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“That isn’t what I said.”

“Sounded like it.”

“You’re impossible.”

“Open the fucking envelope.”

There he is.

I grab it.

Inside is a check.

I look at the number.

Then look again.

Twenty thousand dollars.

My eyes snap up. “What is this?”

“Twenty grand.”

“I can read.”

“Good. Library education is paying off.”

“Ryder.”

“Buying you back.”

A laugh escapes before I can stop it.

His eyes soften.

“That’s not how auctions work.”

“Then consider it my bid.”

“For what?”

He walks around the table.

My heart pounds harder with every step.

He stops in front of me.

His hand settles at my waist.

The same place he touched me the first night.

Except Evan isn’t watching now.

Well, actually, Evan probably is.

Half of Devil’s Peak definitely is.

Ryder doesn’t care.