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In fact, I calledand sent her a first-class ticket to arrive on the island tonight She seems elated…if confused My sisters are sad they couldn’t come—too many responsibilities to travel last minute—but they seem to understand I can’t wait

Honestly, they don’t know the half of it

“I-I thought ould get married after the loan was funded”

And give her time to worm out of this? “Until you say I do, there’s no loan”

“How do I know you’ll fund the loan once you’ve got what you want?” She’s grasping at straws

“We’ve signed a mountain of paperwork to that effect Stratus’s ‘escape clause’ can only be enacted if I pull the trigger That’s so I’ll only do if you force me”

The ive up the fight “I don’t have a wedding dress”

I hadn’t considered that, but in Maui I’m surrounded by resourceful women “We’ll work it out Our plane leaves in less than three hours”

“If I refuse to go?”

“Reservoir dies”

Sloan blows out a breath, clearly looking for calm She doesn’t have to tell me she hates me; I see it all over her face

Not for the first time, I question my sanity Now that I’ve backed her into a corner, how the hell aot to be a way…but right now I’ it Panic won’t help Once we speak vows, I’ll have a whole year tountil I succeed

“You think you’re sive up the fight and surrender rabs her purse “Think again”

I already know nothing about this weekend—hell, the next year—will be easy My last- ho Sloan withto cause a stir

The eight hours of cold shoulder she givesthe trip feels damn icy