“Oh. I must have fallen asleep.”
“I’ll say. You hungry? I have steaks and frozen key lime pie.”
“Wow.” She sat up. “Can I do anything?”
“Toss together a salad?”
“Sure.”
He watched as Ruby realized the tablet pc sat open on the table. Jumping to her feet, she snatched the computer, and headed into the house. He gave no indication he’d noticed the lists. He would save that knowledge and use it later. In his line of work, intelligence was only half the job. The other half was knowing how and when to use it.
Over her shoulder, she told him, “It won’t take more than a couple of minutes.”
The intense heat of the day had given way to a cool evening. The breeze wafted with salt water and floral smells. He served the steaks he grilled to perfection with a little Cajun spice by candlelight on the patio. Michael observed Ruby pushing pieces of food around on her plate. She ate very little of her meal.
“How was your golf game?”
She must have eyed him watching her and wanted to make sure he didn’t pester her on the subject of her loss of appetite. “Terrific. I shot an eighty-four. Pretty soon I’ll be able to take on Pops.” Leaning back in his chair, arms crossed behind his head, he continued. “But it wore me out. What did you do?”
“Do? Me? I just puttered around the house, read a little of a book, and as you saw had a wonderful nap.”
“Feel up for a swim? You’re already in your suit. I can change in a flash.”
“I don’t know Michael. I’m feeling kind of lazy.”
He saw exhaustion in her eyes. “Okay, then we’ll turn on the jets of the Jacuzzi, finish the wine, and have frozen key lime pie for dessert while our muscles float in the bubbles.”
As promised, Michael changed in flash. Retrieving the pie slices from the freezer, he carried them over to the side of the Jacuzzi. Switching the jets on, he went over to Ruby, stretched his hand out to her, and guided her to her feet.
While lifting the cover-up she wore over her head, his hands skimmed against the outer edge of her breasts. At her sharp intake of breath, he went very still. Ruby, so soft and warm—that light brush stirred him. Attempting nonchalance, Michael picked up the glasses of wine in one hand, placed his other hand at the small of Ruby’s back and propelled her to the Jacuzzi.
They sat in silence, the pulsating bubbles working their magic. Michael ate his pie and most of Ruby’s. Their weightless legs continuously bumped and electrifying currents flowed through him. At each buoyant contact she withdrew her legs. Finally, Michael broke the quiet tension. He grabbed her leg and pulled her under.
When she came up she splashed him in the face.
“So you want to play do you?” He grabbed her at the waist and tickled her. She couldn’t stand the tickling so of course he got a charge out of it.
In between laughs, she yelled, “Michael, stop it!”
She tried to fight off his tickling hands, but he grabbed both her wrists and pinned them behind her back.
“Michael, stop it.”
He stared at her hazel eyes, a twinge of gold sparkled in them when she was angry.
Not able to resist, he brushed his lips to hers. He felt her intake of breath as her breasts pressed against his chest. He groaned.
“Stop what?”
“Stop tickling and don’t…”
He saw it on her face, the anticipation and acceptance. Her arms restrained, he pulled her even closer, kissed her again, deeper. Soft and pliant, Ruby melted in his embrace as he crushed her lips with his. She tasted of wine, sweet and dry.
“Open your mouth,” he demanded. Using his tongue, he caressed and coaxed, accepted her parted lips as an invitation, one he wasn’t going to decline. As his tongue glided into her mouth, soft sounds escaped her throat.
Her arms released from his grip, she wrapped them around his neck. Threading fingers into her silky golden blonde hair, Michael held her firmly, not wanting the kiss to end.
Needing to get closer, he moved his hands to her waist, pulled her hips to his.
Pressed against her midriff, Michael’s arousal was obvious. Startled from her dreamy state, she broke the kiss, and pushed him away. He always could melt her with the touch of his lips.
“We can’t do this.” But she wanted to.
“It seems we were doing just fine.”
