Page 55 of Ruthless Mr. Ricco

“Did I hurt you?”

She rolls her eyes and sighs.

“I already told you; no, I’m fine.”

“Are you worried about this weekend?”I press.

She stiffens before resting her fingers on my forearm and meeting my stare.

“I need a raincheck this weekend,” she says.

“Why?”I demand.

“I have an appointment tomorrow.You already approved my time off,” she says.

I quirk a brow.

“What does that have to do with the rest of the weekend?”

She pushes my hand away and stands.I grab her hips and spin her around to face me.

“You can’t escape me, little rabbit,” I growl.

Misery-tinged fury swirls in her rich brown eyes.

“I’m not escaping or pulling away or whatever hairbrained idea your insecure alpha male brain is feeding you.I just need one weekend to myselffor medical reasons, so stop being an overbearing ass and give me some space to breathe.”

The emotions behind her outburst are too complicated for me to dissect, so I pull her closer and pin her hips between my knees before grabbing her wrists and wrapping her arms around my shoulders.My mouth waters as her cleavage hovers a few inches away from my face, but I meet her eyes and ignore the lust pulsing through me.

“Are you on your period?”I ask.

She hesitates but shakes her head.

“No, I’m not, but you’re an ass for trying to blame my frustrations on my hormones.Justlistento me,” she demands.

I trail a hand down to her hip and play with her collar as I breathe in her scent.

“I am listening.You haven’t given any answers,” I say.

She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before pinning me in place with her intense rich brown orbs.

“I am going for my yearly medical work up tomorrow, which includes a blood draw and half a dozen other tests.After watching my mother go in and out of the hospital for years as she fought cancer, I always feel drained afterward—and no, I donotwant company.I need time alone to process.”

Despite her steady tone and reserved expression, I sense the turmoil in her soul, so I shove down my disappointment over a lonely weekend and rub my thumb along her jawline.

“Is that why you’ve been off in the mornings?”I ask.

She blinks.

“You noticed?”she asks.

I nod.

After a moment of consideration, she shrugs.

“I keep feeling like someone is watching me on my commute, but I have no proof.”

I stiffen.