Page 99 of Can't Win 'Em All
“Yup. That’s exactly what we do.”
“Well, that’s boring.”
Mom smirked at him. “Just imagine how much fun we’re going to have when we all get to drop the bomb that he’s failed on him. Plus, if he wants that footage, he’s going to have to turn over his remaining shares in the company.”
Zach perked up. “Oh, you are diabolical.”
“Yes.” Mom looked far too happy with herself. “It’s going to be amazing. Just wait.”
“I hope it all works out.” I meant it. “He’s got a lot of bad karma coming to him.”
“That’s why it’s going to work out,” Mom assured me. “If anybody has earned his comeuppance, it’s your father. It’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally here. I, for one, can’t wait.”
She wasn’t the only one. “Yeah. It’s going to be the gift that keeps on giving … forever.”
“Now we just have to put it in action. It won’t be long now. We finally have the upper hand.”
REX HUNG AROUND TO HELP ME CLEANup after they’d all left. That wasn’t unexpected. When he started for the door to show himself out, though, my heart gave a panicked leap.
“Where are you going?” I blurted.
He glanced over his shoulder. “I figured you would want some time to yourself to think things through. That’s your normal way of doing things.”
My normal way of doing things. I was such a creature of habit that he didn’t think—not for a moment—that I would deviate from my pattern. Well, I was about to show him.
“I want you to stay.” I didn’t wait for him to say it first this time. I needed to be the bold one. It was time.
“You want me to cuddle you?” His smile was roguish.
“No, I want it all.”
He faltered. “What all?” His voice was raspy, as if his mouth had suddenly gone dry.
“Everything you want to give me, I want to take.” I’d been nervous about what I was going to say, and yet everything spilled out topsy-turvy … and I was okay with it. “You said earlier that you wanted me to be certain about us. Well, I am certain. I want you. All of you.”
Hope flared in his eyes, then he tempered it. “Maybe I should let you sleep on it so you’re really sure.”
“I am really sure, Rex.” I wasn’t going to let him get away. Not this time. “You mentioned that you wanted it all, but you needed to wait for me to want it all. The thing is, I do want it all. I always have. I was just afraid.”
“And you’re not afraid now?”
“I guess I have faith. Somewhere along the way, you gave it to me.”
“And you’re sure you’re not going to change your mind?”
“I’m sure. This is what I want. I need you to give it to me.” I recognized what I’d said when it was too late to take it back. “That sounded like something from a dirty movie.”
He laughed as he took a hopeful step toward me. “I won’t hold it against you.”
“What if I want you to hold it against me?” I did my best to be flirty. It was hard given my current state. Given the way his eyes flashed, I managed to somehow hit my mark.
“Be very specific here, Ruby,” he rasped. “Tell me what you want.”
“I want you to love me … every way that you can.”
He lurched forward and cupped the back of my head. “Done.” I was swinging up into his arms before I registered what was happening. “You have no idea what I’m going to do to you.” He almost tripped over his feet in his haste to get to my bedroom.
“I can’t wait to find out,” I whispered into his neck.
