Page 80 of Spark

Ruby turns around, smiling. “Is this dress the reason you got the idea to have a fling with me? If so, I’m going to name my first-born child after Laila and that stylist.”

I contemplate the best, most Doberman-like answer to the question. In reality, as sexy and hot as this dress is on Ruby, it’s preposterous to think it triggered tonight’s display of sexual attraction to her, when, in truth, I’ve wanted to do every possible sexual thing to this woman’s body since she slid into the chair next to mine twelve years ago.

“Bingo,” I say with a wink, even though every fiber of my soul wants to confess my undying love to her. “That’s one hell of a dress on you, Ruby Duby.”

“Thanks. I’m supposed to return it, too. But since you’re taking your fancy clothes home, I think I’ll do the same. What are they gonna do? Call the cops on us?”

I chuckle. “No, but they’ll most likely dock the cost from our paychecks.”

“Oh. Damn.”

“At least we earned those bonuses, right? That will cover it and then some.”

“And then some? Try again.”

“What? How much is that dress worth?”

“They told me sixty-five-hundred. Isn’t our bonus a measly five grand?”

“Holy shit. Is it made of hundred-dollar bills or something? They said my outfit costs less than a grand.”

Ruby shrugs. “Welcome to the world of women’s high fashion, sweetheart. They price everything more. And don’t get me started on tampons not being universally free.”

I move a lock of hair out of her eyes. “Don’t worry about a thing, cutie. I’ll cover the cost of both our outfits. No sweat.”

“I can’t let you do that.”

“Yes, you can. I didn’t do a damned thing in that party to get that bonus. That money is blood money, as far as I’m concerned. Plus, I make more than you, remember? Let me do this, babe.”

We don’t talk about it much—the disparity in our earning power. But since my appearance onSing Your Heart Outtwo seasons ago, my income jumped dramatically, thanks to all the side gigs that poured in after that. At this point, I bet I make three to four times what Ruby does. Hence, the reason she’s got a tiny condo in the valley, and I was able to buy a three-bedroom, Spanish-style house in North Hollywood.

“Thank you so much,” she whispers, blushing. “I really appreciate that.”

“You bet.” I swallow hard. “You really didn’t have a clue about the hidden cameras?”

“Nope.”

I shift my weight. I figured she’d say that, but still, it’s good to hear one last time. “What about Cooper being at the party tonight? Were you trying to piss him off a little bit when we kissed?”

Ruby cocks her head and furrows her brow. “Cooper wasn’t even in the room when we kissed.”

“But he was around somewhere. Someone was definitely going to tell him about it.”

“Cooper didn’t even cross my mind. I forgot he existed.” A vertical wrinkle appears between her eyebrows. “What’s going on, Kendrick?”

My heart is thrumming. “I just wanted to confirm, one hundred percent, that kiss wasn’t for show this time.”

Ruby’s features soften. She takes a step forward and lays a palm on my chest. “Kendrick, I promise, every single drop of lust you felt from me in that party, and in this laundry room, was the real deal.”

Lust.

Welp, there it is. Confirmation, yet again, that Ruby’s not feeling anything close to what I am. Yes, I feel lust for her. More so than I’ve felt for anyone else in my life. But my lust is tangled up with something much bigger than that. Something once-in-a-lifetime. But Ruby? It seems she’s able to separate the lust she feels for me as part of our supposed “fling” from the platonic love she feels for me as her closest friend in the world. I don’t know how she can do that, honestly, but I’ve got no choice but to accept her ability to compartmentalize and take whatever she’s willing to offer. For now, anyway.

“Shit,” Ruby says. “I just realized there’s no way for me to get my stuff from my changing room without me being seen by everyone.” She describes the path she’d need to take to her room, and I agree I’ve got the same problem—the route to my clothes runs right past a spot where we’ll surely be seen by at least a hundred people.

“It’s fine,” I say. “We can come back tomorrow. For now, let’s make a break for it.”

“How, though? There’s no safe way out.”

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