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“We should talk.”
Jupiter looked over her shoulder at Rubble who stood to the left of the register. She finished bagging up the dozen sugar cookies and nodded. “Sure. Yasmina, can you man the front?”
The other woman came to the front and smudged flour on her cheek. “Break time?”
“No, Rubble needs to ask me about….” She looked to him expectantly.
“The Xtreme Winter Games.”
“Right.” She motioned to the flour on Yasmina’s face, then followed Rubble to the small office in the back. He shut the door behind him. “I think we’ll be able to meet the current orders for the games. Yasmina hasn’t stopped baking in days.”
“That’s not what I wanted to discuss.”
Jupiter smoothed her apron. “Yeah, I figured.” She lifted her eyes to him. “Then what?”
“Your soon-to-be ex.”
She wrinkled her nose and gripped the side of her apron. “Why do you want to talk about him? I’m handling it.”
Rubble took the seat not filled with bakery boxes. “No, you’re not. You think you are, but you’re avoiding it.”
“I really don’t want to talk about this, Rubble.”
He clenched his jaw then relaxed it. “Baby girl, you gotta talk to me. I can help.”
“Yeah, because you love talking about your past.”
He winced. “Fair enough. What do you want to know?”
She chewed on her bottom lip. He was offering insight into his youth and some part of her wasn’t sure if she wanted to hear it. “You don’t trust women except a select few that I’ve noticed. I overheard a prospect joke about how you think we’re all trouble. Why is that?”
Rubble smoothed a hand over his burly beard and leaned forward. “My mom died when I was little. I can’t blame her for anything except not being alive for me. I was almost immediately put into foster care. The women didn’t care that I was an orphan. They only wanted the paycheck from the state. Some were verbally abusive, some physically. Being in Macha, we protect women, but sometimes that goes sideways. I shouldn’t blame anyone, but I do.” He paused and studied his boots. “Trusting anyone is tough, but women especially. I’ve never been in love, Jupiter. I never let myself be vulnerable like that.”
Jupiter placed a hand on his shoulder. “I understand more than you know.”
He nodded. “But I’m trying, baby girl. I’m trying my damnedest to break down the walls around my heart. I can only do that if you’re honest with me.” He met her gaze. “Please.”
Jupiter worried her lips together. She wasn’t sure how to react. Rubble had given her a glimpse into his childhood and all she wanted to do was wrap him in a hug and never let go. She had to share everything. It was only fair to them both.
“My lawyer has been arguing with his lawyer for eleven months, Rubble. Once they’re done squabbling, I can get back to living.”
He narrowed his gaze slightly. “You make it sound so easy.”
“It is.”
“Then why are you here, Jupiter?” He carefully took one of her hands between his two. She shifted her attention to him instead of the purchase orders on the desk. “You think he’ll hurt you.”
“Yes.” She bit back tears. “Once he finds out where I am, he sends hired goons to bring me back.”
Rubble’s face darkened. “How many times have they caught you?”
“More than I care to admit.” She cleared her throat, trying not to remember the last time. “I barely made it away a few weeks ago. They took me halfway to the ranch before I ran off at a rest stop.” She pointed to the light bruises. “Lyle doesn’t give up.”
“He won’t find you.”
She half laughed, half cried. “He will.”
Rubble gently pulled her onto his lap and gathered her against him. “If he does, he’ll wish he hadn’t.” He kissed the top of her head. “You’re safe, baby girl. You’re safe with me.”
