I blow out an indignant breath, narrowing my eyes at the back of Liam’s head.
“Glare at me all you want, I’m not changing my mind.”
“Overbearing asshole,” I grumble under my breath.
“Stubborn woman.”
I lean my throbbing head against the passenger window and close my eyes. The blurring landscape lulls me to sleep.
Liam
By the time we pull up to my house on the outskirts of Oak Ridge, Ruby is already passed out in the back seat of my truck. She is stunning with her golden hair fanned out across the seat, her lips parted as she lets out the cutest snores I’ve ever heard. I could look at her all night and not grow tired of the sight. She’s not the perfectly polished singer right now. No filters. No pretense. It’s just Ruby, the woman who’s had me in a freefall for the better part of a decade.
I don’t have a lot of regrets in my life—never had time for them—but I’ll always regret that night on the tailgate when I wanted to kiss her and didn’t. She still wore Connor’s name on her back, still held his hand at parties, and pretended theywere ok when I knew they weren’t. She wasn’t mine to look at, and she’s not mine to look at now.
I steel myself and step out of the truck.
I close the door quietly so I don’t wake her, opening the back passenger side with the same care and consideration. Placing one arm under her knees and the other around her back, I lift her into my arms.
Ruby groans, and her head lolls against my shoulder. “Too heavy. Hurt you.”
“Goldie, I could throw you over my shoulder and run up a flight of stairs without breaking a sweat. Go back to sleep.”
“That’s kinda hot,” she murmurs.
The house is quiet when we step through the front door, the dim light of the living room lamp casting a soft glow. I place Ruby down on the plush, dark grey couch, tucking a blanket around her curvy form. Just as I’m about to stand, she tugs on my arm and pulls me partially over top of her body. When her breasts skim against my chest, it takes all of my self-control not to give in to my baser instincts.
“Ruby…” Her name comes out as a gruff warning, but she’s nothing if not stubborn as hell.
Her glassy eyes dip to my lips. “You don’t want to kiss me?”
I lean over, brushing my nose against hers and closing my eyes. “I want to kiss you. God help me, I do. But not right now. Not like this.”
Someone should give me a medal for the amount of restraint on display. The woman I’ve wanted for years is asking me to kiss her, and I’ve somehow found the goddamn fortitude to turn her down.
I want to give her exactly what she’s asking for and so much more, but I can’t. Not only is she my brother’s ex, but she’s drunk and can’t consent to anything, even if her eyes are pleading with me.
Our breaths mingle, and her expression turns to one of sadness. “Why not? Don’t you want me?”
I sweep a lock of hair away from her forehead. “Because, Goldie, when I kiss you for the first time”—my thumb brushes over her bottom lip—“and itwillbe thefirst time—the first of many. I want you to remember it. I’ve waited years to taste those lips. I can wait one more night.”
“Ok.” She sighs. Her eyes close and her breathing slows. I chuckle softly to myself as she instantly drifts off to sleep.
Light footsteps fill the silence, and I glance up to find Ivy standing on the threshold between the living room and the kitchen.
“Aiden in bed?” I ask.
“Yeah, he’s been out for a few hours. Luca picked up Rylin and Roselyn, so I’ve just been hanging out.” She juts her chin at Ruby, who’s still fast asleep, and I realize I’m way too close for someone who isn’t her boyfriend. “Sleeping beauty ok?”
“She had a few too many, but I think she’ll be fine.”
She motions for me to follow her into the kitchen, where she grabs a bottle of water from the fridge and pulls out a pack of pain relievers from her purse, handing me two of the pills.
“See if you can get her to take these. It should help stave off a nasty hangover. Are you good if I head out?”
“Of course. Thanks again, Ivy. I owe you.”
“And that’s why I’ll see you tomorrow night for that margarita.”
