Page 39 of Wild Card
“Ruby…Sweet, little Ruby.” He laughs my name and twists one of my curls around his thick, chubby finger. “The last person in this world you want to make an enemy out of is me. Your secrets are far too sordid, and this face would be wasted if it were buried in the Royal Bastards’ graveyard.” He pours himself a scotch and heads out of the kitchen, and it takes every calm thought I can collect not to throw the empty bowl I’m still holding at the back of his head.
“I hate dropping you off here, knowing he’s in there,” Brett admits when he pulls up outside the bar. “You should have told me he was living here with you.” I can sense him getting mad again, and I quickly try to calm him.
“He’s hardly ever here, spends most of his time at the club.” I try to sound convincing, and when he leans over the console to kiss me, I fist up my hands and dig my nails into my palms as he puts his mouth over mine. I hold my breath as he forces his tongue into my mouth, resting his slimy hands on my shoulder and trying so hard to turn what feels like an invasion into something passionate.
“Goodnight.” I gently push him away and smile, hoping what I’ve given is enough.
“You know, there's other things we could do while we're waiting for the wedding.” His hand rests on my thigh, and when it starts to creep up my skirt, I grab hold of his wrist.
“It’s not long to wait. Just a few weeks.” Just saying the words fills me with dread. Despite the house not being ready, Brett was delighted to hear that the country club had a cancellation for three weeks today, and now I’m in desperate need of a miracle.
“You better be worth that wait, Ruby Saunders,” he growls, placing both his hands back on the steering wheel and gripping it tight, waiting for me to get out.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he calls out before I can slam the door.
“Tomorrow? What’s happening tomorrow?”
“We’re having our engagement party at the bar.” He smiles as if catching me off guard gets him off.
“I thought…but you’re not recovered.”
“It’s gonna take a lot more than a few bruises on my face to stop me from letting this town know you're mine. Esmé will pick you up in the morning and take you into the city. You’ll need something appropriate to wear, you're representing the family now, Ruby, you have to look your best.”
“Sure.” I fake him another smile before quickly making my escape and starting to make my way inside. It’s only ten pm, and the bar still sounds busy. I remind myself that crying is pointless, it’s not gonna change anything, and there's a bar full of people on the other side of the door that I’m gonna have to put on a brave face for.
“Ruby, darlin’!” Denise Pickering is the first one of those people to greet me, almost knocking me off my feet when she wraps her arm around my neck and leans all the weight of herbody on mine. “I heard the mayor's son is making an honest woman outta you,” she slurs.
“Let's hope she can make an honest man outta him,” her husband pipes up, and she throws him a look that tells him not to be rude.
“Ignore Hank, he’s never been the romantic kind, and it seems old age makes a man forget that a woman likes a little of it from time to time.”
“I’ll give you a little whenever you want it, honey.” He grabs her ass and pulls her onto his lap, and I take that as my cue to move on. I can see Earl sitting on the end of the bar, head bobbing as he falls asleep, and when I look behind it and see that Ash is here working, I smile that dreamy smile that he always seems to get out of me.
“Busy night?” I ask, taking one of the barstools. My intention was to go straight to bed, but now I know he’s here, I’ve suddenly changed my mind.
“I only took over half an hour ago,” he informs me, lifting his shoulders like it’s no big deal.
I’ve seen a change in him since he’s been in town, and it’s happened fast. So fast, I'm starting to think that he’s liking it here.
“What can I get ya?” He leans over the bar and wets his bottom lip with his tongue, reminding me of how it felt between my legs.
“Surprise me.” I manage to keep a hold of myself, but the knowing smile he gives back has me suspecting that he knows the effect he’s having. It has me wanting to reach over the bar and kiss the sin from his lips.
“Tequila?” I look at him, puzzled when he places a shot glass in front of me and fills it to the top.
“I figured it was a tequila kinda night.” He pours one for himself and tips it back.
“You're not supposed to drink on the job,” I remind him.
“I ain’t on the payroll, and I don’t think Earl is gonna care.” He glances to his left toward Earl, who's now head down on the bar, flat out asleep.
“So how was your night with the Porters?” he asks, popping the top off a bottle and placing it in front of Rex Kilby.
Maybe now would be a good time to tell him that I’m getting married in three weeks; we both agreed that what happened between us was a one-time thing. I don’t have any reason to keep it from him, especially since he’ll be finding out for himself soon enough. But I like the way he’s being right now. I don’t wanna ruin it.
“Average. Esmé’s pissed at me, but she’ll come around,” I admit, deciding to keep my bleak future to myself for just one more night.
“You can hardly blame her; she cares about you,” he adds a twist of lime to Denise’s rum and coke, and she looks impressed when he hands it to her.
