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I reached for another apple slice, and she moved so fast that she caught me off guard. She slapped my hand, sending the wedge of apple to the floor.
“Stop eating his goddamn apples. How about you focus on the law and do your job.”
And that was my limit. I was on my feet and towering over her within seconds. “I do my job very well. Not that I need your approval. But I’ll let your little attitude slide because I know you love your father, and I’m guessing you’re having some sort of internal meltdown and pointing the finger in every direction you can.”
I expected her to cower, but instead, she smirked. Like she welcomed the challenge.
She pushed to her feet and tipped her chin up, eyes gold and blazing with pops of blue and green.
Damn, she was an evil queen, and I’d be lying if I didn’t say it was turning me the hell on.
“I was standing outside the door, and I overheard you agreeing to their ridiculous plan to lie to me. Doesn’t seem verylawyerlyof you, or is that the way you run your practice? My father ended up paying quite a bit more to Jenna Tate than he should have. Or are you playing both sides? Maybe getting a little kickback from the ole horndog Jenna?”
“Ahhh… I don’t know if I’m more offended for my moral compass or the fact that you think I need to work a deal to get laid. Clearly, you underestimate my abilities.”
“Ruby,” Lionel said, reaching for her hand and she raised a brow as she looked at her father. “I asked them to lie. I didn’t want to embarrass myself.”
“Really, Dad? You thought I bought that dumbass story about your legal woes? I pulled those records weeks ago to see what you paid her. One of us has to make sure you stay afloat.” She let out a long breath and squeezed her eyes shut. “Ialready talked to Dr. Peters while I was in the car, heading home yesterday. I knew about the medication. I expected more from you. And from you, too, Doreen.”
“I’m sorry. He was desperate.” Doreen shrugged, her eyes watering, and even I felt slightly bad for her when she started coughing profusely and shaking her head.
“Save it.” Ruby held her hand up abruptly, and I’d be dammed if Doreen didn’t immediately stop hacking up a lung dramatically. Maybe her theatrical abilities were better than I’d given her credit for because Ruby was definitely not buying it. “I get it. He’s very persuasive when he’s backed into a corner.”
“Thank you,” Doreen said, moving closer and wrapping her in a hug. “I missed you.”
“Sure,” Ruby said, as she stepped out of the embrace, completely unaffected. “Anyway, the lies stop now. I will not run Whiskey Falls for you while you go to inpatient physical therapy if you lie to me even once more. Do you hear me?” She stared down at her father. “We’ve always agreed to be honest with one another.”
“I do. And I’m sorry that I missed your graduation.” I heard the disappointment in Lionel’s voice. Ruby was the most important person in his life, and everyone in Magnolia Falls knew it.
“You’re fine. You know I don’t care about that kind of stuff.” She glanced down at her phone when it vibrated, and she groaned. “I’ve been home for less than twenty-four hours, and what do you know… Mom just had a fight with Jimbo. Shocker. And Rico thinks his girlfriend is pregnant.”
Jimbo Slaughter was married to Ruby’s mother. She’d been married so many times, it was hard to keep up on that woman’s shit. But she had two sons, Zane and Rico, who were both always hanging out at the bar and using Ruby’s name to get free shit from Lionel.
“I’m sorry you have to deal with that,” Lionel slurred, and Ruby’s gaze softened for the first time since she’d walked into the room.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve got it handled. Right now, my priority is you. I spoke to Dr. Peters, and he said he talked to you about going right into an inpatient physical therapy program. You’ve got a long road ahead of you. And you aren’t getting out of this. I will cover the bar, and you’re going to do the work to get yourself back on track. Got it?”
Lionel reached for her hand, and this time, she took it. “Thank you. Love you, Rubes.”
She sighed. “Love you, too.”
And this time, her smile was genuine.
The evil queen definitely had a weakness, and it was her father.
two
. . .
Ruby
We finishedthe meeting with Dr. Peters, and thankfully, my dad had agreed to everything the doctor had suggested. My father could be a stubborn ass when he wanted to be, but he was humbled at the moment, and he’d stopped fighting me on everything once the truth had been exposed.
Was I surprised that he had taken not one, not two, but three doses of medication to give him an endless erection?
Not even a little.
This was very on-brand for him.
