Page 92 of Can't Win 'Em All
“That’s why I like it.”
“You’re not looking at me the same way.”
I made a face. “Look again, Ruby.”
She stared hard at the portrait, then sighed. “I guess you’re kind of looking at me like I’m yummy. If I’m looking at you like you’re the porterhouse in that photo, though, you’re looking at me like I’m fish and chips.”
“I happen to love fish and chips.” I threw myself onto the couch next to her and glanced over the folders she had strewn everywhere. “Babycakes, what are you doing?”
“Stop calling me babycakes.”
“Fine, sugar flake.”
“What the hell is a sugar flake?”
I shrugged. “I’m coming up with a nickname for you, and you’re going to like it.”
“Yeah, you could just call me Ruby.”
“I’ll call you Ruby most of the time. I need something for when I’m feeling especially mushy. Since Rexanne will be here in six weeks, I foresee a lot of mush happening.”
“Unbelievable,” she muttered under her breath. “Also, I know you’re trying to wear me down, but Rexanne is not happening. She’ll be made fun of if her name is Rexanne.”
“Please. She’s going to be the first Stone grandchild, and her father is a security stud. Nobody is making fun of our kid.”
“Pick another name,” I gritted out.
“Henrexia?”
“I’m going to cry. Is that what you want? I’m just going to cry until I can’t cry any longer.”
“Fine.” The name game was only fun when she wasn’t stressed about something else. “What’s your current favorite name?”
“Rose.”
I was thrown. “You want to name her after a flower?”
She shrugged. “You get me roses all the time.”
“Is that why you like the name?” I was surprisingly touched. “We could call her Rosie. That would be cute on a little girl. Rosie Carter.” I paused. “Although … are you going to let her have my last name?”
Now Ruby was the one who was surprised. “Isn’t that the norm?”
I shrugged. “Yes, but we’re not married and Stone is the last name with more power in this town.”
“I don’t care about that.” She waved me off. “I want her to have your last name.”
“Because you believe you’ll end up with the same last name at some point?” I was being playful, but part of me wanted a real answer.
She gave me a dark glare. “How far do you want to push me today?”
“Fine.” I grabbed one of the files and picked it up. “What are you looking for here? You’ve been digging through financial files for two days, ever since that meeting with your family. You have to be looking for something specific.”
“I am,” she confirmed. “I’m looking for hints about what my father is up to.”
“Shouldn’t you be looking in a strip club then?”
She snorted. “That’s fair. He’s definitely up to something, though. He keeps circling back to this amphitheater idea.”
