Page 190 of The Romance Adventure

“It matches the knife handle,” I whisper.

Magnus gently nudges the top with his thumb and it opens to reveal a silk purse with strings almost too small for his massive fingers. He fiddles with it but can’t get it open.

“Want me to try?”

He passes it to me and where I expect our hands to brush, casting electrical sparks or at the very least sending a warm rush through me as we make this discovery together, he slides his hands into his pockets. Cold.

I loosen the strings of the little pouch. Instead of peering inside, I pass it back to him.

His eyes widen when he sees the contents. “I have to go show my brothers.”

Slouching, I call, “See you tonight.”

He stops by the door. “What’s tonight?”

“Your birthday present.”

He looks startled or like I’ve gone dumb, because it’s days after his birthday.

“I got us tickets to go kayaking.”

“At night?”

“It’s bioluminescent kayaking. I’ve heard it’s beautiful.”

But the look that I got used to, the one that tells me I’m beautiful, isn’t there.

Magnus

CHAPTER 20

I have to give CJ credit because he was right about the diamond in our grandmother’s ring having a sister, one shaped like a teardrop. Excitement at the discovery rushes through me until I reach the Driftwood.

My memory of the early hours when I fought against the black widow venom is hazy, but I am certain I told Lally that I love her. That I want to marry her.

But in the days since, I’ve been questioning everything. I shouldn’t have retired. All this is uncharted territory. I don’t know how to navigate without a clear assignment.

I belonged in the military. End of story.

After looking for Royal in all the likely places, and not finding him, CJ, or Ryan, I send them a text and realize I’m standing outside the Brig, the building where Chip lived at the end of his life. In my mind, I imagine him at the Frigate, but there’s a lot I don’t know about my grandfather. Too bad it’s not as easy as assembling an intelligence package.

I think about the will and what Chip wanted from me.

There will be no softening. Lally saw me down and I can’t afford that. Can’t let her witness me weak. I’m not going to be the second man who takes a fall in her life.

If I were to follow through with a marriage proposal and something happened to me...it’s better to withdraw before things intensify.

It’s time to go back to living a regimented life. I’ll focus on Boo’s Battle Bros. Maybe Lally and I can just be friends, business partners. Nothing more. There’s too much risk.

Staying busy for the rest of the afternoon, I expect my brothers to make contact, but I don’t get so much as a text.

Just before dusk, I talk myself into heading to Lally’s place. We’ll talk to discuss the new arrangement.

When she hollers that the door is open and appears from her room, looking pretty with her curls kissing her shoulders and cascading down her back, her green eyes sparkling like diamonds...

The flare inside surges.

The red flag lurches.