Page 27 of A Real Good Bad Thing

Before I could answer that question—who’s sending the pic—she asked another. “Did Duke send you? Are you here to get him ammo to use against me?”

“Who is Duke?” I asked in confusion. Was that another player in the game? Andrew hadn’t mentioned anyone with John Wayne’s nickname.

Ruby’s gaze flicked from me to the handful of other diners nibbling on fish tacos, drinking tropical drinks, passing the warm afternoon hours on the deck of the bar and grill, and finally to the door, as if debating whether or not she should leave.

Then we both stared at each other for a beat, neither one bending or giving an inch, when the waitress appeared, clapping her hands like she was announcing a prize. “How about some dessert? Tanice says it’s on the house if you want it.”

Way to read the room, lady.

Or maybe she had and was doing me a favor. Ruby looked blankly at the server, and I took advantage of the interruption. Glancing at the chalkboard menu with the day’s specials, I said as smoothly as I could, “How about a slice of mango cake with a scoop of coconut ice cream?” I flashed a smile. “I can’t resist anything with coconut.”

The woman looked at Ruby expectantly. “Anything for you?”

Ruby blinked again and then seemed to shake herself out of a fog. “We’ll share it,” she told the waitress.

“One mango cake coming right up!” the server chirped, then headed for the kitchen.

A few beats of silence passed, then Ruby folded her arms. “Seriously, who are you?”

“Who is Duke?” I countered. I didn’t want to give up information before she did—though I’d rather avoid giving any.

“If you have anything whatsoever to do with that asshole trolling my business and ruining my professional life…” With a tight jaw, Ruby pointed to the phone still in my hand. “Is that who sent that picture of me?”

I shook my head, grateful I had no clue who this jackass was who’d hurt her. “I don’t know who that is. Whoever he is, he didn’t send me your picture. It’s from my sister.” That was actually the truth, which helped me sound convincing while I searched for the rest of the excuse. “She’s always poking her nose into my business, and last night I mentioned I met a woman and was going to see her again today.”

Ruby gave me a dubious look. “Really.” It was hardly a question. It was a statement and it said she thought I was bullshitting her.

Running a hand through my hair, I called up my fond exasperation over Kate’s matchmaking. “She’s been texting and pestering me for details, so while you were in the ladies’, I told her your name, now that I know it.”

That was also true, though convincing Ruby wasn’t going to be easy. But in addition to asking Andrew for details, I’d also texted my sister Ruby’s name so she could check her background.

“Yeah?” Ruby’s arched eyebrow was slowly descending, along with her tension level.

“Yeah.” I waggled the phone, careful nothing showed but the lock screen. “So she googled you.”

“And found that pic on my website?”

“Must have.” I really hoped so. “She didn’t specify. Maybe Instagram?”

“Hmm…”

I scratched my nose, letting my chagrin come through. “Once I said you were smoking hot, Kate was like a terrier on the scent.” I reached across the table to again touch her hand. “I’m sorry it upset you. I blame my nosy, matchmaking sister.”

Ruby took a deep breath, looking away. When she exhaled, she seemed to have come to a decision, then her eyes found mine.

“I’ll level with you. Duke is my ex,” she said with a sigh. “My very, very ex. When we broke up, he tried to ruin my business. He enlisted a bunch of his friends to help him. They trolled me on every review site and blasted social media with bad press and outright lies.”

And I felt like even more of a dick. “So you thought I might be a friend of his here to set you up?” I asked, hating that she’d thought that for even a second.

She blushed, pursed her lips, then admitted, “It doesn’t hold up to logic, but my first reaction…” She shrugged and looked forlorn, and I just wanted to comfort her with my words, my arms, my lips.

Yet she could have a scumbag of an ex who treated her like shit,andshe could still be in cahoots with Eli somehow. Schemes and heartbreak were not mutually exclusive.

“But here’s the thing,” Ruby went on in almost the same tone. “That picture isn’t anywhere public. It’s on my friends-only social profile. So it didn’t come from your sister.”

Oh, hell.

This was a disaster. I’d made a stupid, rookie mistake. This was what I got for getting involved romantically during a job. I’d botched a cover-up that should have been a slam dunk.

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