Page 56 of The Protective Gryphen

The man was confused then.

“With what?” he asked.

“I want to propose to Gryphen. I need a ring. Size eleven, gold, and engraved.”

Ian hoped he could help him.

The man really thought that he’d lost his mind.

“You want to propose to the crazy man who stares at me like I’m going to kill you all and laugh while doing it?” he asked.

“Absolutely, and for the record, he does that to everyone. It’s a Marine thing. He’ll chill out once he finishes his call with Callen. He thinks I believe he’s just checking on a situation there, but he’s asking a million questions about you to make sure you’re safe.”

“Oh.”

“Like I said, don’t get offended. You’ll see him chill out. Anyway, about the ring. Can you locate that for me? He’s going to be all over me, and I can’t get away to do it. That means not being able to surprise him.”

Graham chilled out.

If the man wasn’t being held against his will, and liked the way the man behaved so protectively, who was he to question it?

“Aye, I can help you pull that off. Callen said to get you whatever you needed, so I can do that. It’ll take a day or so. Will that be okay, Ian?”

He nodded.

“Yes, that’s fine. Again, I need it engraved. Can we make that happen too?” he inquired, keeping his voice down.”

“Aye.”

That was perfect.

Scanning the room, he saw what he needed. At one of the end tables, there was a notepad there. Knowing what he wanted, he scribbled out the message.

Then, he tore it off and handed it to him.

“It has to be a secret. I want to propose somewhere here in Scotland while we’re here on vacation.”

“That will be a lovely memory,” Graham said, tucking the paper into his pocket.

Then, Ian remembered he needed a few more things.

“I want to go ice skating and maybe propose to him there. Is that ice sturdy?”

He nodded.

“At this time of the year, aye.”

This was working out perfectly.

“How about some ice skates? Is that a possibility?” Ian asked. “I think that would be fun.”

He nodded.

“That is very doable. What sizes do you need?”

On the fly, Ian planned a romantic interlude for him and his man.

“He’s a sixteen, and I’m a thirteen, but I don’t know the conversions.”

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