For a moment neither of them spoke. Then he lifted a hand and gently brushed a loose strand of hair from her face.
“Ruby,” he said carefully, “after everything that’s happened... after everything ...” His voice faltered slightly. “I wouldnae blame ye if ye wanted to walk away.”
“Walk away? Are you crazy? Why would I do that?”
“The things I’ve done—”
“Are what youhadto do. I see the man underneath it all, Evan. That’s the man I fell in love with. That’s the man I want.”
Something in his expression shifted. The tension in his shoulders eased slightly, though his gaze remained searching, as though he were still trying to convince himself she meant it.
He reached into the neck of his tunic and took out a small pouch on a string. “Then there’s something I want to give ye.”
He upended it and tipped a small, bright object onto his palm.
A ring.
It was simple but beautiful—gold, set with a small dark red stone that caught the light.
Evan rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “It belonged to my grandmother,” he explained. “My brother gave it to me a few days ago.”
Ruby felt her heart skip. “Evan—”
“It doesnae mean marriage,” he said quickly. “I would never pressure ye into that. Not after what ye went through with that bastard Daniel. What this means is a promise.”
“What promise?”
“A promise that we belong to each other. Always. I want ye to stay. With me. Please.”
Ruby stared at him.We belong to each other.The thought made her chest ache.
“Oh, Evan Campbell,” she breathed. “Of course I’m staying.”
The relief that flooded his face was so immediate it made her heart twist. “Ye are?”
“There’s nowhere else I want to be.”
He looked down at the ring. “Then... may I?”
Ruby held out her hand. “You may.”
Evan took her hand carefully, his fingers warm and slightly rough against her skin and slid the ring onto the middle finger of her left hand. Not her wedding finger. Not yet.
He smiled faintly. “One day,” he said quietly, “I hope to put it on the right finger.” His gaze lifted to hers. “But that decision will always be yers.”
She loved him more than ever right then. She curled her fingers, feeling the weight of the ring. It felt right. Not like something forced upon her, but like a future she had chosen.
“Do ye like it?” he asked.
Ruby reached up, caught his collar in her hand, and pulled him down to kiss her. It was fierce and certain and full of everything she had almost lost.
Evan’s arms went around her, lifting her slightly off the ground. When they finally broke apart, Ruby smiled up at him.
“Does that answer your question?”
Evan grinned, that charming, roguish grin she’d first encountered in that island inn what felt like a lifetime ago. “Hmm. Not sure. Perhaps ye’ll have to tell me again.”
Ruby was only too happy to oblige.
