Page 56 of Royal Hottie
“You’re supposed to be on my side!” Ruby hollers.
“We’re on your side, sweetheart,” her mother says. “But we know how you feel about him. Don’t let pride keep you from the man you love.”
I leap to my feet. She loves me! That’s all I need to know. I follow the sounds down the short hallway to Ruby’s bedroom.
“Hello, I’m Ruby’s father, Edward.” Her father, a tall thin man with a receding blond hairline, offers his hand.
I give him a firm handshake. “Nice to meet you, Edward. If you could just give us a few moments of privacy, I’d really like to talk to Ruby.”
“Of course!” her mother exclaims, grabbing her husband by the arm and pulling him with her. “We’ll be in the kitchen.”
Ruby’s door opens a moment later. Her hair is up in a messy ponytail, her eyes bleary, her lips drawn into a flat line. She’s dressed more casually than I’ve seen her before in a pink T-shirt with denim shorts, barefoot. She’s beautiful, sexy, and seriously pissed off.
I hand her the roses. “I’m sorry.”
She takes them and steps back, letting me into her room and shutting the door behind me. The room is vintage teen Ruby and extremely girly—white frilly canopy bed, white dresser and nightstand with flower decals, pink walls, pink carpet. There’s a few posters of shirtless rock stars from a decade or so ago arranged on a diagonal on one wall. Even her lusty crushes are arranged in a design. Her parents have left her room here waiting for her if she should need it. I like that she comes from a good family.
She sits on her bed and stares at the roses in her hands.
I remain standing since she hasn’t invited me to join her. “Your parents are nice.”
She lifts her head. “They’re impressed with your royal bloodlines, as is the world. You’re a celebrity.” She doesn’t sound very impressed.
I clear my throat. “I’m sorry for hurting your feelings. I didn’t mean to sound so self-righteous. I know your work is important to you, which makes it important to me too. You’re great at it.”
“But you don’t think it’s as important as your work.”
“It’s not a fair comparison. I’m sure once basic needs are met, anyone would appreciate the beauty you bring to the world.” My voice catches as the truth of that hits me. “You had it right. Each of us should contribute in the way that’s most meaningful to us.”
She’s quiet, her gaze downcast. I’m losing her, and I can’t bear it.
I drop to my knees in front of her, so we’re eye to eye, and speak urgently, from the heart. “Ruby, I’ve had a lot of time to think about it, and I realized I went about this whole thing the wrong way. What I should’ve said before, what I should’ve started with is this—I love you.” I hold my breath, desperately hoping she’ll say it back. If we have love, everything else will work itself out.
She stares at me for a long tense moment.
I still, my heartbeat roaring in my ears, my chest tight.
And then her eyes fill. “Okay,” she says quietly.
I can breathe again. She blinks rapidly and tears spill down her cheeks. The sight fills me with hope, my own eyes stinging.
I sit next to her on the bed and wipe her tears with the pad of my thumb. “And I know you love me too.”
She laughs a little. “Oh, you do, huh?”
“Your mother was pretty loud when she told you not to let your pride keep you from the man you love. I assumed she meant me, unless you and Rafe…”
She shoves my arm and smiles through her tears. “Stop.”
“I’ve missed you.”
She sniffles. “I’ve missed you too.” She meets my eyes. “I do love you.”
The tension that’s built over the past several days leaves my body in a rush. I pull her into my arms and hug her. “I love hearing you say it.”
A moment later, she pulls away. “I was able to secure several clients from Anna’s friends when I got back. Actually, three of them are eager for their homes to be done before the New Year and are paying me double to make it happen. I have enough work for six months. I can get my own place with the advance deposits.”
“That’s great. I’m happy for you. I know that’s what you wanted.”
