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“Oh, she will to your face, but that woman will gut you like a fucking fish and not think twice about it.”
“I don’t think she wants to gut me like a fish in the middle of a coffee shop.”
“You don’t know that. She’s brazen.”
“Look!” I snap, getting irritated at the overprotectiveness. “I get that you’re worried about my dad, or Ronny, or someone else showing up, but that’s why you’re staying outside, right?”
“Might come in,” Thal says, still giving the coffee shop the stink-eye.
“No! If this is really about girl time, I could do with some. I haven’t seen my friend in weeks because I don’t even know what to say to her. I don’t have any work colleagues to chat shit with anymore. I’ve got you two goons, so let me go and have some girl time with a perfectly lovely woman so we can talk dick sizes and the joys of DP. Hmm?”
“In the middle of a cafe?” Ciarán asks with a snort. “This I have to see.”
“Go away,” I growl and get out of the car.
“Be sure to tell her how huge our dicks are and how well they fit in your ass!” Ciarán winds down the window of his Hellcat and shouts after me with a sinful grin, causing the old couple passing to stop and stare in horror and my cheeks to burn as hot as the flames of hell.
Scurrying forward with Thal’s snort of pure amusement ringing in my ears, I step into the coffee shop. The scent of coffee hits me like a comforting embrace, intermingling with the gentle hum of conversation and soft jazz playing in the background. It’s an inviting haven from the cold, brutal world outside and I’m looking forward to taking a much-needed breather from the intensity of being involved with the Gannons. I scan the room and spot Ruby sitting by the window, her back to the wall, her raven hair loose around her shoulders.
Ruby waves enthusiastically, her smile as bright as the sun streaming through the window. Her energy is contagious, and I return her grin as I make my way over to her.
“Hey, Ruby,” I say as I settle into the plush armchair opposite her.
“Hey, Summer. How’s things? You holding up okay?”
Ruby’s outgoing nature puts me at ease, and I find myself opening up more than I usually would. “Yeah, I’m great. I mean, it’s intense and full on all the time, but never a dull moment.”
“Right?” She giggles but then goes serious. “But really?”
Sighing, I say, “But really, I’m exhausted.”
“Yeah,” she agrees softly. “Having two guys won’t help that.”
Smiling, I shake my head. “Nope. They’re outside.”
“So are mine. I have five,”
“Five?” My eyes widen so much I think they’re going to fall out of my head.
“Yep. It’s a party.”
“Nice.”
She smiles and we order our coffees from the hovering waitress before she turns back to me. “So, what do you enjoy doing with yourself?”
“Um, I enjoy reading, mostly mystery and romance novels.”
She nods. “Nothing like a bit of escapism, right?”
“Right,” I agree, smiling at her easy camaraderie.
As our coffees arrive and we continue chatting, I know that this is all surface stuff. Small talk. But I forget about who she is and simply enjoy the warm atmosphere and the chance to share a piece of my life with someone who seems eager to listen, even though her confidence and charisma are slightly intimidating, I genuinely like this woman who seems to have the world at her fingertips.
“Summer,” she says, her voice softening as she seems to sense my sudden unease as I get that bad feeling in my gut again. “I know we’ve just met, but I want you to know that you can trust me. There’s no judgment here. We’re just two people sharing a coffee and some conversation.”
I nod, appreciating her effort to put me at ease, but still feeling the weight of my own insecurities, fidgeting with my coffee cup, betraying my anxiety.
“Hey,” Ruby says gently, reaching across the table to place a comforting hand on mine, halting my nervous movements. “I know.”
