Page 28 of A Tempting Seduction (Protectors of Jasper Creek #5)
When Lance finally reached the front of the line, he leaned across the counter with that familiar smile and spoke in a voice just loud enough for nearby customers to hear.
“Ruby Miller. You look absolutely beautiful.”
I felt every eye in the coffee shop turn toward us. In a town the size of Jasper Creek, strangers got noticed, especially handsome strangers in expensive suits who seemed to know the quiet girl behind the counter.
“What can I get you?” I kept my voice steady and professional, but inside I was screaming.
“Actually, I was hoping we could talk privately. Is there somewhere we could go?”
“No.”
The word came out sharper than I'd intended, and I saw a flash of irritation cross Lance's features before he smoothed his expression back into that practiced charm.
“Ruby, darling,” he said, his voice carrying across the suddenly quiet coffee shop. “It's so good to see the woman I love. I've missed you so much.”
The entire shop went dead silent. I could feel Jordan's concerned gaze from where he stood at the espresso machine, could sense Florence practically vibrating with curiosity at her table by the window. Every person in Java Jolt was hanging on our every word, and Lance knew it.
He'd always been good at creating scenes that served his purposes.
“Back office,” I said through gritted teeth. “Five minutes.”
Lance's smile widened like he'd just won the lottery. “Thank you, darling. I knew you'd want to hear what I have to say.”
I walked toward the small office behind the counter on legs that felt like they might give out at any moment. Lance followed, and I was hyperaware of how he moved through the space like he owned it, how his expensive cologne stank up the space that normally gave me comfort.
I closed the office door behind us and walked behind my desk before I turned to face him. I crossed my arms. “What the hell do you want, Lance?”
His politician's mask slipped for just a moment, revealing something sharper underneath. “I want you back, Ruby. I want us back.”
I stared at him for a long moment, then started to laugh. The sound bubbled up from somewhere deep in my chest, carrying with it two years' worth of anger and hurt and bewilderment. “Are you completely insane?”
“I know you're angry?—”
“Angry?” I cut him off. “Lance, I found you in bed with my sister. You told me I was lucky anyone would want to marry me. You made it crystal clear that our entire relationship was a joke to you.”
“I admit I made a mistake.” He stepped closer, his hands resting on my desk. “But I've changed, Ruby. I've won my state senate seat, and now there are a lot of rumors swirling around about me and Carla. I need to put those rumors to rest. Marrying you would take care of that.”
The words hit me like a slap. “Let me get this straight. You want me back because it would be politically convenient?”
“We were good together,” he said, his voice taking on that persuasive tone he'd perfected during law school. “We make sense. Your family connections, my political future. Think about what we could accomplish together.” He circled around the desk.
“That’s close enough,” I snapped.
“Come on Ruby. You used to like it when I got close to you.”
“Yeah, well I used to like rollercoasters until I threw up on three people in front of me.”
“Don’t be like that, darling,” he pouted. God. To think I used to think that was sexy. “Are you still sleeping with Carla?”
The question caught him off guard, and for a split second, I saw the truth written across his face before he schooled his expression.
“Of course not,” he said, but the lie sat awkwardly in the space between us.
I laughed again, a sound with no humor in it. “You're crazy, Lance. You're crazy if you think I would ever want your lying ass back. You're crazy if you ever thought I would act as a smokescreen for you and Carla to commit adultery. Hasn’t her husband figured it out yet?”
“That idiot? He’s still oblivious. He’s just happy to have some young piece who puts out for him once a quarter.”
“Like I said, you’re just plain crazy, Lance. There’s not a chance in hell I’m leaving Jasper Creek.”
His friendly facade cracked completely. “You know this is what Horace wants, Ruby. You know that now that I've found you, he's going to come and pressure you to come home. Take the easy way and come with me.”
“Let him take his best shot.” I lifted my chin, surprised by how steady my voice sounded. “He doesn't have any leverage over me.”
“Doesn't he?” Lance's smile turned cold.
“What are your little friends in this podunk town going to think when they find out you've been lying to them? When they find out your real name is Ruby Banks? When they find out you're engaged to a state senator? How’s your blue-collar boyfriend going to take that news?”
The bottom dropped out of my stomach. “How do you know about Ford?”
Lance reached out and patted my cheek with the kind of condescending gesture that made my skin crawl. “Ruby, sweetheart, you think this is some kind of game? You think you can just disappear and start a new life without consequences?”
I jerked away from his touch. “Don't touch me.”
“Think about it, Ruby.” His voice carried a warning that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. “Come home with me, and there are no hard feelings. Everyone gets what they want. If you make me force you? Well… You won't like the consequences.”
He moved toward the door, then paused with his hand on the handle. “I'll be in town for a few days, staying at that little bed and breakfast a few blocks off the town square. When you're ready to be reasonable, you know where to find me.”
The door closed behind him with a soft click, leaving me alone in the tiny office with my heart hammering against my ribs and my hands shaking like a rattle.
For about thirty seconds, I considered collapsing into my desk chair and dissolving into a puddle of tears. The kind of breakdown that would match the magnitude of having my carefully constructed new life threatened by the evil ghost of my past. The rat-fink bastard.
But then I thought about Ford. About the way he'd held me the other night, gentle and sure and real. About how he'd told me he believed in fighting for things worth having. About how he'd been in my corner from the very beginning, even when I'd been too scared to let him all the way in.
I thought about Little Grandma and my great-grandmother Miss Gladiola, who'd opened their door to a stranger and asked no questions.
About Carrie, Maddie, Fiona, Fallon, Zoe and Chloe.
Hell, there was even Bernie, Jordan and Florence and all the people in this town who'd made me feel like I belonged somewhere.
Dammit, I was not going to let some festering asshole take everything away from me. I was going to trust the man who'd just made the sweetest love to me. The man who'd seemed to be in my corner from the very start.
I pulled open the bottom desk drawer and grabbed my purse, fishing around until I found my cell phone. My fingers only shook a little as I scrolled through my contacts to find Ford's number.
He answered on the second ring. “Hey, beautiful. Miss me?”
The warmth in his voice nearly undid me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, drawing strength from the knowledge that whatever happened next, I wouldn't have to face it alone.
“Ford,” I said, my voice smaller than I wanted it to be. “I'm in trouble, and I need your help.”