Yeah, something had definitely changed between them but with her body sated and her mind foggy, she didn't dare determine what.
Chapter 24
Opal knocked at Ruby’s door and entered. “That was some party."
Ruby placed the loupe on the black velvet mat in front of her, not in the mood to discuss her wedding reception with her cousin but knowing Opal wouldn't leave until she did.
She'd managed to hide away in her workshop all afternoon, part avoidance, part comfort. She needed a lot of comforting today.
"Yeah, it went pretty well."
Opal leaned against the desk and folded her arms. "Jax is smitten."
Ruby swallowed a snort. The only thing smiting Jax was his love of business.
"Everyone was talking about how cosy you two looked on the dance floor." Opal paused, worrying her bottom lip. "Probably a good thing, because they spent the first half of the evening doubting the validity of your secret nuptials but you had most of them swooning by the end of the night."
Ruby shrugged. "I don't care what the snobs think, never have."
A blatant lie. She cared. If Melbourne’s elite didn't accept her new husband and welcome him into their world to secure his business, he'd walk, and take her chance at savingSeabornwith him.
He'd renege on their deal, she had no doubt, if he didn't get what he wanted out of it. Ruthless businessmen wouldn’t tolerate failure. He'd been on the verge of scuttling their deal last night before she'd distracted him with her auction idea. And the phenomenal sex.
She had to focus on facts. They had a marriage based on mutual monetary gain and a physical attraction, nothing more. She'd lapsed into fanciful wishes during sex, thinking she'd glimpsed more. As if, Jax wouldn't dare let his guard down and this morning he'd reverted to cool and commanding.
He had no interest in getting to know her beyond the superficial and while she should be happy about it, she'd moved past delusional.
She should've known she couldn’t wake next to a warm body after sharing her troubles with him, and remain immune.
Her fatal mistake had been telling him the truth this morning.
They'd been driving back from Crown Towers and he'd asked her how people had accepted their marriage. She could've lied but she didn't. She'd been the brunt of a lie by omission—thanks to Sapphire keeping Mum's confidence the last year—and it sucked.
Besides, considering Denver had embezzled millions from his friends, she'd hazard a guess Jax hated lies.
So she'd told him the truth.
How people were suspicious of their marriage and what motivated it, how they were reluctant to trust him because of his father's sins.
Jax had taken it surprisingly well. Then again, it would've come as no shock, considering he'd been fobbed off repeatedly when he'd tried to set up vital business meetings.
By the time he'd dropped her off here, his expression had been as black as his mood.
Wait until he heard her news.
"Want to talk about it?" Opal asked.
Ruby shook her head, wishing every emotion didn't play out across her face like a feature movie.
"Thanks, Opal, I appreciate the offer, but I'm busy."
She turned back to her workbench, hoping her cousin would get the hint.
She didn't.
Opal leaned in closer. "What are you working on?"
"A canary diamond parare. I've finished the necklace and partially done the earrings, with the brooch and bracelet to go."
