Not an engagement ring at all.
A promise ring, what some people referred to as pre-engagement, the engagement ring you have when you're not really having an engagement.
And what the hell did he mean by not being a jerk when they sorted out their fake marriage?
Whatwasthis, a trinket to buy her off so she wouldn't lose her cool when he said, 'thanks for the good time babe but I'm outta here'?
Stunned into speechlessness, she stared at the ring, the waning sunlight catching the diamonds, sparkling at her with jauntiness.
"I chose a ruby for obvious reasons," he said, raising her hand to his lips and kissing the knuckle above the ring.
Great, he planned on giving her the brush off with a tacky namesake too.
Catty and ungrateful, maybe, but she couldn't get past the fact he'd only given her a promise ring when she'd expected so much more.
"You don't like it."
His cold flat tone scared her as much as the truth she'd have to tell him.
"It's not that—"
"Then what is it?" He dropped her hand and eased away, leaving her cold and bereft, craving his warmth.
"Look, Jax, the ring's nice—"
"Nice?" He spat the word in disgust. "Nice is for cupcakes. Nice is not for a guy giving a girl a ring."
Disappointed he didn't know her better, didn't know her well enough to know what she liked, she tried to smooth the escalating tension.
"It's not what I—"
"Want, right?" He thrust his hands into his pockets, his formidable glower radiating a depth of anger she'd never seen before. "My mistake. Won't happen again."
Stunned, she watched him stalk towards his car, his angry strides eating up the ground too fast.
"Jax, wait—"
"Don't worry, I won't renege on our deal. Your preciousSeabornis safe." He paused and looked back, a tortured expression twisting his handsome features. "That's all you ever cared about anyway."
"That's not true," she yelled, her brain and feet finally working in sync as she ran towards him.
Too late.
He gunned the engine, reversed in a squeal of tires, and floored it out of the driveway and out of her life.
Chapter 33
Ten hours later, Jax's flight touched down in Perth. During the drive back to Melbourne, finalising details at the office, heading to Tullamarine airport, and the monotonous four and a half hour flight to Perth, he'd done his best not to think about Ruby.
And failed miserably.
Her rejection of his ring burned, and he lost count of the number of times he'd absent-mindedly rubbed his chest where a permanent ache resided.
He'd trusted her with his demons.
He'd trusted her with his heart.
She'd thrown it back in his face.
