Page 101 of Ruby Malice

“We shouldn’t be here.” She’s still talking to the kids, but I know these words are for my benefit more than theirs. “I thought it would be okay, but the beach isn’t big enough.” She glances up at me and adds in a muttered aside, “The world isn’t big enough, actually.”

“That’s a bit rich, coming from the woman trespassing on my property.” I point to one of many signs driven deep in the sand.NO TRESPASSING,it says in bright, bold letters that even this frustrating littlekiskacan’t ignore.

Rayne turns away from me and flings her arms at the kids. “Go on, you two. Play. Go away.”

They scatter without question. In his haste, the boy trips over his own feet and falls flat in the sand. His sister starts dragging him by the arm.

Clearly, these two are related to Rayne.

As soon as they’re gone, she rounds on me. “I know it’s private property. That’s why I used my badge to get in the front gate. Or is there a rule about that, too?”

“Are you asking if I have a rule about my staff using my property like they own the place? Feels unnecessary.”

Rayne’s shoulders drop slightly, a bit of her self-righteousness slipping away. “I was just parking here.”

“Park on my land. Swim in my water. Throw a fucking party on my beach. It doesn’t matter what you were doing—it’s still all mine.”

I glance up to the window. I expected to find Ilya waiting for me when I got back from my run, but there’s no sign of him yet.

“You don’t have to be an asshole about it,” Rayne spits. “Actually, maybe you do. I’m not sure you know how to be decent.”

I snort. “Judging by how loud you came last night, I think I’m a little more than decent.”

Rayne’s mouth opens and closes. She’s fumbling for words that won’t come. Finally, she kicks her toe into the ground and flings sand at me. “Asshole!”

“You keep saying that, but you’re the one who showed up at my house on your day off.”

“I was bringing my niece and nephew to the beach!”

“Yeah, and California is really lacking in beaches. You had no choice but to come here.”

Her eyes narrow. “Alicia’s son is contagious. There was nowhere else to go.”

I have no idea what she’s talking about and it doesn’t matter. Red bikini or not, I need to get her and the screaming ankle-biters out of here.

I look past her to the house. The coast is still clear.

Rayne follows my gaze and looks back over her shoulder. “Are you expecting someone? Afraid your fiancée or one of your other hookups will catch us?”

“How many women do you think I have on call, exactly?” I ask. “Do you imagine a rotating schedule situation? Or more of an interchangeable harem?”

Her face screws up in disgust. I need to wrap this up. But tearing myself away feels impossible.

Ilya will be coming out of the house any second. The nurse is getting him a snack and then she’s going to send him out. I have no idea what he’ll do if he encounters Rayne and two irritatingly loud kids.

“You’re disgusting,” she spits.

Rayne steps closer, stretching onto her toes to face off with me. All I can think about is the view she’s giving me down the front of her swimsuit. Her body is toned and tight. The fact that I already know how she fits in my hands does not make it any less distracting.

“I don’t know what I ever saw in you,” she continues. “You’re rude and callous. You throw people away like they mean nothing and you treat them like objects. It’s revolting. I—I—I hate you!”

“There it is,” I smile. “That passion pendulum is swinging again. Lust last night. Hate today. It is a fun little game figuring out how you’re going to channel your feelings for me every day.”

“It’s hate. It will always be hate,” she says.

“You say that now, but…” I shrug. “What goes up must come again sooner or later.”

Her blue eyes widen in shock. She raises her hand back like she wants to slap me. I’ll never let her get that far, but I am fascinated to see if she’ll give it a try.

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