Page 39 of Grumpy Boss in Love
I’d been staring outside, watching the rain hit the window when my assistant called to let me know Ruby was here. I didn’t order any coffee so her arrival could only mean one thing. She was here to tell me that she’d play along with my fake marriage plot… or not. I was hopeful because there was no one else I could think of to ask at this point.
“What am I doing?” I whispered. Going this far to appease an elderly couple and obtain a piece of property was madness.
The click of the door opening had me turning around to watch Ruby enter. She was soaked. Her dark blonde mane clung to her head in damp tendrils. The gray dress she wore looked heavier with the water it had soaked up and her stockings had wet spots on them.
She wore no makeup, so the marks of exhaustion were clear on her face. Seeing Ruby this disheveled wasn’t something I was accustomed to. Ever since I’d known her, she’d been a spiffy dresser, always so well put together, and cheerful. Now, she looked absolutely miserable.
My eyebrows snapped up when she closed the door and just stood there gazing at me with eyes that were clouded with despair. I wondered if she knew how expressive her eyes were.
“Bad morning?” I asked.
The puff of distressed air was answer enough. Ruby swept tendrils of hair out of her face and sniffed. “I’ve certainly had better.” She held up a cardboard cup. “When I got off the bus, I got caught in the rain, so I dodged into your favorite café and got you this since I needed an excuse to see you this morning.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me just yet. As I walked and the rain soaked through my clothes, I took a few sips to warm up so…” Her lips twisted ruefully.
“I see. You might as well have the rest of it.” After another appraisal of her appearance, I added, “Looks like you need the caffeine more than I do.”
“You have no idea.” Ruby advanced into the room, aiming for the leather sofa rather than one of the armchairs that were in front of my desk. She flopped down and practically guzzled the coffee while I watched with growing amusement.
She paused and wrinkled her nose. “How do you even drink black coffee? It’s just so… blah. Boring.”
“Like me?” Her eyes snapped to my face in askance and I shrugged. “I’ve heard that I’m boring, only focused on work. You once chastised me about my dull accessories.”
For a moment, all traces of her sorrow disappeared, and her caramel eyes sparked with humor as she drawled, “Au contraire, Mr. Westwood. I’ve learned that you’re not as dull as you pretend to be. You’ve contrived an entire fake marriage, after all.”
I snorted. I never spent a minute in Ruby’s presence without getting a dose of her candidness. “What about my attitude that you love to comment on so much? Am I not as grouchy either?”
“Oh, no, you’re definitely a huge grumpster,” she said.
My lips curved upward some more, but I rubbed my jaw to hide it. It was incredible how I smiled more in her presence than with anyone else.
“But at least you’ve taken my advice,” she murmured, staring at my silk-patterned burgundy and blue tie.
I grabbed my new tie self-consciously and rubbed the back of my neck. I was ridiculously pleased that she’d noticed it and immediately felt foolish. Seeking approval from my intern regarding ties was beyond absurd.
“A pop of color.” She smiled. “I’m just noticing that you’ve upped your tie game.”
“You didn’t notice before because you’ve been avoiding me,” I said dryly.
“As you’ve been avoiding me.” She clutched her chest as she continued gazing at my tie. “I’m so proud of you.”
I rolled my eyes with enough dramatics to rival her typical eye rolls. “Yeah… Let’s get on with business, shall we?”
The lively Ruby who I was accustomed to disappeared. Her shoulders sagged, and she went back to the miserable woman who had walked in a moment ago. “Right.” She shrugged. “I’m here to accept your offer.”
Lifting one eyebrow, I joked, “You look like I’ve asked you to sign your entire life away. It’s not that big of a deal.”
She scoffed. “Not that big of a… Marriage is a big deal,” she hissed.
“Not a temporary contract union. I’ll need you for…” I did a quick mental calculation of how long it might take to close on that property sale. “Three months tops and that’s only if I hit any snags in the process.”
She shook her head. “You and I see things so differently. The timing doesn’t matter. The whole idea of a fake relationship is just…” Ruby tucked her chin into her chest and sighed. “You know what? Never mind. I said I’ll do it, so let’s just get on with it.”
I propped my chin on one hand. “What changed your mind?”
Her lower lip protruded into a cute pout, and I couldn’t help staring at her mouth. I still thought about that kiss often. Blinking, I dragged my eyes away from the temptation of her lips.