”
    “Yes. And I remember telling you that he used to play sports and he’s a lawyer, now.” Robin said, feeling a little confused.
    Maxine grinned. “Play sports. You are so cute. You said he was a big guy and a lawyer and drank Shirley Temples. I was imagining fat Elvis meets Perry Mason meets Freddie Mercury. You never said anything about him being that Barry Anderson. You know I had the biggest crush on him when he was in the League. And he is still the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen in my life.” She put her hand on her chest. “Oh my gosh. I can barely breathe.”
    Robin’s eyes widened and she laughed a shocked laugh. “You are incorrigible.”
    Maxine winked and went back to her plate.
    Tony’s lips thinned as he stood again. “Good afternoon, Jacqui.”
    A tall redhead with porcelain smooth skin sailed toward their table, draped in a full length mink coat. “Antonio, what a pleasure to see you,” she said, air kissing within inches of both of his cheeks.
    “Ladies, I’d like you to meet Barry’s wife, Jacqueline Anderson. Jacqui, this is Sarah Thomas, Maxine Bartlett, and my beautiful bride to be, Robin Bartlett.”
    She waved a hand toward Robin. “You are such a darling. Bartlett. Bartlett? Now, are