Hothouse Flower (Calloway Sisters #2)

by Krista Ritchie

I eye Ryke’s bruise again and my stomach flips. I slide the gold ring off my finger and put it in his hand. “Here. You can have this back.” I’ve already apologized for hitting him. And he did what he always does when I say I’m sorry for things I can’t control. He glared. Ryke appraises the ring, and his features darken. “I gave this to you. I don’t want it back.” He grabs my hand, and instead of just handing it to me, he slides it slowly on my finger. We’re about to be alone together for the first time since the stairwell. If the elevator would ever get here, that is. “You didn’t give it to me,” I rebut. “I won it in a poker game.” “Same fucking thing.” I wear the ring a lot. I had it resized to fit my thumb, and the jeweler told me that the design on the front was an Irish coat of arms. A family crest. I never brought it up, but now that we’re together, I kind of want to.

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