“I haven’t heard anything yet. He’d better fucking live, though. I have a lot of questions for the bastard.”
“You don’t know—”
“Oh, yes, I do,” she said. “That’s the very last time I ignore my intuition. The very fucking last time. How could I have been so stupid?”
I rubbed her forearm. “Don’t blame yourself.”
“Easy for you to say.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but shut it before the words came out. She didn’t need to hear all about my visit with my mother. At least not yet.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “That wasn’t fair.”
No, it wasn’t. But again, I didn’t say it.
A doctor in blue scrubs entered the area and walked straight to Ruby’s boss’s wife. A few words were exchanged, and then the woman let out a heavy sob.
“Looks like he didn’t make it. Well, that’s what getting involved with my father gets you.” A tear slid down Ruby’s cheek, and she wiped it away angrily. “He doesn’t deserve any tears. No one involved with my father does.”
I took her hand and pulled her back down beside me. “You still don’t know exactly what happened.”
“And now that he’s gone, I never will.” She sighed. “I suppose I should say something to his wife.”
“No, you don’t have t
o. That can wait. She has her family with her. She’ll be okay. You and I need to get out of here.”
“And go where?”
“What about our dinner?”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “I couldn’t eat.”
“All right. To the hotel then.”
She attempted a smile. “I’m really not in the mood, Ryan.”
I smiled and took her hand. “You leave that to me.”
* * *
I handed Ruby the glass of wine I’d poured for her from the bottle of Steel Merlot that I picked up at the hotel bar.
She took a deep gulp and sighed. “Good,” she said.
“I’m sorry about all you’ve been through,” I said.
“Tonight? Or my whole life?” She took another sip of wine.
“Both. You’ve seen more than a person should have to.”
“So have you. And I’m sorry, too.”
I brushed my lips across hers, just that small contact igniting my groin. “You want to talk?”
She sighed again. “About what? What else is there to talk about? It is what it is.” She smiled. “You know what? I want to fuck.”
I widened my eyes. I couldn’t believe those words had come from this woman who mere weeks ago had been a virgin, and who mere minutes ago had said she wasn’t in the mood.