Out of Time by Monique Martin Read Free Book Online

idea.”
    “Yes,” Simon stammered. Smitty seemed to step back a little. Apparently, Simon’s claim on her was enough to bring the man up short. It was a ridiculous charade, but if it gave Elizabeth a modicum of safety he’d gladly keep up pretenses. “It all happened rather unexpectedly.”
    “Very,” Elizabeth said with a grin, her eyes bright with mischief.
    Smitty narrowed his eyes. “She’s not wearing no ring.”
    “There wasn’t time to see to everything properly,” Simon said. “We were hoping you could help us with that. Unless, of course, you’d rather continue to insult my wife,” he finished, laying his hand possessively over hers.
    Smitty didn’t seem to believe them, but if it meant more business he clearly didn’t care what their story was. “I think I might have something.”
    “I thought you might,” Simon said. He looked down at Elizabeth sternly, but his pique melted. The dress she was wearing was simple, but she looked wonderful. The pale blue-green pattern made her hair seem that much more striking. A series of ridiculously tiny buttons ran up the front, stopping at the base of the v-neck. Her pale skin led to the enticing arch of her collarbone. The scalloped hem fell to her knees, giving him a glimpse of her shapely legs. Elizabeth seldom wore dresses, and he wondered why when she was so enchanting in them.
    Elizabeth ducked her head shyly. “Do you like?”
    Simon swallowed. “Very much.”
    She blushed and stepped back. She couldn’t quite meet his eyes. “I’m gonna need shoes too. I’ll just go see what’s back there.”
    Simon watched her walk away. She should definitely wear dresses more often. Or perhaps it was best she didn’t. He had enough trouble keeping his feelings under wraps as it was. The softening of his heart whenever she was near was untenable enough. Now, with seemingly every man they encountered leering at her, it was almost impossible to hide how he felt.
    “I’ll give you thirty for the ring,” Smitty said.
    “Thirty? It’s worth ten times that.”
    “Got a crack in the stone. Thirty.”
    “Thirty-five.”
    Smitty’s cold face split into a grim smile. “I say it’s worth thirty.”
    “Unconscionable,” Simon muttered.
    There had to be other pawn shops and he glanced out the door half-tempted to take his business elsewhere. But he didn’t know the city and the day’s light had already started to dim. They couldn’t afford to search all night for another shop.
    “Take it or leave it. No skin off my nose.”
    It was a crime to sell the ring for so little, but they needed money. Now.
    Simon grimaced. “Fine.”
    “The ticket’s good for sixty days, then it goes in the general merchandise,” Smitty said and wrote out the receipt. “Pleasure doing business with ya.”
    “I assure you,” Simon muttered. “The pleasure was entirely yours.”
    With the money he purchased one dress, one suit, one broadcloth shirt, one pair of ladies shoes, a small suitcase. He’d also bought a pair of imitation gold rings, much to Smitty’s confusion. While women had worn wedding rings for centuries, it wasn’t common for men to wear them until WWII when they’d taken to wearing the rings to remind them of home. A man wearing a wedding ring in the 1920s wasn’t unheard of, but it was rare. It had been an illogical thing to do, buying a pair of rings, but for reasons Simon didn’t want to examine too closely, he wanted to wear his. Even if it was only a charade.
    The rash of purchases had left them less than twenty dollars and still no place to stay.
    The street was dimly lit, but still filled to the edges with people hurrying this way and that. No wonder it was called the city that never sleeps. As far as Simon could tell it never even took a breath.
    They walked aimlessly in an uncomfortable silence until Elizabeth suggested they ask someone for directions to some boarding houses. Simon didn’t think they needed help, but when they passed the same