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“That’s the one,” Ruby said “Well, I went in one day and ordered a hugethat my wallet wasn’t in my purse”

“So I picked up her tab” He finished her sentence as he draped an ar her shoulder a squeeze in thanks for how she’d covered for him

Sheto figure out how to hightail it off Fare Island with Jasper, but—for the s lessened, and for the first time since they arrived, he let himself relax

“And how did you propose?” Ingrid asked

“Nervously” He chuckled, playing up the part of the char Luc Svendsen who never met a woman he couldn’t put at ease

“I can’t believe you thought I’d ever say no” Ruby rested the back of her head into the pocket of his shoulder, looking every bit like a lovesick fiancée

He shouldn’t be surprised, considering that she’d grown up literally in a den of old digger to a four-carat diamond If only she’d been someone different, Ruby would be the perfect ally

Ingrid dabbed at her eyes, a soft s up the end of her h, Rolf and Joey didn’t react at all The twoon the table between them

“That is just the rid’s smile wavered, and she wiped at the wet spot under her eye “I know that you two are ato adhere to a few old traditions”

He fidgeted in his seat “What did you have in mind?”

She withdrew a long, thin gift-wrapped box from next to her plate and handed it to Ruby, who opened it Inside was a long silver chain, a heart-shaped lock, and a key

“What is it?” he asked, already knowing by the ashen tint to Ruby’s face that he wasn’t about to like the answer

Instead of answering right away, Ingrid stood and walked over to them, a pair of scissors in her hand

“First, you’ll need to remove your suit jacket and shirt,” she said as if it was a totally normal request “Don’t worry, that’s the extent of how much you’ll need to disrobe now”

He looked around the table Someone had to object to this bizarre request Rolf and Joey barely glanced up from the phone between therid gave hi it one bit, he stood up and stripped off his jacket and shirt