Page 31 of His Jewel

“You still have some left?”

She bit her lip.

“Well, we can’t have that.”

He dropped to his knees.

Epilogue

8Months Later

Ruby

She was being crushed. She might not survive it. But she didn’t care. She’d never felt happiness like it, it was like a flower blooming in her chest. Josh’s family finally released her, and she could breathe again, but not before Lola had pulled her left hand toward her.

She still hadn’t gotten used to it—her finger felt heavy.

Lola tilted her finger, so the ruby glinted in the light. “It’s just so beautiful.”

She couldn’t agree more. She glanced up at Josh, the sparkle in his eyes mirroring the ring as he took her out of his family’s grasp and held her firmly in his own. “It’s perfect,” she said. “A bit like my fiancé.”

Pete scoffed. “Easy, now, don’t go giving my brother an ego complex.”

Josh had proposed a few days ago, before his family’s scheduled visit. He’d done it on holiday, whisked her off to a private island in the Maldives and proposed under a blanket of stars. She thought she’d been dreaming, and someone was going to come and pinch her to wake her up.

Lola and his mom were chatting between themselves, discussing wedding dresses and venues. Josh and his dad talked football. She clung to Josh’s arm and watched them all. She couldn’t wait to become a part of their family.

Speaking of family ... she unhooked from Josh and went to find her phone. She loaded up the scheduled FaceTime call and a series of congratulations sang out.

She thanked her parents.

“Let us congratulate Josh, too, and say hi to his family,” her mom said.

She did as she was told, and everyone exchanged awkward pleasantries for a few minutes before she hung up the phone. Josh had insisted on building a relationship with them, and on her repairing it, as he didn’t want to be blamed for a fractured family. She’d reassured him this wasn’t the case, but he was adamant. He was a better man than most. And he was hers.

She glanced down at her watch. “Oh, I’m sorry, I have to run. I have a few things to get done at the paper before tonight.”

---