Page 85 of Rules

"Untraceable," I muttered.

The bell over the shop door jingled. Law's voice carried from the front: "Where's the Sheriff?"

"Did you find anything?" Law asked, barging into Ruth's office. "Hey, Ruth."

"Online order, gift card payment. Could have been placed from anywhere," I snapped. "Why are you here?"

"I wanted to check and see what Ruth knew." Law smiled at Ruth and I swore I had to fight not to shoot him.

Ruth looked between us. "Good Lord, you can cut the masculinity in this room with a knife. Are they always like this?" She looked at Ferris who laughed.

"Yep," he rolled his eyes.

"Alright, does someone want to tell me what's going on? Why would Michael Thorne send roses to both of you?"

"He's sending a message," Law said grimly. "Letting us know he's here, watching. Waiting,"

"And using your shop to do it," I added, unable to keep the edge from my voice.

Ruth's eyes flashed. "Don't blame me for this. I had no idea."

"No one's blaming you," Law assured her, shooting me a pointed look. "We're just concerned about anyone who might have contact with Michael."

"Well, I didn't. Like I've been saying the order came over the wire. And since I'm the only shop in town that's on the wire service, I'm the one who got it."

"Okay," Law motioned Ferris toward the door. "Ruth the roses are stunning. I'd hate to leave here with you thinking I can't appreciate beautiful things." He gave a small smile then he and Ferris stepped out through the door.

I walked over and closed it again.

"There's more?" Ruth asked. "Tobias, I've told you all I know."

Turning to face her I asked, "Are you dating Law?" The words flew from my mouth before I had a chance to think about what I was saying.

"WHAT?" Ruth's reaction was instantaneous. "What makes you think I would be dating him?"

Hands on hips, legs apart, eyebrows furrowed, damn, she's so cute.

"Honestly Tobias, is that what you think of me?"

Ruth's question snapped me from my observation of her cuteness back to our conversation where it sounds like I've said something wrong. Shit.

"No, not at all." My brain races through the previous conversation trying to find what I might have said to make her so upset. Assuming it was the dating Law comment I went with, "I just wanted to ask."

"You know, for a smart guy you're kind of dumb." Ruth thrust a hip to the side and I had to fight to focus on what she was saying.

"I suppose sometimes I am."

"Yeah, you are, because if I was going to date anyone it would have been you, ya dumb ass. But you don't want me. Which I think is a total lie but, I can only go with what you said that I was…"

Not wanting to hear those wretched words again I closed the distance between us and did the only thing I could think of to stop her from talking. I kissed her. Wrapping her in my arms as she did the same. Ruth and I kissed a deep passionate kiss until Ruth pulled back.

"No, not again." Her hands pushed against my chest, releasing her, she stumbled back a few feet. "I can't, I just can't."

"What's wrong?"

"I can't be your once and a while play thing. I'm not that person, Tobias."

"I don't understand." Confused, I stepped forward only to have her take another step back. Seeing her retreat from me broke myheart. Her not wanting to be next to me was something I never wanted.

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