Michael reached for her and missed. In a lightning fast motion, she pushed herself out of the Jacuzzi. “We can’t do this. We…we’re friends...and...goodnight.”
As Ruby turned to go, Michael imprisoned her in his arms. Lowering her head, she refused to look at him. “Don’t, Michael.”
“Don’t be pissed.”
“I...I’m...engaged,” she lied, biting her lower lip. All she needed was to make another mistake.
He leaned in, his lips just a breath from hers. “Yes. But I don’t like him and you want me. Kiss me again.”
Startled, her lips parted at his bold statement then shut immediately. She whirled and stalked away. Damn! She didn’t need this.
It must have been the wine and the water. Water was sensual, sexual and wine always went straight to her head. That had to be it.
They were just friends. Who happened to be in the same place at the same time. Again. She didn’t have to let it be anything more. But she liked the way he kissed her, always had. Throwing herself on the bed, her hands covered her face. She remembered another time when she let her feelings for Michael control her better judgment.
Michael stationed overseas, invited her for a visit. Who was she to pass up on an opportunity to see the man of her dreams and London? She took him up on his offer. The day she arrived, he swooped her and her luggage up from Heathrow airport and carted her off for a day of non-stop activity.
They started with a quick trip to the local pub where he introduced her to several of his buddies and her first Ale. She really liked the Ale.
After the pub, she spent the afternoon watching him play soccer with the club he belonged to in London. There was almost nothing better than watching hunky men with great legs running up and down a field, chasing a black and white ball, especially when one of those men was Michael. The first time she’d seen him play, she fell head over heels for him. He guarded the goal like something precious.
When the team celebrated the day’s soccer events, of course it was at another pub. There, she had her second, third, and fourth ale, maybe even a fifth. She couldn’t really remember.
She also had her first and last English meat sandwich. When they were back at Michael’s place and she was very comfy in his bed and his arms, she told Michael how much she enjoyed his friends, the pub, and the pub food. That’s when he confessed the sandwich she’d eaten was sausage.
He knew her aversion to the meat, but deceived her into eating it, claiming it was spicy beef. His smirk of satisfaction washed away when he realized his mistake...too late. Tangled in the sheets, Ruby couldn’t get out of bed fast enough. He got the disgusting sausage sandwich back, in his lap. Served him right. Also killed the mood.
Eyes squeezed shut, Ruby pushed Michael, and her reaction to him out of her mind. Swiping the back of her hand across her lips, she wanted desperately to remove the taste of him.
Her life was already complicated. She needed to get it back in order and there were priorities. First and foremost was to decide what she wanted to do professionally, and then do it. Her absolute last priority was a man, especially Michael.
* * * *
“Damn!” Raking his fingers through his hair, Michael threw himself down on a lounge chair and stared at the starry sky.
After all those years a certain attraction remained between him and Ruby. She stirred his emotions and his loins. But that didn’t mean they acted upon it, not all the time anyway. She was engaged.
He couldn’t sit still. He had too much pent up energy. Michael went back to his room and paced it. When he finally cooled down, he stretched out acros
s the bed on top of the covers. He would get to the bottom of her lists, her absent fiancé, and her response to him.
“Why was she here? Where the hell was her fiancé?”
SIX
Michael rose early and jumped in the shower. For the past three days he let Ruby avoid him with as little contact as possible. Their communication consisted of polite good mornings and thank you as they went separate ways. Ruby would be forced to deal with him if he hadn’t gotten the rental car.
After another restless, dream-disturbed night remembering their kiss, the way she heated under the touch of his lips, tasting warm and moist—his desire, his craving for her became irrepressible. No question about it, Ruby had him on edge. Feeling like the tuned strings of a violin, Michael was tired of the tension between them. He would get it straightened out. Today.
Having just finished his second cup of coffee, Michael was all set to make breakfast when Ruby entered the kitchen, tugging her nightshirt as far down as it would go. He knew the reason for the modesty. Did she honestly think the clothing provided her protection? Damn it, she didn’t need to protect herself from him.
