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He tisked. “That wasn’t the agreement.” His lips hovered just above her ear, and the heat from them caused Phoebe to squirm, and her pulse quickened.

“I thought you were gone,” she half panted.

The cashier rang them up and Quentin reached for her bags then slipped his hand inside hers.

“That means you’re supposed to wait for me. Not swipe your card. Didn’t I tell you I was taking care of you?”

They strolled hand and hand out the door. “I kind of told you I was spending your money.” She laughed, and he smirked. “I was just kidding though.”

Quentin held her with a raised brow. “But I wasn’t.” He tucked her arm between his, and they exited the shopping center and climbed into the awaiting limo. Quentin casually draped an arm across Phoebe’s shoulders, and they rode to their next destination.

“Have you ever seen the way the sky lights up a pink gray hue when the sun sets?” he asked.

“Pink and gray? I can’t say that I have.”

“I know the perfect spot for us to catch it,” he whispered, pulling her in to kiss her forehead.

“Sounds delightful.”

As they rode, Phoebe rested in the strength of his arms, the beat of his heart and the warmth of his solid body. The limo pulled to a stop right outside Pont de l’Archevêché bridge, and Quentin and Phoebe slipped out. They strolled with their fingers tightly bonded to the middle of the bridge just as the sky fell. A crackling of soft grays from the clouds and pink filling from the retreating sun mixed across the heavens.

“Wow,” Phoebe said, “this is beautiful.” She leaned into Quentin, and he pulled her close while producing another gift box, this time wrapped in a silver bow. Phoebe’s eyes rose in surprise and glanced at him then back to the box. “Another gift?”

Quentin smiled slowly as Phoebe took the box from his hand. She hurriedly removed the bow with a bright smile, excited about what he could be giving her next. She popped the top and look back at him with a curious stare.

“Another key?” she said, trying to figure out what this one could possibly unlock.

It was then that Quentin produced a golden lock. Unbeknownst to Phoebe, it was 18 carat gold along with the key in her hand.

“This key opens this lock that symbolizes my love for you,” he said.

Phoebe’s heart warmed, and she gasped. “Quentin…”

Quentin reached in his coat pocket and retrieved a magic marker. With it, he inscribed his autograph across the metal safe then handed it over to her. With tear-stained eyes, Phoebe accepted the marker and also scribbled her name across the lock right underneath his.

“And now,” his deep voice grooved, “we seal our fate.” He snapped the lock shut around the metal frame of the bridge then turned to her. “If it is your will, you can toss that key overboard.”

Phoebe’s heart thumped so hard she thought it would beat out of her chest. “Why would I do that?”

The tradition says you toss the key so there is no possible way to break the bond of our love.”

“This is the love locks bridge,” she asked, just now realizing it. “I thought they took down the locks and changed this bridge so it couldn’t be done again.”

“They did, but I called in a favor.”

Phoebe reared her head back. “You called in a favor?” she echoed. “Who would grant you something as extraordinary as this?”

Quentin winked and tugged her nose. “The specifics aren’t really that necessary, are they?” his voice grooved.

Phoebe pushed her lips out and peered at him before taking her hands off her hips and tossing them around his waist as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

“This is beautiful, babe,” she crooned. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

Quentin kissed her forehead. “There’s more in store for us tonight. I think you’ll love our new year’s destination.”

Phoebe moaned, snuggling further into his embrace. “Didn’t you know,” she said, “nothing could be better than this.”

A blanket of warmth tussled around them in the disguise of the wind, and they held together, stable and planted against one another.

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