Page 90 of Freeing Ruby

“You look beautiful,” Miguel says. He’s leaning against the bathroom doorjamb looking edible in a pair of black jeans and a black T-shirt. He’s literally the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome.

“So do you,” I say, grinning.

Miguel gets flustered when I tell him he’s beautiful.

He comes into the room and stands behind me, a full head taller than I am. I barely come up to his chin. When I stand beside him, I feel almost petite. My flaming red hair contrasts with his midnight black hair. I think we make a striking couple.

He gathers my hair in his hands and smiles when I shiver at the delicious electricity streaking down my spine. “We don’t have to go,” he says, leaning down to whisper in my ear. His breath ruffles my hair, and I shiver again. “I mean it. We can stay home tonight and watch a movie.”

I meet his gaze in the mirror. “You don’t think I can do this?”

He looks thoughtful, because he’s honest, which is one of the many things I love about this man. He’s honest, and he doesn’t bullshit me. “I think it’s going to be hard for you. It’s going to be loud and crowded. You haven’t been around that many people in such a small space in a really long time.”

I sigh. “I can do this.”

His hands slip around my waist, and he leans down to kiss my cheek. “Rome wasn’t built in a day, you know. Baby steps, remember?”

“Layla’s going to be there, as well as Charlie and Erin. I’ll be fine. Plus, I’ll have you. I’m not worried.”

He presses his lips against the back of my head. “Liar.”

“Okay, yes, I’m worried, but I want to do this. I don’t want you to keep missing out on things you like to do because of me. I don’t want to hold you back.”

“Sweetheart.” He turns me and lifts me up to sit on the counter. Then he steps between my knees. “You are my number one priority.” He drops a kiss on my nose. “Everything else is secondary, including hanging out with my friends.”

I reach up to cup his handsome face and stare deep into those obsidian eyes. “I want to do this, Miguel. I want to try.”

He frowns. “Fine. But if it gets to be too much, I want you to tell me. We’ll come right home, okay?”

“Deal.”

He holds out his little finger. “Pinky swear.”

I grin and hook my little finger around his. “I swear.”

“All right. Let’s go.”

As we head for the door, I stop to give Pumpkin a scratch. “Don’t worry. We won’t be out late.”

Miguel grabs his key fob and wallet. I grab my purse. We meet up by the door.

As I stand there watching Miguel unlock the deadbolt and release the chain, my pulse speeds up and I find it harder to breathe.

Here we go.

After he slides the chain lock free, he grasps the door knob and looks down at me. “Ready?”

I grab hold of his waist band and nod.

Miguel opens the door slowly and peers out into the hallway. “It’s empty. We’ll walk to the elevator, take it down to the parking garage, then walk to my car. Okay?”

“I nod. Okay.”

Miguel steps out into the hallway and holds out his hand. I lay mine in his, and he links our fingers. I stand in place for a good minute, trying to drum up the courage to step through the doorway. He stands there quietly, patiently, not rushing me. He never rushes me.

I glance left and right and left again. The hallway’s empty.

Miguel squeezes my hand. “I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise.”

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