Page 6 of Forbidden Dark Vows

She studies me coolly. “What a question, Harry Weiss.”

A shiver travels down my spine at the way she says my name.

“You know, she probably wasn’t. She died when she was thirty years old. Can you imagine what she might’ve gone on to write had she lived a full and healthy life?”

“There you are!” Alessandro is standing in front of us, his eyes sparkling for Ruby. “We’re all heading down to the pool before we’re too drunk to stay afloat.” He entwines his fingers with hers and pulls her away.

“Are you coming, Harry?” Ruby doesn’t move; she’s waiting for me to answer.

“Course he’s coming. Aren’t you, Harry?” Alessandro raises his eyebrows at me, telling me to get a move on.

“Sure. I didn’t bring swim shorts though.”

“Who cares?” Alessandro guides her away from me. “No one did.”

In typical Alessandro Russo fashion,the party quickly gets messy. Some people climb into the pool in their underwear, while others strip off their clothes and jump in naked, some still clutching glasses of champagne.

I stand back and listen to their voices bouncing off the walls, the smell of chlorine tickling my nostrils and reminding me of childhood swimming lessons. The desire to swim is huge, but the requirement to ditch my clothes first is keeping me immobile.

I search for a glimpse of Ruby amongst the splashes and the beaming faces like a bunch of kids just out of school for the summer. Is that what being naked does to them, sets them free? I’m strangely relieved when I don’t spot Ruby’s honey-colored hair.

“Not going in?”

I turn around and there she is, fully clothed, and I can’t stop my grin from spreading. “Not really my scene.”

She smiles back at me. “My mom always says that you should leave something to the imagination.”

“Always? Do you often discuss getting naked in public?”

“You haven’t met my mom.” She goes to say more and then changes her mind.

“I did, briefly, remember? Your tire.”

Ruby faces the pool, and I wonder if she’s looking for Alessandro. I spot him in the deep end, getting close to the actress who has poured herself out of the slinky gold dress and wrapped her arms around his neck like she’s clinging to a lifebelt.

“Do you want to get out of here?” I want to take her away before she notices him too, but mostly because I don’t want to see the disappointment in her eyes.

She nods and walks away without waiting for me to catch up with her.

Even though I didn’t swim, I feel strangely cleansed as we make our way outside, the cold air stinging our cheeks. I hail a cab and open the door for her, climbing into the back seat next to her. Ruby gives the driver her home address, and we sit in comfortable silence as we drive through the Chicago city streets.

Ruby peers out of the passenger window. I don’t know if she expected more from Alessandro or if she’s simply tired, but I want to hold her hand and keep her warm, tell her that he might be my friend, but he’ll only hurt her, and that seeing her hurt is the last thing I want right now.

But I don’t.

When the car stops, I climb out and open the door for her, and we stand on the sidewalk outside her house, the ground glistening with frost, the chill nipping our noses.

“Take care, Ruby Jackson,” I say.

Fuck, but I want to kiss her lips so badly.

“You too, Harry Weiss.” She reaches up and kisses my cheek, and then she’s gone, running up the path to her front door, while I climb back into the cab, the imprint of her lips forever on my skin.

3

RUBY

“When are you seeing him again?”Mom sips her coffee leaning against the kitchen counter the following morning before she goes to work.

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