Handing her a cup of coffee, he greeted Ruby. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.” Taking the mug offered with slender fingers, she managed not to touch him and sat at the table. Michael enjoyed the easy manner they had with one another and avoiding physical contact between them ruffled his feathers. If she weren’t careful, he would swoop in.
“No problem. I was just getting ready to start breakfast. Would you make the toast?”
“Sure.”
She sprung to her feet and Michael recognized the sign. Ruby was skittish.
Grabbing the ingredients for breakfast from the refrigerator, he put the sausage in the pan, and started scrambling eggs. Whipped in a fury, the eggs didn’t have a chance. Turning to watch the sausage, he pressed down on it causing the squealing noise Ruby hated.
“Michael! That’s disgusting. How can you eat that?”
He turned toward her, presented her with a sly grin. A cold sausage link in his hand, he started to squeal, and chased her around the kitchen.
Running short of breath, she tried to keep her distance.
“Cut it out! Don’t come near me with that thing.” To accent her words, she jabbed her fists on her hips. “Grow up!”
Not being one to resist a challenge, he sidled right up to her, seized her around the waist, and made squealing noises against her neck. Ruby squeaked, tried to push away, but his grip was too tight.
Her V-neck nightshirt slipped down her shoulder, exposing the swell of her left breast. Silky bronze tanned skin looked as if it tasted like caramel. He wanted to taste her, wanted to find out if it was true.
Beneath his palm, the pulse in her neck leaped and her skin quivered. He bent his head and traced her collar bone with a very light touch from the tip of his tongue, sampling her.
Working little kisses up her neck, when his lips touched hers, his tongue plunged and she responded with wild abandon. Hands glided up her ribs to the exposed breast. Gently, he rubbed his palm across it until it peaked. Ruby stiffened and pushed at him.
Knowing when to cut his losses, Michael took a step back. His breathing labored, his sexual appetite barely restrained, he spoke calmly. “I’m sorry, but it was there and looked like it needed some lovin’ and you definitely wanted to be kissed. Straighten your pajamas.”
She adjusted her ‘Purple Moose’ shirt, smoothing it down to cover her hips. Just then the toast popped up. She rushed toward the toaster muttering to herself. “Thank goodness.”
She tried for impatience, but it didn’t work. Her body quivered in response to his touch and she couldn’t deny it.
With a smug smile of satisfaction, Michael sat across from her and watched her eat or not eat as the case may be. Ruby ignored most of her breakfast settling for a couple of bites of eggs and half a piece of toast. He noticed this with irritation.
“Why aren’t you eating?”
“I’m eating. I’m just not very hungry. The sausage made me lose my appetite,” she told him with a sassy grin.
“It doesn’t appear to me you’re eating. You just seem to move the food around.”
“I told you I don’t need a keeper,” she barked at him, tossing her napkin on the table in a motion to leave.
His fingers easily encircled her wrist. Too easily. “I’m beginning to think you do. If you don’t eat you’re going to lose even more weight. And aren’t you getting enough sleep or are those dark circles around those beautiful eyes the effect of your weight loss?”
Flabbergasted, Ruby couldn’t believe Michael noticed her weight loss and her eyes.
As if reading her mind, “Yes, I know you’ve lost weight. I can tell by the bony hipbones and those sunken dark-circled raccoon eyes. You’re not taking care of yourself and I want to know why.”
Well, she would not let Mr. Special Operative interrogate her. “Don’t you have a golf game to get to?”
Michael checked his watch. “As a matter of fact, I do.”
“Good. I’ll clean up. You can be on your merry way.”
He stood to leave. “Thanks.”
Keys in hand, Michael paused at the door when Ruby yelled from the kitchen, “Have a good time!”
“This conversation is not over. You have a reprieve, that’s all.” His retort was sharp and direct as the door shut behind him.
Furious with his high-handed attitude, Ruby threw the dishrag in the sink, stomped to the front door and was going to give him a piece of her mind. Her hand stilled on the doorknob, before opening it. If she did that, it would be a huge mistake. She turned and bustled back to clean the kitchen.
