That distracts her, and she proceeds to tell me about brush strokes, showing me how to flick the brush to make it look like a leaf or a cloud. She’s clearly a beginner, but I see Ruby watching her and smiling proudly. It’s just another reason on my growing list of why I’m falling for this woman.
As much as Eleanor spends her days worrying and fretting over what my daughter eats and wears, I’m trying to remember if I’ve ever seen her step back and simply observe Lillie doing things with as much pride as Ruby does.
It’s Friday before I get my wish to speak to Ruby alone.
Dinners have leveled out to mundane chatter—the weather, preschool activities, the prospect of a fall harvest. Eleanor doesn’t have as many barbs to throw since Ruby started preparing healthier lunches, although the details of breakfast have been a bit sketchy.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say my daughter is trying to be sneaky, which only piques my curiosity even more. Naturally, I run interference when Eleanor gets too pushy.
I floated the idea of my mother-in-law potentially finding her own place, to which she responded as I expected—shock, dismay, concern for Lillie, concern for her finances. I don’t really mind paying all of Eleanor’s expenses. I do mind her being in my house, hovering over Lillie, and meddling in my affairs.
All of this is on my mind as I stand outside Ruby’s bedroom door.What am I doing here?After the way she’s acted since Monday, I decided she must need space. That kiss was amazing. It’s been on my mind all week, distracting me from my work, making me think about all the possible ways we might be able to act on these feelings.
I’ve also been puzzling nonstop over what she said…You’ll ruin everything. What plans is she afraid I’ll ruin? Is she already thinking of leaving us after a month? It’s only been a week, and I can’t imagine this house without her in it.
My muscles are tense as I take a deep breath and tap softly. Her room is quiet… no immediate response, so I knock again.
On the other side of the door, I hear her hesitant voice. “Who is it?”
“It’s me… Remi. I’d like to talk to you if that’s okay?”
The door opens halfway, and I have to catch my breath. She’s wearing a silky green robe, and possibly nothing else. Her hair is down, hanging in long waves around her shoulders, and she’s fucking sexy as hell.
My stomach tightens, and all I can think of is touching her, sliding my hands all over her skin, cupping her breasts and rolling her tight nipples between my fingers.
“Is everything okay?” She’s speaking just above a whisper, and I’m reminded my daughter is down the hall.
“Yeah, I wanted to… I…”What do I want?
I want to pick up where we left off Monday night. I want to kiss her hard and back her into the room, lay her on the bed, and spread her thighs. I want to lose myself in her, tasting her, teasing her, then plunging deep, feeling her break around me as she comes apart, screaming my name.
“Sorry. I’ve just been thinking.”Obsessing about you all weekis more accurate. I clear my throat, passing a hand over my mouth. “Remember Monday, when we were talking, you said something about your dad—how he made you second-guess yourself?”
“Oh.” Her shoulders drop. She seems to relax, taking a step back, into her room. “Yes, my father excelled at that. We have something in common. My dad was the first person to shelve my artistic aspirations.”
Her wry tone makes me relax, and I step inside, closing the door and putting my back to it.
So we don’t wake Lillie, of course.
“You shouldn’t let that happen. You’re an amazing artist. I think you should do whatever you want. Trust your instincts.”
The hint of a smile is on her lips. “I trusted my instincts coming here. Then I proceeded to showcase all my poor decision-making skills.”
That makes me frown. “I haven’t seen you make a poor decision yet.”
“I’ve made a couple. I made one Monday night.” Her eyes meet mine, and her voice is quiet. “I should never have kissed you. I’m so sorry. It was so unprofessional.”
Now it’s my turn to smile. She says it like she’s confessing a major sin, not a simple kiss.
Okay, that kiss was not simple.
It was fucking hot as sin, and I want to do it again and again.
If she’s onboard with all the kissing, of course.
“I’m not holding it against you.” Pushing off the door, I close the space between us. “I was worried when you left that night. You said something about me ruining everything? What were you talking about?”
“It wasn’t fair of me to say that. Especially since it’s all been me being irresponsible and acting inappropriately. You haven’t done anything.”
