Page 52 of Grumpy Boss in Love
Gasping, she clutched my arms and weakly said, “Please tell me I made it to heaven.”
Despite the situation and the extreme terror I’d just experienced, I let out a laugh. Typical Ruby comment after a near-death experience. I swiped my thumb over her pale, cold cheek. Maybe I gazed at her with affection that grew stronger each day in her presence, but at the moment it was hard to care.
“You’re very much alive,” I told her, wanting to kiss her blue-tinged lips.
Our eyes locked, and she whispered, “Oh. That’s great.” Then her chin quivered, and she burst into tears. “I was so scared.”
In the pouring rain, sprawled in the mud, I pulled her closer and held her tight as I stroked her hair. She clung to me, shivering and sobbing. With my lips pressed to her ear, I whispered, “Me too, Ruby. Me too.” I’d been downright terrified about almost losing her.
* * *
My cousin Ben often chastised me for being aloof. He said it was like I didn’t have feelings. The joke was on him because I’d been bombarded with so many emotions in one evening that I was mentally exhausted. Perched on the long cushioned bench in front of the bay window, I watched the rain hit the panel in a rapid rhythm.
We returned to the guesthouse about three hours ago. After Eleanor fussed over us, fed us hot chocolate, and shed some tears over the tragedy that had almost taken place, Ruby and I retired to the same room we’d been given before.
“Elliot, are you alright?” The softly uttered question had me turning to gaze at Ruby who was on the bed, huddled under a blanket.
“I should ask you that.”
She sighed. “I’m okay now. But I don’t think you are.”
I rubbed the back of my neck and shrugged. “I’m fine. Busy…” Glancing at the phone I forgot I held, I finished, “Checking weather reports. Sending emails. Letting the necessary people know I’ll be MIA tomorrow.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “Liar. You’ve been staring out the window for the last twenty minutes.”
I couldn’t even conjure the usual annoyed scowl I’d give her to let her know I didn’t want to talk about it. I was still traumatized after what almost happened, so my expression ended up softening the longer I stared at her. My eyes moved over her face affectionately, and I didn’t care if she noticed it or not. After almost losing her, it was like I had a new appreciation for her presence in my life.
“Well, I didn’t enjoy pulling your unconscious body from the river. I’m still suffering from the after-effects of shock.”
Ruby sat up and the blanket fell to settle around her waist. She shoved her hair out of her face. “What a hell of a—” she made air quotes—“honeymoon we’ve had, huh?” Her giggle rang with more nervousness than amusement and her smile seemed forced.
She had to have been twice as traumatized as I was. But Ruby Bennet was the type to make light of her pain… so I had learned. I didn’t share in her amusement. I couldn’t. So her forced smile faded.
“I never thanked you for saving my life, so… thanks. I can’t believe you jumped into a murky, raging river to save me.”
Putting down my phone on the windowsill with way too much force, I swiveled my body around to glower at her. “What’s so hard to believe about it, Ruby?”
My harsh tone had her lifting her eyebrows.
“Why? Because I’m an emotionless dick who cares about nothing else but his next money move?”
Her lips parted, and her eyes widened. “I didn’t say?—”
“Or is it because you have this warped idea in your head that I don’t like you? Even if I didn't, you don’t think I’d be enough of a decent human being not to hesitate to jump into a river to save another one?” My irritation rose some more. “You still hold the same opinion of me as everyone else, don’t you?” And that bothered me to the point of wanting to explode. As I glared in her direction, it hit me how much I cared what she thought of me.
Ruby’s mouth hung open as she stared at me. She probably thought I’d lost my mind, and she’d have every right to think so. My outburst was unnecessary and completely out of character.
Heat engulfed my face, and my eyes skated away from hers. “Sorry,” I grumbled. “That was uncalled for. I just…”
She canted her head, waiting for me to explain.
“What happened this evening reminded me that I’ve already lost too many people that I care about,” I admitted. “I’m still on edge after almost losing another.”
Ruby’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. I’d pretty much just told her she was important to me. Then her expression softened with compassion. “I see,” she whispered.
Getting those words out and being that honest about my feelings was hard. But there it was. Ruby crawled out of bed and took tentative steps toward me. My eyebrows snapped together as I watched her approach.
Her expressive face showcased an array of emotions. Uncertainty, fear, vulnerability, and desire… My feet were planted on the floor, and she stepped between my legs. I nearly jumped out of my skin at her proximity. Not because I didn’t want it, but because I wasn’t sure I could keep my hands to myself with temptation within reach.