Cash wasn’t in the mood for introductions. “She kissed you.” He threw the words out like a bag of smelly trash, not wanting to deal with them and unable to leave them nearby.
Beau held up his hands and spoke evenly. “That wasn’t kissing. That was acting. It’s all about camera angles and technical crap. It’s not real kissing.”
Cash pressed his fingers into his eyes. “It looks real.”
“That’s because I’m good at my job,” said Rubi. She stepped out from behind the storage container, biting her bottom lip and looking every bit as beautiful as she had in a ball cap with a black marker in her hand.
“Your hair’s long,” he said with accusation. He was still working his way off the adrenaline and she had no right making his hands want to reach out and hold her close.
She fingered the ends. “It’s extensions—fake. Like that kiss. Cash—”
He cupped the back of his neck, wanting so badly to believe what he heard and not what he saw. “Are you saying there’s nothing here with with ”
“Beau,” said the guy. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a small white leather box. “As soon as Cindy gets back, I’m giving her this.” He cracked the hinges to reveal a giant ring that glinted in the sunlight. “I love her more than I’ve ever loved another—including myself.” He smirked.
Rubi folded her arms. “Now that’s sayin’ something.”
Beau laughed. “Don’t I know it.” He clapped the box shut and put it away. “No offense, but I don’t want your girl, man.” He took a few backward steps. “I’ll let everyone know we’re officially on break.”
Rubi nodded.
Cash ran his hands through his hair. “This is not how I’d thought this would turn out.” He looked around for the flowers before remembering the way he’d dropped them. Cringing at his bad behavior, he fell against the cold metal storage unit. Jealousy wasn’t a familiar feeling and he hated the way it left a bad taste in his mouth.
Rubi stepped closer. She tipped her head. “Then try again.”
“What?”
“Reset the scene.” She tugged on his shirt, bringing him closer and reminding him of the way they fit together just right. “Cash surprises Rubi—take two.” She held up two fingers.
Cash cupped her elbows, unsure of where or how to bridge the gap he’d made but unable to resist the pull between them. “I’ve missed you.”
“That’s a good start.” She released a breath and, as if that was all that had stood between them, melded against his body and slid her arms behind his neck. His hands went to her sides and his head dipped so he could breathe in the lingering perfume behind her ears.
“I can’t believe you came all the way out here for me.” Her fingers traced through his hair leaving electricity in their wake.
“Are you kidding? I’d circle the world to get to you.”
“Oooh—good line. Who’s your scriptwriter?” she teased with a kiss to his jaw. The electrical current shot right through his bones and spread down his chest, giving the desert air a new level of heat.
“It all comes right from the heart. I can’t make this stuff up.” He couldn’t stand it any longer and kissed her soundly, his fingers getting caught up in her hair. There were all sorts of things in there he hadn’t felt the last time he kissed her, things that made her hair longer and got in his way, and he didn’t care.
“I like it,” Rubi murmured.
“The lines or the kisses?”
“All of it. All of you.” She pulled him down, bringing their mouths in perfect alignment, and let him know just how much she had missed him. After expressing their feeling completely, and in their entirety, including a few emotions Cash was just figuring out, they pulled apart, gasping.
Cash brushed her hair over her shoulder. “You know what’s killing me?” He dropped his forehead to meet hers, hardly ableto be inches apart now that he’d finally gotten her in his arms again.
“What?”
“That, because I interrupted, you’re going to have to kiss him again.”
Rubi sucked in through her teeth. “Cash, this is my job.”
“I know. I know. I’m having a hard time separating what we have—” He kissed her quickly. “—from what I just saw.”
She slipped out of his arms, taking his hand. “Then come watch. Come see how very unromantic it all is.”