Despite her efforts, Ruby’s mind wandered. Fingers to her lips, she remembered Michael’s kiss, and the weak-kneed, brain spinning sensations it produced. Even now, she could feel the intense heat of his lips. It astonished her.
The sharp sound of the phone ringing interrupted her memories. Shaking her head, she scolded herself silently.
“Hello,” she answered, almost panting.
“What the hell do you think you are doing?”
“Thomas?” she said, the distress in her tone obvious.
“Who else would be calling you?”
“No one. I didn’t expect you to call. How did you know where to find me?” If he found her, was he responsible for the beheaded flowers? Nausea curled in her stomach. Her knees sagged. Leaning over the countertop, she propped herself up. Eyes closed, she rubbed at her temples, willed the conversation and her thoughts to end.
“I know everything. I told you we were not through. I gave you more than a week, now it’s time to come home and finish our plans.”
“You can’t be serious! It’s over. It was over a week ago. It’s over for the rest of our lives.”
“No!” He yelled so loud, she thought he could wake the dead. “Our relationship is done when I say. When you finish your tantrum I expect you home. Remember, Ruby, you’re mine.”
Then there was the noise of the dial tone. In shock, a tremble rippled through the entire length of her body.
This was the man she’d been about to marry. Now, she was scared to death of him. He had always been a little possessive, hated sharing her with her male friends, but she chalked it up to jealousy and sort of thought it charming. Saying she belonged to him, like she was a possession, went way beyond the green-eyed monster. Had he always been obsessive? Were there clues or hints she missed?
It didn’t matter, she told herself. Thomas was out of her life for good.
* * * *
When he returned, Michael found Ruby lounging on the lanai staring off into space. It devastated him to see this independent, high-spirited woman sitting around not taking charge of the moment. Any moment. On a normal basis, he considered her a control freak.
If she wasn’t going to take control, he would. Pulling up a chair along side her and sitting, he leaned his elbows on his knees an
d clasped his fingers in front of him. “Ready to finish our morning conversation?”
“Are you crazy? Can’t you leave well enough alone?”
Inclining his head, he narrowed his gaze. “Nope.” He was ready to probe and she was darn well going to start answering questions.
“Just let it go.”
In a defensive, mulish gesture, she folded her arms under her breasts. At the thought of having her full, warm breasts in his hands, a slow warm grin slid across his face. When he took his respite, he never expected the stubborn woman who greeted him naked a couple of days ago. But luck had conspired in his favor and now he wasn’t going to let her close him out. He wouldn’t have it.
Getting to his feet, Michael moved to sit next to Ruby. He leaned in so they were head to head. In a slow, rough voice, he told her, “You will tell me what is going on.”
“Go to hell,” she bit out.
When she stood to go storming back into the house, he snaked an arm around her waist, brought her up short. Pulling her back down to the chaise butt first, he placed his arms on opposite sides of her pinning her in.
“If you need a little encouragement to talk I can always take you over my knee.” Her head jerked up and it took every ounce of his control not to burst out laughing. “Glad you understand. Unless you really want to try my patience, I’d start talking. Let’s begin with the lists, the ones I saw on your laptop.”
***
Shocked and embarrassed, Ruby saw the demanding gleam of Michael’s eyes in his astute stare. “You saw them? You read them? How could you?”
“The computer sat on the table in plain view,” he told her, waving his arm in the direction of the white fiberglass table. “And the lists were on the screen.”
“But they weren’t any of your business.”
“We’ve been through this. Maybe they weren’t, but you are.” She stared at him, not seeing him, wondering if all men were possessive.
“What’s going on with you? You’re acting like a sulky child.”
She didn’t respond, just stuck her lip out proving his point. Okay, so she wasn’t acting mature, but who gave a damn. She deserved to pout. After all, she was unemployed, and she caught her fiancé cheating on her. But Michael didn’t know that.
It Happens in Threes Page 4