"I'll have to add hostess with the mostest to my geologist credentials."
Ruby bumped her with her hip. "You bet. Now off you go, and I'll take care of our recalcitrant guest."
Casting a last doubtful glance in Happy Face's direction, Opal headed out the back.
Ruby squared her shoulders. The necklace still made her neck itch, her feet ached from wearing stilettos rather than the ballet flats she preferred, and the satin sliding over her hips set off some strange static reaction that zapped her at inopportune moments. Like now, as she strode towards her glowering guest, intent on kicking some surly butt.
"What seems to be the problem here, Fritz?"
Their long-term security guard's stern expression softened as he turned towards her. They'd always had a bond since he slipped her gum drops, her favourite treat all through childhood, when her mum wasn't looking.
She loved coming here as a kid, had loved the glitter and the sparkle and the hush. No way would she lose it.
Fritz gestured towards Happy Face, who glared at her as if his impending eviction was her fault. "This gentleman won't leave."
Fritz's audibly icygentlemanindicated he thought the guy anything but.
Time to revoke her earlier invitation. She didn't have time to waste flirting with some guy she'd never see again. She had more important things to do, such as come up with another scheme to raise much-needed funds to keepSeabornafloat.
Ready to give the stranger his marching orders, she made the mistake of locking gazes with him again. Challenge sparked sable flecks, taunting her to see if she'd carry through with her earlier challenge.
Damn him. How could he know she'd never backed down from a challenge?
Youngest to brave the Mad Mouse roller coaster at Luna Park, youngest to surf Bells Beach in her family, youngest creatorSeabornhad ever had.
She rose to any challenge and she wouldn’t let this mysterious man get one up on her.
"It's fine, Fritz, I invited him to stay for a coffee."
Fritz's bushy brows joined in the middle but he didn't dare question her judgement. He'd never do that, his loyalty toSeabornunwavering.
"Do you want me to lock up?"
She nodded. "Please. I'll take our guest upstairs so close up the showroom and head home."
If Fritz thought it unusual she intended on inviting a stranger to her apartment, he didn't show it, his expression carefully blank. “Good night, Miss Ruby."
"Thanks, Fritz."
She waited until Fritz had walked far enough away not to overhear before she swivelled back.
Her plan to renege on her offer of a coffee fizzled when the guy's lips curved into a devastating smile that snatched her breath. She'd suffered the same oxygen deprivation when she glimpsed a pink diamond for the first time, and she surreptitiously rubbed under her ribs, willing air to fill her lungs so she wouldn't feel so wonky.
"Coffee sounds good."
How could one smile make her feel so uncertain, so hesitant, so thrilled? She hated feeling this off balance, the reason she liked her men arty and laid-back, not glowering and dangerous.
"Actually, it's been a long night—"
"Running scared?" He ducked his head to murmur in the vicinity of her ear and she could've sworn she swayed.
If his warm breath fanning her cheek had been bad enough, his citrus scent would've completed the job of knocking her off kilter.
He smelled delicious, crisp and sexy and devourable.
Folding her arms to hide the telltale signs of her body's reaction to him, she rolled her eyes.
"Fine, one coffee then you're out of here."
