“Really? I bet that pissed her off.”

“Oh, I’m sure, but she was too afraid to say no to Dottie so she tolerated me. But we went through every tacky room in that house. I even touched the furniture when Janice wasn’t trying to sneak a glare at me, but I didn’t get anything. Not even a twinge.”

Halcyon sighed. “I don’t understand how anyone expects you to find this ring with so little information.”

“And so little time.”

“Yeah. We can’t forget that part.”

“It’s hard to when the world could literally end tonight.”

Halcyon stared. “I thought Alexios said a week.”

“He said ‘give or take’ a week.”

“Oh. That’s not good. I love you but I don’t want the most exciting thing I did on my last night on earth to be rubbing peroxide on your butt.”

“I was kinda hoping for a better finale as well.”

“Then why didn’t you have one? Instead of picking me up, you could have played doctor with the hunky game warden.”

“My luck, I’d find the ring after playing doctor and then I’d never be able to face him again after being so easy.”

“Good Lord, what century do you think we’re in? It’s okay to enjoy sex with a hot guy—even one you don’t know that well. It’s not like you need to remain pure so our father can get more cows in exchange for your hand in marriage.”

“I know. I guess it still feels too strange for me. Harold was the only one. I never did this whole sexy-dance thing.”

Halcyon gave her a sympathetic look. “I get it. And I swear I’m not trying to push you into doing something you’re not comfortable with. I’m just reminding you that it’s not only okay to want sex with a man you’re attracted to, but it’s expected. I’m not saying you have to act on anything but you should at least stop denying your feelings.”

Marina pursed her lips. “That’s fair and really wise. Okay. I’ll admit that I’m attracted to Luke. A lot. But I’m also afraid that some of that might be—what do you call it—rebound?”

“That’s possible although I don’t think so. Luke is a good-looking guy and he’s smart, confident, and nice to top it off. It would be harder to not be attracted. And I know that him helping with Avery might seem like something that could cloud your better judgment because of all the emotions wrapped up in it, but I just don’t think that’s what’s going on here. He’s a good guy, Marina. I would bet my alimony on it.”

“That’s huge.”

“You know what you have to do, right?”

“Get sluttier?”

“That’s one solution but I was actually thinking you needed to find the ring. The only sex you have cannot be with Harold. That’s just not right. And you’re just not a one-night-stand sort of girl. You need more time to get comfortable with the idea.”

“Trust me, if I knew where to find the ring, I’d go grab it right now. For a lot of reasons. Not just being destined to have spent my life with only okay sex.”