Ford grinned and tightened his hold on her. “I thought you said you didn’t remember.”
Ruby felt his hand curl around hers, and she willed the waltz to end soon.
“It will end soon enough,” he told her.
Ruby’s eyes flew to meet his. “How do you do that?”
“Everything you think is written across your beautiful face. It’s not difficult.”
Ruby felt a rush at the word beautiful used to describe her face.
“And I’ve known you your entire life, Ruby.”
She felt his hand dip to her upper back, branding her as it moved. She was his. She was his. She would always be his. She ached to be his again.
Ford crushed the thoughts that raced through his brain. He wanted to drag Ruby from the lounge and strip the red dress from her body. He could see the tops of her breasts, the curve of her waist, and he wanted nothing more than to throw her down upon the bed and taste the honey between her legs.
He knew that King was nearby watching them, and he had to practice what he had learned. He had to shutter his emotions and trap them deep inside. He couldn’t have her. She wasn’t his. She wasn’t his. She would never be his.
“Ford.”
He snapped out of his reverie to realize the music had stopped and the couples were leaving the floor.
“Miss Sutton,” he said formally, dropping his arms to his sides and waving a hand in front of him. “After you.”
They made their way back to the table, where King was consuming more champagne and Bessie and Archie were listening to an old vaudeville story being told by Vernon. They all laughed at the punch line, though Ruby had missed the joke.
“Ruby, you looked like a glittering star out there on the dance floor,” King said, smiling at her.
“Thank you, King. I had two excellent partners.” She looked at Ford and Archie.
“That’s absolutely correct! Partners! They are so important!” he said loudly and stood up suddenly with his drink. “A toast!”
Everyone at the table had a drink in hand, and Ford grabbed two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and handed one to Ruby.
“A toast to partners!” King said, raising his glass as everyone repeated his words.
Ford seemed to be studying him, and Ruby watched King as he downed the entire glass.
“And one more toast!” he said, waiting for his glass to be refilled. “To beautiful women!” He nodded at Bessie, but his gaze lingered on Ruby for far too long.
Ford stiffened next to her, and he bent down low to whisper something in King’s ear.
“Yes. Right you are. Let’s take this party back to my cabin,” King bellowed. “My cabin we go!”
Ruby noticed that King stumbled a bit when he stood, and he was slurring his words. He hung on to Ford and bid several strangers good night.
But as he passed by, he said, “No, not you, Ruby! Come have a night cap with us!”
Ruby nodded in agreement and took up the rear as the three left the lounge. When they entered King’s suite, he passed out almost immediately on the couch.
“King?” Ruby leaned over to check on him.
She didn’t realize that by bending over him, Ford had a perfect view of her breasts pressed against the neckline and pushed up by her corset.
“He needs to sleep it off,” Ford said, turning away. “He’ll have a headache in the morning, but he’ll be fine.”
Ruby moved away from King and walked to the door with Ford directly behind her.