Page 18

Dammit. His self-deprecating humor and self-awareness about how codependent he and Cian are is one of my favorite things about him.
I know that Henry was hired as Cian’s bodyguard when Cian abdicated the throne and came to the United States at seventeen. Henry posed as his college roommate and almost literally hasn’t left his side in over a decade. They’ve traveled the world, had numerous adventures—and a few misadventures—and become more like brothers than boss-employee or even friends.
It’s not another woman or a romantic relationship I have to be jealous of. His heart is already spoken for by the Royal family, and specifically Cian O’Grady.
And ironically, it’s one of the things I love best about him. I am not interested in breaking him and Cian up.
“So what’s the plan here?” I ask him. “You’re going to tell Chris to leave us alone? His friends?” I glance toward the door where he escorted Jeff out as well.
“I’m staying until your friend's situation stabilizes.”
I frown. “Can you be more specific?”
“Why don’tyoube specific,” he tells me, his tone firm yet frustrated. “What’s going on? She’s staying with you. For how long? What is her plan? What isyourplan? Let me guess, just whatever this woman needs for as long as she thinks she needs it.”
I glance around the bar to be sure that no one needs anything, almost wishing that some of these guys were a little more difficult. But everyone here tonight is a regular, and they’ve been here long enough to be settled into either the game they’re watching on television or their conversation.
“Itjusthappened today,” I tell him, keeping my voice low. “So no we don’t have a whole big elaborate plan.Yet. But we will.”
“But you’re not in a hurry,” he says.
I frown. “What does that mean?”
He shakes his head. “You act like I don’t know that the reason this woman and her kid arelivingwith you, less than seventy-two hours after your sister got married, is because Scarlett now has someone else taking care of her, and you’re feeling a little unneeded.”
I widen my eyes. I know him very well. And he knowsmevery well. “You act like I don’t know that you’re only here because the guyyoutake care of now has a new babysitter andyou’refeeling a little unneeded.”
He just looks at me for a long moment. But he doesn’t argue.
Yeah, not only are we a lot alike, but we both acknowledge it.
“Scarlett told me you went to high school with the asshole husband, but not April. And she’s got a little boy who’s four.”
I nod. “Yes.”
“Tell me more.”
Fine. He’s here. He’s not going to leave, I know that. And IwishI was madder about seeing him. But I’m not. We’re just going to need some rules.
I take a breath. “April moved here a few years ago. She covers the day shift here at the bar. That’s how I met her. Chris is ten years older than she is. They were dating, things got a little serious, then she wanted to break it off, but found out she was pregnant. So she agreed to marry him. Their little guy, Elliot, is four. Chris has never been a great husband or father. At first, it was verbal and emotional abuse. Then financial. He’s always been very controlling. But more recently, it’s become physical. I’ve only known her for about a year since we moved back, but I’ve been encouraging her to leave since we met. Chris knows that, and he’s been pissed at me. He’s come in here and yelled at me a couple of times. But anyway, when I got home today, I got a phone call from her. She was crying and said she was finally ready. So I said come over right now.” I shrug. “They’re staying at our house. I don’t know what else you need to know.”
Henry’s jaw clenches. “How long is she staying?”
I narrow my eyes and give him the answer I know he’s expecting. “As long as she needs to.”
“Dammit, Ruby. There needs to be a plan. Is she filing for divorce? Is she wanting to leave town? Does she have any money? Does she have anywhere to go?”
He’s almost yelling. I mean, not really. Not by normal standards. But by always-in-control-of-every-damned-thing Henry standards, definitely.
How interesting.
I give him a slow blink I know will drive him nuts. “I’ve barely seen her. I gave her my keys when I came in tonight, and she was going to pick Elliot up and go straight to my house.”
He blows out a breath. “Weneed to go to your house.”
I roll my eyes. “I plan to. After I’m doneworking.”
It’s not like Henry doesn’t have a job. I mean, his gig is twenty-four-seven-three-sixty-five. But how he makes a living isvery, verydifferent from what I—and most of the world—means by “work”.