“As fascinating as it sounds to sit around watching crops grow and drinking mint juleps for the next ten, twenty years, I need a little bit more excitement in my life than that.”
“So you’ll return eventually to Mississippi when you tire of the excitement?” Ruby asked.
“Something like that.”
“I’ll never return,” she stated firmly.
“Don’t kid yourself, Ruby. At heart, you’re a Southern belle.”
“Maybe. But there’s nothing in Mississippi for me now.” She flushed and watched as Ford moved about the room.
“You still haven’t told me why you’re here.”
“I came to warn you,” he said softly as he stood before her.
“Warn me?”
“Yes. I’ve worked several jobs in New York, including high-profile ones, and I’ve worked for King, so I’ve seen it firsthand. He has a reputation.”
“A reputation?”
“With the ladies.”
Ruby looked into Ford’s handsome face. “What has that to do with me?”
“I know you went to the park with him today.”
“Are you spying on me?”
“And he’s captivated by you,” he continued. “Which isn’t hard, I know.”
Ruby heard something in his voice that made her stop. “He’s in talks to finance a tour to London with the vaudeville show,” she explained.
“And the price of his backing is what? You?” he asked coldly.
Ruby wanted to slap his face, but she didn’t. “Don’t presume to know me, Ford. You don’t at all.”
Ford grinned and took a step toward her. A blond curl had untangled from her ribbon and he tucked it behind her ear. “I don’t know you? I think of all the men in New York, I know you only too well.”
Ruby stared into his hazel eyes. “That was one night.”
“You want another?”
“You come to warn me and then insult me?”
Ford gave her a hot, searching glance and then turned away. “You’re right. My manners are lacking. I apologize.”
“I am capable of taking care of myself, Ford. As it is, King said nothing to me today other than wishing to be my admirer. I could never be anything more. He’s married, and I even told him so.”
A light smile touched Ford’s face. “I’m sure he loved that. The first woman ever to refuse King Parker.”
“I didn’t refuse him. He offered nothing.”
“I’ve worked with him before, Ruby. He has a wayward brother-in-law named Harry who is often in trouble, and his wife was once blackmailed for something. For the most part, he seems a good man. But he has more money than is safe. And when people have that kind of money, it makes them think they can buy anything. Including people.”
“Well, there is nothing for sale here,” Ruby returned tartly.
Ford was silent for a moment before he spoke. “I’ve been worried about you, Ruby. Since that night . . .” He let the rest of his words fall away.