Ruby, meanwhile, had a canvas bag slung over her back and clutched a sunflower pillow to her chest. They walked side by side, their steps in sync with the fading daylight. The man’s tall, slender frame, silhouetted by the setting sun, gave their presence a softened, almost perfect harmony.
Fiona and Gio trailed behind them in the back row.
Ruby glanced at the sleek black Barbus pickup parked nearby. It looked like a predator surveying its domain, powerful and commanding, with its smooth lines drawing attention just as much as its owner—dominant and imposing. Even standing still, it demanded the gaze of everyone around.
Fiona, without a second thought, leaned out the window and waved enthusiastically at Ruby.
“Ru, over here!”
Jack opened the passenger door for Ruby. She nodded and qui
