Page 31 of Ruin

Ruin finished the text, pocketed the phone, and looked up. “Not sure it’d be your kinda place.”

Did he not know that any place he would be was the right place?

“I’m sure it will be fine.”

He swung his gaze to Mimi, seeking help, but she just smiled. His eyes narrowed. “Yeah, all right, if you want to. Ryo, you can come also, but we ain’t taking the guards. I’ll have Mimi’s back, as will my brothers.”

“Thank you for the invite,” Ryo answered.

Ruin grunted.

“What time are we leaving?”

“I’m takin’ my ride, and at six.”

“I’ll be ready. Ryo—”

“Already cancelling, Wolf.”

“Excellent.” Moving over to the coffee maker, which happened to be by Ruin, I asked, “Would anyone like a coffee?”

“I will make it,” Ryo offered. When I glared, he turned his back, but I saw his shoulders shaking.

“I’m good, thanks,” Mimi said.

When I stopped at Ruin’s side, he seemed tenser than before. “Ruin?” I said softly.

“Sure,” he replied.

“Milk and one sugar?”

His attention snapped to me. “How’d you know?”

I had overheard the cooks mentioning his coffee preference. I shrugged. “A guess.” I reached around him to grab the sugar canister and took in a deep breath. He always smelled delicious. I bit my bottom lip and met his gaze. When he swallowed thickly, I smiled and finished making the coffees.

In the background, Mimi spoke to Ryo, but I was too focused on the man next to me. Ruin shifted, and I was sure he adjusted himself in his jeans, but when I looked, he was leaning back against the counter.

“For you,” I said, handing him his coffee.

His hand shook a little when he reached for it, until he clenched his teeth and glared down at the mug as if it offended him. “Thanks,” he mumbled.

Turning with my mug in hand, I asked, “Are you sure you won’t mind me coming?”

He choked and spat coffee out. Puzzled, I cocked my head to the side and thought over my words, then started laughing.

“You have a dirty mind, Ruin,” I commented.

His face was red as he pounded his chest.

“Are you all right?” Mimi asked.

Ruin nodded. For the first time, I wondered what his real name was. I doubted his parents had named him Ruin.

“Fine,” Ruin coughed out. He glared out the corner of his eye at me. “And I wasn’t thinkingthat.”

“Really? Then what were you thinking?” I teased.

“Nothing, I just took it down the wrong way.” I snorted. He groaned and quickly added, “The coffee.”

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