It was like a light bulb flared to life in my brain. My words came out a whisper. “You love him.”
She snapped her gaze to me. “Don’t be absurd. I care about him. He’s my boss and my friend.”
I slowly shook my head, unable to un-see it now. “Have you told him how you feel?”
“I don’t love him like that. I love him like a brother I never had. He’s a caring and compassionate man. Besides, even if I did, I wouldn’t have to tell him. He can read minds as well as body language.”
“Not mine,” I answered.
A twinkled entered Ruby’s eyes as a smile twisted her lips. “That must be driving him crazy.”
I shrugged. “Oh, I think he’s still good at reading me, only he’s having to guess to do it.”
Ruby laughed. “Is it true he saved your life?”
I waved in dismissal. “I saved myself. He just helped me get the bear spray out of my eyes.”
“Bear spray?”
“I was searching for a missing kid in the woods. I found him, and then a bear found us.” I chuckled. “Bear spray is actually very effective.”
She gave a little nod as if still confused. “You saved a missing kid from a bear?”
I opened my sketchbook to the crumpled folded picture, which I’d put back inside after it had been in my pocket. I pointed to the child and the tree and the stream. “I found him.”
She leaned away from me a smidge. “So, you’re like Harlon?”
“I don’t think anyone is quite like the lumberjack.”
She laughed. “You’ve seen his flannel obsession.”
“You could say that. He lent me a shirt after he kidnapped me.”
“I don’t think this conversation could get any more bizarre,” she said.
“That’s why you had to buy me some things. I didn’t get a chance to pack. I was unconscious when he carried me onto the plane.”
Ruby snapped her mouth closed just as Dean pulled up in front of a clothing store. The back door swung open, and Dean offered his hands to both of us. I brought my sketchbook in with me.
“Well, if that’s the case, he owes you more than a pretty dress, and he did say to buy you whatever you desire.” Her gaze sparkled as she turned to the driver, speaking to him with a wave of her hand. “Dean, we’re going to be a few hours. I’ll call when we’re ready.”
“Very good, ma’am,” he said and shut the door.
Few hours? That didn’t sound good. “Ruby, I don’t need anything but a dress and maybe some shoes for this benefit-ball thing. I’m only here another two days.”
“So, you brought everything you’ll need to wear underneath?” she asked.
I let out a sigh. It wasn’t like I knew I’d be attending some fancy-schmancy thing.
“That’s what I thought. Harlon Simmons is an important man in this industry. He can’t have just any ol’ woman on his arm. He needs her to be as sexy, beautiful, and deadly as the animals and security operatives he trains.” She wrapped her arm around mine. “But don’t worry, Nina. I’m just the woman you need to make that happen.”
“Oh good Lord,” I whispered as I was kidnapped again, only this time by a woman on a mission and her boss’s credit card.
