Ruby hasan honest face. I like her already. “Sure. Come in.”
“Maverick just wanted to make sure you ate is all, and hewanted to check on you, but I offered to come over, since, well, Ialready told you why.”
“I appreciate that.” I nod. “Come on in.”
“Thanks.” She smiles. “I hear you’re a commoditiesbroker.”
“Yes, that’s right. What do you do?”
“Me and my best friend Kate run a head-hunting firm.” Shetells me where it is.
“Impressive. Are you making decent money?”
“Always.”
“Well, if you ever want to invest any of it, I can lead you inthe right direction.” She looks around.
“I don’t doubt it. This place is beautiful.”
“Thank you.” I compliment. “Where do you live?”
“I live at Halen Ranch. Me and Blake live in the guesthouse.”
“Oh, wow. Well, that place puts this place to shame. It hasnatural beauty. My sister describes this house as anairport.”
She justsmiles, pulling the food out of the bag. “You hungry?”
“I’m starved.” I say, and I love it how she just opens thecontainers and digs in, without preamble. “So, how far along wereyou when you lost your baby?”
“Same as you. Just six or seven weeks. Happened much the sameway. Just started bleeding. It’s more common than I thought. Thedoctor who looked after me in the hospital says that some womendon’t even know that they’re pregnant when they miscarry. They justthink they had a late, heavy period. Never knew that.” She noticesmy necklace. “That’s real pretty.”
“Thanks.” I say, fingering it. “Maverick gave it to me.” Inotice her engagement ring and wedding band. “These aregorgeous.”
“Thanks. Blake knew I wasn’t into gawdy jewellery when hepicked these out.”
“Amen.” I say. “So, where are you from?”
“Louisiana. I moved out here a while ago, to run away fromsome crazed lunatic…who coincidentally wised up and married a localgirl, and became my client again.” She chuckles.
Myinterest is piqued. I lay my chin on my hand, resting my elbow onthe table. “Do tell.”
Shewaves. “Oh, it’s a really long story, but the point is that I gotpregnant unexpectedly, and I lost it. And as much as it didn’t seemthat way at the time, it was a blessing in disguise. It was God’sway of leading me to better things.”
“So the baby wasn’t Blake’s?”
Sheshakes her head no. “No, it was Terence Daniels’, but that was aone-night stand, a moment of pure insanity that I instantlyregretted, and then it was done. That’s about the only differencehere. I know that you and Maverick are in arelationship.”
“I’m not so sure about that.” I say tentatively, not sure howmuch I should share, since, technically, this woman lives under thesame roof as Maverick.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, while Maverick and I weren’t a one-night stand, we’realso not in a relationship.”
“But he bought you a necklace, and I heard about the otherstuff he’s been doing for you.”
I decideto shut up while I’m ahead. “Yeah. You’re right.”
Shegives me a look but changes the subject. “How are youfeeling?”
