The Reluctant Viking

“. . . Her brows were bright, her breast was shining, Whiter her neck than new-fallen snow . . .

Blond was his hair, and bright his cheeks Grim as a snake’s were his glowing eyes . . .”

that’s what real, mature love was all about, Ruby realized. When a man and woman love each other despite their flaws, despite the stumbling blocks life throws their way, that is true love

Ruby whispered, “I love you.” He never returned the words to her, and that tore at her heart, but Ruby said them nonetheless because she was increasingly convinced that no one, not a father or mother, not a child, not even a loved one—no one—had ever said the words to him before. How could any person—man or woman, child or adult—live without ever feeling loved? It was a chilling thought.

I am Ruby Jordan. I am not going to sit down and die. I am a survivor. I will get through this nightmare.

What fun it would be to go back to the beginning with Jack, knowing what she did today! She could avoid all the proven mistakes. She could capitalize on all the good things that had worked with them.

A second chance! Wasn’t that just what she’d prayed for before being hurtled back in time?

I’m telling you there’s nothing in the world you can’t do. Where the will’s strong enough, there is a way!

The thought that Ruby would go to so much trouble to entice him touched Thork with the force of a rolling boulder. His heart constricted oddly in his chest. No one had ever shown so much caring for him afore

Maybe by morning we will have awakened some of those memories.” Ruby looked at Thork warmly, knowing without a doubt that she loved him, as completely as she’d ever loved Jack. The self-admission filled her, not with guilt, but an overwhelming feeling of incredible rightness. This was where she was meant to be

“The first will come here in my arms. I will not let you down until it happens,” he promised seductively

“Do you still insist we share a past?” he asked hoarsely.
Ruby scrutinized Thork closely, trying to see the differences, not the similarities, between him and Jack. It was hard. “I think you and I may very well make our own history tonight,” she evaded.
Thork traced her jaw with a forefinger questioningly. “What is it about you, sweetling, that draws me so? Truly, in another time we could have been heartmates