He inwardly cringed, hoping Ruby hadn't divulged that gem. If she didn't want to stress her sister, telling her his initial plan would've been the way to go.
He parked under a carport and cut the engine. Ruby's eyes instantly opened and she blinked several times before focusing on the house.
Her delighted smile slugged him like a right hook. He'd wanted her to like it. He hadn't wanted her to look at him as if he'd delivered the royal jewels on a platter.
"How did you find this place?"
“It had a lot of five star reviews online.”
"It's gorgeous." Her hand snaked across the console and rested on his, making his heart squirm with unexpected pleasure. "Thanks."
"No worries."
He slid his hand out from under hers on the pretext of opening the door when in reality, he needed to bolt. Feeling this unsettled didn't sit well with him.
He dated women. He didn'tfeelanything for them.
Heartless, maybe, but why get emotionally involved when he knew from the outset it wouldn’t go anywhere?
Exactly like his marriage, so why the constant edginess that had him wanting to cosset Ruby, touch her, and spend time with her?
Man, he needed to get laid sooner rather than later. Getting their relationship back on a level he understood—physical—would eradicate his funk. A solid plan to execute that he could stick to.
He popped open the trunk, grabbed their bags, and allowed her to precede him up the path to the glaringly blue front door.
"Let me." She took the key from his hand and unlocked the door.
When she didn't move for a good ten seconds, he lowered the bags. "What are you waiting for?"
She rolled her eyes. "For you to carry me over the threshold, dummy."
"You can't be serious."
"Perfectly." She pointed inside. "I'm not setting foot in your little love nest until you carry me inside."
Love nest?
His pretend wife had a warped sense of humour.
She’d made an abrupt about-face, flipping from silent to sassy. Probably covering for the awkwardness of her confrontation with her sister but boy, she’d switched quick.
"What if I have a bad back?"
Her eyes narrowed as he braced his hands in the small of his back. "Do you?"
He couldn't keep a straight face. "No, but I might after carrying you."
"That does it."
She placed her palms flat against his chest and shoved, hard enough to make him stumble.
He captured her hands, using them as leverage to tug her flush against him. "I love it when you're feisty."
"Don't try to sweet-talk me, Back Boy."
He snorted. "Back Boy?"
"If the brace fits."
