Page 130 of Wild Ride

And did she still blame Dex for what happened?

Because Dex did. Ruby had brought on so much of it herself, but Dex had a role in this cluster. One he’d been ignoring for years.

Ashley blew out a breath, evidently gearing up for another assault. “She’s been clean for over a year.”

Jesus, Ruby was clearly following the reformed ex-con playbook.

“Sure she has. But once a junkie, always one.” He stood and scrubbed a hand through his hair. “I don’t understand why you had to get involved. You can’t fix this.”

She placed her hands on his chest. “I know you’re not ready, but I wanted to put it out there. It’ll take a while for you to come around. I get that. And maybe you never will, which is okay as well. But this could be the first step.”

His heart was beating wildly beneath her fingertips. The first step? To what? Ruby insinuating her way into this good life he was building. It was bad enough she was on a first name basis with his teammates. Now she wanted a piece of his woman?

He couldn’t speak so Ashley continued, making the case for Ruby O’Malley’s sins to be forgiven. How lucky his mother was to have an amazing woman like Ashley in her corner. Thing was, Dex was selfish. He didn’t want to share.

“She wants to make amends. That’s why she’s back in your life.”

“She wants to ruin everything. You don’t know what she’s capable of.”

She rubbed his chest. “Dex, I can’t make you do anything you don’t want to, but she’s here now so it might be a good idea to face it. Face the future.”

The future, which had been ticking along just fine, coming up on him at an easy trot as he dealt with each problem, one at a time. His legal issues, his career, his personal relationships. Now it was an out-of-control truck, the brakes cut, the driver slumped over the wheel after a heart attack.

He couldn’t deal with this, and when Ashley knew the truth—the whole truth—she wouldn’t want to deal with it, either.

“What about Willa?”

“What about her?”

He shook his head. “You want a woman like that around your daughter?”

She looked taken aback. “She’s sober and making amends.”

“Says she is.”

Now she looked annoyed with him, like she couldn’t understand his recalcitrance. “She’s paid her debt to society.”

God, ever the bleeding heart. But then she only knew half the story. “She’s a criminal, Ashley, and she shouldn’t be around your daughter.”

I shouldn’t be around your daughter.

“She’s a recovering addict, Dex. I like to think I’d have enough compassion for a woman trying to pick herself up from the dirt.”

“She’s not just an addict. She’s more than that.” He took a sharp inhale. “She almost killed someone.”

36

Killed someone? There was an “almost” in there, but those were the words she heard clearer than any other.

“Still think she’s worth your time? Because she’s not. She’s bad news.”

Dex’s eyes were wild, his arms crossed over his chest—in defense or protection.

“Tell me what happened.”

“So you can justify it? Make up some excuse for her?” He walked to the window. “I come from a long line of troublemakers, Ashley. I already told you not to put me on a pedestal.”

“I want to know.”

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