of black velvet. By the light coming from the workshop Maddie disarmed the display case and unlocked it. Reverently she lifted out the diamond and carried it back to the workroom. It was cool to the touch and heavy in her palm. Taking up a soft cloth, she polished away her fingerprints. She went to place it in the stone holder beneath the microscope lens.
Rolf touched her arm. “May I do the honors?”
She hesitated then placed the diamond in his open hand. Rolf breathed in and for several seconds just gazed at the priceless gem he was holding. She watched him. Then he smiled at her and, still in full view, positioned the Rose under the microscope.
Rolf drew the chair forward, adjusting the focus on the binocular eyepieces and tilting the light for optimum viewing. He manipulated the stone holder, swiveling the diamond to view it from every angle. Maddie leaned against the bench at his side, arms crossed, chewing a thumbnail. She felt like a proud mother showing off her child prodigy, anxious for praise.
“The clarity is exceptional,” he said finally, not taking his eyes away from the microscope. “In spite of everything I’ve heard about this stone, I was half expecting to find inclusions but it truly is flawless.”
“For such a large diamond it’s amazing.” Maddie placed the grading report on the bench for him to look at. “Isn’t the raspberry color fabulous?”
“I suppose like all Western Australian pink diamonds, the color intensifies with heat?”
“Yes, and bleaches under UV light.” To her embarrassment Maddie had to stifle a yawn and blink hard. Discussing the Rose with the world’s leading expert while he examined the stone was a highlight of her career and not something to be rushed just because she was tired.
But Rolf had noticed her yawn and was looking at his watch. “I didn’t realize it was so late,” he said apologetically. “I should go.”
“No, that’s all right. You’ve only just started. I’ll put it under the UV light.” Maddie loosened the stone holder on the microscope and removed the diamond, ready to take it to the UV chamber.
“Don’t,” Rolf said, staying her hand. “I’m suffering from jet lag, anyway. Tomorrow morning I give my lecture to the students and staff in the Earth Sciences Department. Perhaps I could come back on the weekend.”
“That’d be fine.” Maddie’s disappointment that the evening was ending was tempered by the prospect of another meeting. “Afterward I could show you some sights.” She blushed. “Of Melbourne, I mean.” She fussed with the Rose, placing it just so in its black velvet-lined box.
Rolf rose and stood close to her. He wasn’t looking at the Rose now. He was focused on her. Maddie swallowed, straightening. His physical presence wasn’t as imposing as Fabian’s but he had an attractive quicksilver grace. Maddeningly, the memory of Fabian’s height and athletic frame filling an elegant suit edged out Rolf and his wrinkled garments. Irritated with herself, she pushed aside thoughts of the arrogant Englishman.
“I’ll just put the Rose away—”
Before she knew what was happening, Rolf was kissing her. She would have thought he’d be clumsy but he was surprisingly good at it. Expertly he coaxed her lips apart and slipped his tongue inside, his hands moving across her backside. Too bad his timing was so bad. She pushed on his chest, breaking the kiss. “Please don’t. Not now.”
“Sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.” With a nervous laugh, he dragged a hand through his hair. The fine blond strands stood out with static electricity.
“It’s okay. But I need to put the Rose away.” Maddie checked the stone, still safely nestled in the box, and closed the lid. She was vaguely disappointed that he’d apologized. And with her reaction to his kiss. She hadn’t gotten that toe-curling feeling she’d always longed for, but that was probably because he’d caught her off guard.
“I’m not very good
Rolf touched her arm. “May I do the honors?”
She hesitated then placed the diamond in his open hand. Rolf breathed in and for several seconds just gazed at the priceless gem he was holding. She watched him. Then he smiled at her and, still in full view, positioned the Rose under the microscope.
Rolf drew the chair forward, adjusting the focus on the binocular eyepieces and tilting the light for optimum viewing. He manipulated the stone holder, swiveling the diamond to view it from every angle. Maddie leaned against the bench at his side, arms crossed, chewing a thumbnail. She felt like a proud mother showing off her child prodigy, anxious for praise.
“The clarity is exceptional,” he said finally, not taking his eyes away from the microscope. “In spite of everything I’ve heard about this stone, I was half expecting to find inclusions but it truly is flawless.”
“For such a large diamond it’s amazing.” Maddie placed the grading report on the bench for him to look at. “Isn’t the raspberry color fabulous?”
“I suppose like all Western Australian pink diamonds, the color intensifies with heat?”
“Yes, and bleaches under UV light.” To her embarrassment Maddie had to stifle a yawn and blink hard. Discussing the Rose with the world’s leading expert while he examined the stone was a highlight of her career and not something to be rushed just because she was tired.
But Rolf had noticed her yawn and was looking at his watch. “I didn’t realize it was so late,” he said apologetically. “I should go.”
“No, that’s all right. You’ve only just started. I’ll put it under the UV light.” Maddie loosened the stone holder on the microscope and removed the diamond, ready to take it to the UV chamber.
“Don’t,” Rolf said, staying her hand. “I’m suffering from jet lag, anyway. Tomorrow morning I give my lecture to the students and staff in the Earth Sciences Department. Perhaps I could come back on the weekend.”
“That’d be fine.” Maddie’s disappointment that the evening was ending was tempered by the prospect of another meeting. “Afterward I could show you some sights.” She blushed. “Of Melbourne, I mean.” She fussed with the Rose, placing it just so in its black velvet-lined box.
Rolf rose and stood close to her. He wasn’t looking at the Rose now. He was focused on her. Maddie swallowed, straightening. His physical presence wasn’t as imposing as Fabian’s but he had an attractive quicksilver grace. Maddeningly, the memory of Fabian’s height and athletic frame filling an elegant suit edged out Rolf and his wrinkled garments. Irritated with herself, she pushed aside thoughts of the arrogant Englishman.
“I’ll just put the Rose away—”
Before she knew what was happening, Rolf was kissing her. She would have thought he’d be clumsy but he was surprisingly good at it. Expertly he coaxed her lips apart and slipped his tongue inside, his hands moving across her backside. Too bad his timing was so bad. She pushed on his chest, breaking the kiss. “Please don’t. Not now.”
“Sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.” With a nervous laugh, he dragged a hand through his hair. The fine blond strands stood out with static electricity.
“It’s okay. But I need to put the Rose away.” Maddie checked the stone, still safely nestled in the box, and closed the lid. She was vaguely disappointed that he’d apologized. And with her reaction to his kiss. She hadn’t gotten that toe-curling feeling she’d always longed for, but that was probably because he’d caught her off guard.
“I’m not very good
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