Page 43 of Freeing Ruby

I stare Rick down until he finally shakes his head.

“Then you can’t kick me out of here.”

“Fine. You want me to call the cops?” he asks. “I’ll tell them you’re disturbing the peace.”

I shrug. “Go right ahead. We both know they’re not going to do anything. I haven’t broken any laws. By the way, both of the bulbs in the parking lot are out. You might want to get on that.”

Rick jabs his index finger in my direction. “You better watch yourself. If you cause any more commotion, I’m calling the cops.”

“It wasn’t Miguel’s fault,” Ruby says. “Someone tried to break into his car, and the alarm went off. He went outside to shut it down, that’s all. Stop accusing him of things he didn’t do.”

“I’m not going to warn you again,” Rick says to me. “Watch yourself.” And then he storms out of the apartment, slamming the door behind him.

Ruby rushes forward to lock the door. “I’m so sorry about that.”

“It’s not your fault. He’s an ass.”

She laughs. “I’m not going to argue with you on that one.” She surprises me when she takes my hand and pulls me to the bathroom. “Come on. Let me get you cleaned up.”

I’m perfectly capable of cleaning myself up, but it’s kinda nice having Ruby fuss over me like this.

Once we’re in the bathroom, she flips on the light and maneuvers me to the sink. “Hold still,” she says as she starts digging inside the linen closet and pulls out a washcloth, a tube of antibiotic ointment, and a little box of pink Band-Aids.

She turns on the tap, tests the water, and when it’s warm, she wets the washcloth and dabs at my cheek and lip. When I wince, she winces. “I’m so sorry, Miguel. I’m trying to be gentle.”

“It’s fine,” I say, and that’s when I realize my lower lip is starting to swell.

I bite back a laugh. I just got jumped by two guys, and Ruby’s worrying about being gentle with me. After she cleans the blood off my face and smears some of the ointment on the cut on my cheek bone, she applies a pink bandage.

“There’s blood on your T-shirt,” she points out as she reaches for the hem and lifts it up. I take over, raising the shirt above my head and pulling it off. She takes it from me. “I’ll wash this in the morning, see if I can get the blood out. I’ll try, but no promises.”

When she’s done tending to my face, she surveys her workmanship. My bottom lip is throbbing like a bitch, and I can tell I’m going to have a black eye.

I think she catches us both by surprise when she reaches up and brushes my hair back from my forehead. “I’m so sorry,” she says, as if it’s her fault I got jumped.

It’s not. I capture her hand in mine, stunned by how small and fragile it feels in my grasp. “You have nothing to be sorry for. It’s not your fault.”

“I can’t help but think this has something to do with my stalker.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. Still, it’s not your fault. Zero.”

She stands in front of me, gazing up into my eyes. There’s a wealth of emotion swirling around in her beautiful blue eyes. This close to her, I see her eyes are flecked with hazel. I could get lost in those eyes. Hell, I want to. I’m aching to.

I clear my throat, hoping to break the spell before I do something stupid that we’ll both end up regretting.

“We should get back to bed,” she says. Her voice sounds odd, as if it’s coming from far away.

“Yeah, good idea. Morning will be here before we know it.” I follow her out of the bathroom, switching off the light on my way out.

She climbs into bed first, and I do the same.

As usual, I’m lying on my back when she turns to me and raises up on her elbow. “Miguel?”

“Yes?”

She leans in close and presses her lips to my cheek. “Thank you. No one has ever done more for me than you have.”

My heart crashes into my ribs, and I’m at a loss for words. How do I respond to that without sounding sappy? This is nothing. I’d do anything for you. All you have to do is ask.

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