Page 31 of Lessons in Heartbreak

“I think most people would agree with you,” I said easily. “What else? No need to bite your tongue on my account.”

Her chin notched up a stubborn inch. “Someone who doesn’t take life very seriously.”

“Ding, ding.” I tapped my nose. “You always were a smart cookie, weren’t you?”

“If I recall, you preferred the termnerdy birdy.”

Shame crawled up my chest despite my best effort to quash it, and I pushed my tongue against the side of my cheek. “Well, that’s not a very nice thing to call the neighbor girl,” I managed.

Her answering smile was wry. “Don’t worry, I was hardly crying myself to sleep. I pretty much just ignored you.”

“From your daily perch, watching me and my brother? How’d that go?”

“Oh, I wasn’t watching you, Griffin,” she said. She tilted her head as her eyes met mine, and what I saw there had my head rearing back in surprise. “I was mainly watching him.”

With a frown, I rubbed at the back of my neck. “Of course you were.”

Ruby shook her head and wandered into the kitchen, her fingers trailing along the edge of the first of two islands anchoring the room. When she reached the charred remains of the pork, her nose wrinkled, and I found that I liked how clearly I could read her facial expressions.

“I’m a little shocked,” she said, eyes still on the burned dinner.

“I have that effect on people. You’ll get used to my overwhelming presence eventually.”

Her eyes closed, and after a tiny shake of her head, she opened them again. “I’m shocked that you haven’t asked about my drinks.”

I blinked. “Because I promised you I wouldn’t.”

“So you’re not curious?”

I set my hands on my hips. “Is this a trick? When I told you I wouldn’t ask, I meant it.”

Ruby sighed, clearly flustered, and she smoothed her hands down the front of her blouse, which buttoned all the way up to her neck. She had a habit of fidgeting with her shirt when she was nervous.

“No, I’m not playing games. I promise.” Her cheekbones were tinged a soft pink, and she couldn’t make eye contact for a moment. “I’m ... I’m nervous.”

“Why? It’s just me. You’ve never worried about impressing me before.”

“Quite true.” She blew out a slow breath, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ears. “When I was getting ready tonight, my friend told me to pick the outfit where I felt the sexiest. The most confident.” She gestured at her outfit. “And this was the best I could come up with. It sounds pathetic to say this out loud, but I couldn’t imagine one moment in my life where I ever felt anything close to those things. You told me today that I looked lovely in it.”

“You do,” I said cautiously. “If someone asked for a librarian fetish, this would be it.”

Her eyes pinched shut briefly. “It would not.”

I pursed my lips, glancing down at her shoes. “You’re right. You’d need some fishnet stockings and higher heels—but it’s not without appeal, trust me.”

Her chest rose and fell on a deep breath. “I don’t want to look like someone’s fetish come to life, Griffin.”

“I feel like I’m doomed to piss you off in the course of this conversation,” I said carefully.

“Just say it. Whatever it is.”

“Whatdoyou want, then?” I asked.

Her eyes snapped to mine, determination blazing hot behind the cool gray. “I wantyouto be the one to teach me how to do this.”

With my heart hammering behind my ribs, I tilted my head and took a step closer. “Teach you what, exactly?”

“Teach me how to make a man want me.”

---