AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I glance down at her pale face. When she offers nothing further, we lie in silence, leaving me to stew. What does that mean? Health condition? What kind of health condition? It eats at me and I don’t know why.
Because she’s stubborn.
Because I care too damn much.
I trace a circle on her arm. “Why are you here, Ruby?”
“Runaway Ranch, Cowboy,” she breathes. “Then we’ll talk.”
She’s good, I’ll give her that.
It pisses me off.
It scares the ever-loving shit out of me.
Maybe because I find myself wanting to tell her about Runaway Ranch. Maybe because that means I learn more about Ruby. This sweet, gorgeous girl who blows up my heart like an atom bomb.
Or maybe it’s because this is the first time I’ve had a woman spend the night since Maggie. With Ruby in my arms, I don’t feel so hollowed out. I don’t feel so broken.
I’m in too deep. I’m drowning, but the thought of grabbing a life preserver isn’t happening.
Ruby’s dreamy voice breaks the silence. Like she’s read my mind, she says, “You might not have been prepared for me, Charlie Montgomery, but I’ve been ready for you.”
Her sweet words have me by the throat.
I gather her closer to me. “Sleep, darlin’.”
“We’ll miss the sunrise,” she murmurs. I feel her yawn and I smile.
“I’ll wake you up,” I lie. I already know I’m following her down into whatever restless sleep awaits.
Her breathing slows, steadies. I lie beside her, my hand over her thundering heart.
Hard truth is, I can’t stay away from Ruby.
Even worse, I don’t want to.
Iwake with a small, warm body nestled against my side.
Ruby.
I turn my face to the balcony, wincing at the bright blast of morning.
A groan tears from my chest.
I’m a man who never sleeps past seven. But this morning, the sun is at an angle I haven’t seen in a decade. At least not in my bedroom. Which means I’ve slept in. Something I never do. In the years since Maggie’s been gone, not once have I slept through the night.
My sleep last night—dreamless. Fucking perfect.
I blame the girl in my bed.
A soft sigh sounds from the sheets and Ruby wiggles closer, snaking an arm around my torso. I can feel the soft orbs of her breasts plump against my back and instantly, I’m hard as nails.
Carefully, I roll to face her.
She sleeps with one hand pressed against her chest, the sheet tangled around her naked body. Her thick rose-gold hair is wild and swirled up around me. A constellation of freckles is scattered across the apples of her cheeks and the bridge of her nose.
I lie here, watching her, waiting for regret to wash over me, for that telltale hollow ache in my chest, but there’s nothing. Just Ruby, soft and safe, beside me.
