Page 71 of Under A Sicilian Sky
Ruby was giggly and rather tipsy when she returned to Glentorrin House. She found everything hilarious and frustrating in equal measure. Her attempts to sneak in the front door were futile.
‘Are you drunk, Miss Locke?’ Mitch asked with a grin from the kitchen doorway.
She tried not to laugh as she almost fell over attempting to take off her boots. She failed miserably. ‘Maybe a lil bit.’ She hiccupped.
He laughed. ‘I think maybe a lot. Do you need a hand there?’
She shook her head, and it caused the hallway to spin. ‘I’m thanks, good. I mean… I’m…’
He nodded and there was a crinkle of amusement to the corners of his blue eyes. ‘Aye, so I see. Here, let me help or you’ll tie yourself in knots.’ He walked over and helped her off with her coat. Then he led her to the stairs, and she sat on the bottom step while he pulled off her boots. ‘What on earth have you been drinking?’
She tapped her chin. ‘We started with persecco… prosecclo…’ She shook her head as if it would make the right word fall out. ‘Then Caitlin got out some… erm… ohh whassitcalled? Dambusters… no! Drambuie! It’s Scottish, you know.’ She told him with a tap to her nose.
He continued to fight back laughter, his eyes twinkling with mirth. ‘Is it really? You’d think I’d know that, being Scottish, eh?’ He shook his head.
‘Well, you learn something new every day, eh?’
‘I was being sarcastic.’
‘Oh… right… well, it was tasty.’ As Mitch struggled with her boot, Ruby leaned her chin on her hand, her elbow precariously on her knee. ‘Why do I repulse you?’ she asked, momentarily a lot more lucid.
He frowned up at her. ‘Repulse me? Who said you repulse me?’
She pointed at herself. ‘I said it. I’m the sayer of it. I’m a woman of the twenty-sirst fentury and I’m not afraid to ask why a man doesn’t like me,’ she told him sternly with a finger jab to his chest. ‘Is it because I’m strong and… whass the word?’ She clicked her fingers. ‘Whass the word? Got it! Indipennant… Is it because I’m indipennant?’ She pointed at him, narrowly missing his eye.
He pulled his lips between his teeth, almost losing the battle with laughter. ‘I’m aware that you’re a strong independent woman, Ruby. And I don’t find you repulsive at all. Far from it. I just find you… off limits.’ He shrugged.
She scrunched her face and placed her hands on her hips, even though she was sitting. It seemed like a good idea at the time. ‘Why so am I off your limits then, eh? Hmm?’ she slurred, trying her best to sound coherent and compos mentis.
His face softened and the laughter disappeared. ‘Because you’re famous. You live in a totally different world from me and soon you’ll be returning to that world. And I’ll be going back to my life as a property developer. I’ll be a distant memory by the time you’re accepting your next award.’
She could’ve sworn he looked sad about the fact, but in her drunken state she wasn’t one hundred per cent sure. ‘Oh… right… But you don’t feel icky when you think about kissing me?’
A small smile returned. ‘Who says I’ve thought about kissing you?’
Her eyes widened. ‘Have you kissed about thinking me? Because I accidentively kissed about thinking you a couple times. Shhh!’ She giggled.
‘Okay, Ruby, I think you need to sleep this off. We’ll talk in the morning. Come on.’
He pulled her to her feet and walked her up the stairs, two steps forward, a stumble and a wobble, a giggle, one step back, until they arrived in her room. He guided her over to the bed and she sat down.
She stuck out her bottom lip. ‘See… you think I’m pukey.’
He gave a small laugh. ‘I think youmightbe pukey tomorrow but not in the way you’re suggesting. Now go to sleep. Don’t bother getting undressed.’
She saluted. ‘Aye, Cap’n McHotstuff.’
He nodded but laughed as he walked towards the door. ‘Goodnight, Ruby.’
‘Mitch!’ she called as he was about to close it behind himself.
‘Yeah?’
‘Thank you for looking after me.’ She lay down and heaved an exhausted sigh.
He walked over and pulled the throw blanket over her fully clothed form. ‘No problem. Get some sleep.’ He left the bedside and pulled the door almost closed behind himself, but then pushed it open a little. ‘And Ruby.’
‘Mhmm?’ she replied without moving, her eyes drooping heavily as she succumbed to sleep.
