I shook my head.
“That life belongs to good men like you, Barrett. Not me.”
“Bullshit,” he said, quiet, but firm. “If you weren’t a good man, I wouldn’t trust you around my little girl.”
“Right.”
I glanced away, dragging my tongue over my lower lip, utterly wracked with guilt and sick to my stomach with it.
If Barrett knew the fantasies that swamped my mind featuring his daughter—naked, soaked, and begging for my cock—I can’t imagine he would be so gracious toward me after that.
Shortly after Ruby returned, our food arrived. The waiter placed my plate in front of me and I stared down at it.
“What…the fuck…is this?”
“The house special,” Ruby said. “That’s what you asked for.”
The food itself wasn’t the problem—juicy roasted turkey doused with gravy, creamy mashed potatoes, pan-seared carrots drizzled with a light garlic sauce.
The issue was that someone had sculpted it into the shape of a smiling Santa Claus.
Ruby reached across with her fork and stole a carrot, gesturing with it triumphantly.
“See? I knew I’d wear you down eventually and get you into the Christmas spirit.”
I heaved a sigh, but I couldn’t even be annoyed when Ruby looked so delighted over all this cheesy holiday shit.
If it made my girl happy…well…I guess it couldn’t be that bad.
Chapter five
Ruby
It seemed like half the town was stuffed into Fully Booked, shoulder to shoulder, browsing the aisles for book deals. Sierra and I peeked around one of the shelves, watching Dean and Dash who were talking in the magazine section.
“So, that’s him,” Sierra said. “That’s your Dean.”
I scoffed.
“He’s notmyDean.”
Even though I wished more than anything that could be different.
“I know you showed me pictures before,” Sierra continued. “But seeing him in person…”
She blew out a breath and trailed off.
“He’s smoking hot, right?” I said.
Sierra didn’t respond, her eyes locked on Dean. I pinched her arm to get her attention. She flinched and rubbed her arm.
“Ow! What was that for?”
“You’relooking,” I said with a mock growl.
“That’s what you told me to do,” Sierra protested.
“Well, you weren’t supposed to look that hard. Besides, you’re a happily married woman to a biker of your own. I’ve got dibs on this one.”
