Page 47

“What happened with Brad?” I ask her.

She looks surprised as she turns away from the sink, then contemplative.

“You’re not talking to him anymore, right?” The question doesn’t come off half as casual as I wanted it to.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“He ...” She leans on the counter behind her. “He laughed at me.”

Heat takes over my body so fast I don’t even recognize it at first. “Laughed at you?” My voice is hard.

“About my job and getting fired.”

That asshole. That fucking worthless asshole judging her when he doesn’t know a thing about her. “You never told me that,” I say tightly, attempting to swallow my anger.

“And he said I should be trying harder.” She gives me a tiny smile that I know is meant to minimize how much she hurts, but her eyes are so sad that all my anger turns into tenderness for her.

I run the back of my hand down her bare arm. “Hey, you know how on-brand that is for him? He’s the biggest fucking snooze on the team. Plain chicken wrapped in white bread smothered in mayo—and not even the name-brand mayo either. He was never good enough for you.”

“Thing is, you know I get down on myself about the same things he laughed at me for. But I wasn’t ashamed of that job, and I wasn’t ashamed I lost it. I knew how it looked to everyoneelse, and for once that didn’t bother me, because I wanted that job and I chose to give it up. But he didn’t see that.”

Of course he didn’t, and I should have known from the beginning it would end up like this. I told myself Brad was good for her because he didn’t have a drug habit or an arrest record, but he was just as shitty as all her exes. Not one of them ever saw her for who she was. Not like I do.

I pull her into a hug, unable to resist the need to feel her body against mine. “Proud of you for not taking his shit. He never deserved you.”

She nods against my shoulder.

“None of the guys you fall for ever do.” I release her but don’t move from my spot, because she has two fingers ringed loosely around my wrist.

Ruby leans back against the counter and holds my gaze. “None of them?” It’s only because I know her so well that I catch the subtle change in her voice.

This is where I should look away. Turn around and grab a drink. Make some excuse to move so my body’s not six inches from hers. But I’m trapped by her eyes and the possibility that she’s talking about me. “I don’t know. Did any of them see you for what you are?”

“Well, what am I?”

I hesitate. What is she doing?

“What am I, Lorenzo?”

I smile. Yes, she was talking about me. When Ruby turns it on, she’s such a fucking tease. “You want to play that game, huh? Let’s see ... starting with the obvious? You’re weird. Emotional, impulsive, forgetful ... all your classics.”

“Clearly.”

“You’re fun. A little wild. Easy to be around.”

Her eyes are locked on mine in a way that tells me I’m walking into a trap. “Keep going.” She’s still holding my wrist.

“You’re brave. Loyal to the bone.” Her chest rises as she draws a quick breath. I don’t deserve the power these words have over her. “You’re beautiful.” My eyes take in the pout of her lips before I force my gaze away.

“One more,” she whispers.

“One more?”

I watch her throat constrict as she swallows. “You’ve told me those things before. One more you’ve never told me.” She cocks her head, a gesture of pure challenge. We’re not talking about all the guys who never appreciated her anymore. The way she stares at me with those beautiful brown eyes tells me we’re only talking about me. I’m the one whose opinion counts. I’m the one she wants. We both know it. The kiss said it all. And now she wants me to cross a line.

“One more, huh?” I ease my wrist from her grasp so now I’m the one holding on to her, her palm pressed between my fingers. “Okay.” I nod. “You’re a great fucking kisser. And I’m damn lucky you once took pity on me.”