Page 19 of Conflicted
Ruby gasped. She hadn’t expected him to lay it all out. “It wasn’t as great as I hoped it would be, either.” Her breathing became lighter. “I really like you, Bob, but just not as a lover.”
He stroked a hand through his sleep-mussed hair. “Ditto.” He leveled her with a hard stare. “Are you going to give either of them a second chance?”
“I honestly don’t know.” She studied the man next to her. “I don’t want an immature partner who’d rather compare dick than be with me. When I’m going to be with a man, I need him to want me and not his rock career.” She snapped her mouth closed.
Bob cocked his head and narrowed his eyes, but if the psychologist noticed the significance of her slip up, he didn’t tear into it. “You deserve that and more, pretty girl. Actually, I hoped...” Bob didn’t finish his sentence, and he didn’t need to.
“Some people are just better off as friends,” Ruby concluded.
“So, friends, it is.” The expression on his face was forlorn, but his voice sounded sincere.
Ruby nodded solemnly. “Friends.” She pushed up and didn’t bother to cover her naked chest. “How about I make us some breakfast?”
“Sounds wonderful.”
“Pancakes or eggs?”
His eyes gleamed. “Homemade pancakes?”
“Of course.” Ruby gave him her most genuine smile.
Chapter Five
“Tada.” With a flourish – like a magician showing the previously empty box now held a beautiful, scantily clad woman – Jewel spun Ruby in the chair so she could see her reflection in the mirror.
“Whoa, Momma, it looks amazing.”
It did look good, the style suited Ruby, and the layers accented the colorful highlights, but Ruby couldn’t enjoy her new hairdo. She couldn’t tear her eyes from the reflection in the mirror of the woman behind her. Jewel was so pale, her skin seemed almost translucent, blue veins near her eyes standing out.
The wide sleeves of Jewel’s caftan didn’t hide how thin her wrists and arms were, the bones clearly defined and almost poking through the skin. It seemed like her mother lost even more weight.
Ruby grabbed Jewel’s hand and pressed it against her cheek. “Your hands are so cold.”
“I know.” Jewel carefully pulled her hand from Ruby’s grip and curled her arms around her upper body. Whether it was for self-comfort or to keep Ruby from touching her mother, Ruby didn’t know, but she didn’t like it.
Ruby struggled to hold her tongue. She had to be diplomatic about this, or Jewel would reinforce her defenses, and it would get Ruby nowhere.
