Claiming His Nine-Month Consequence

His voice was low, making her shiver in the cold night. He wasn’t even touching her, but she felt electrified, half on fire. It had never felt like this with Braden, not once, not even when he’d kissed her. Even when he’d proposed to her, he’d never made her feel like this.

Run, her mother’s voice warned inside her. Run as far and fast as you can.

Instead, as Ruby looked up at Ares beneath the diamond-sparkled winter moonlight, she heard herself say, “Do you have ski clothes?”

His cruel, sensual lips curved. “Of course.”

She snorted. “But they’re probably some expensive designer, aren’t they? Brand new? In black?” When he didn’t deny it, Ruby shook her head. “I’ll find you something else.”

“What’s wrong with my clothes?”

“No one can know I’m bringing you up on the mountain. They’d be furious. Think you can keep your mouth in check and be inconspicuous and quiet?”

He looked insulted. “I can be inconspicuous when I choose. In fact, I’m amazing at it.”

She rolled her eyes. “Just do your best, okay? If anyone asks, you’re my cousin’s best friend from Coeur d’Alene. Come on.” Motioning him to follow, she led him to her old, beat-up SUV parked on a side street. She opened the passenger-side door with a squeal of rusted metal. She had to wrench the handle just right to get it open.

Ares looked at the truck dubiously.

“Not scared of a little worn upholstery, are you?” she challenged.

“That truck is older than I am.”

“How old are you?”

“Thirty-six.”

“You’re right. Get in.”

Going to the driver’s side, Ruby climbed in. He slid in beside her on the bench seat, then slammed the passenger door shut with a clang. It actually latched. She was impressed. Most people weren’t strong enough to close it unless they knew the trick. She looked at him.

Ares looked out of place sitting on the worn bench seat in his elegant black cashmere coat and well-cut white shirt and black trousers. She hid a smile. If he was bothered by her old truck, just wait till he saw what she planned for him to wear up on the mountain. Her smile spread to a grin.

“Ruby?”

Starting the engine with a low roar, she glanced at him. “Yeah?”

Ares caught her gaze beneath the moonlight. “Thank you.”

His dark eyes burned through her. Her grin faded. Looking away, she muttered, “It’s no big deal.” Glancing over her left shoulder, she twisted the steering wheel and pushed on the gas. “I’m just going to stop at my house and pick up some ski clothes for you.”

“Whose are they? Your brother’s? Your father’s?” He paused. “Your lover’s?”

“I don’t have any of those things,” she said, staring forward at the road. “My father deserted my mom before I was born. It’s just my mom, my little sister and me.”

“The same little sister who planned to seduce me?”

He sounded amused, but her cheeks burned. She could only imagine what he thought of Ivy. “Don’t judge her. She should be in college, having fun. Instead, she spends most of her time in a sickroom. Our mom’s been sick a long time. And Ivy doesn’t even remember her father. He died a long time ago.”

“You and your sister have different fathers?”

She looked at him fiercely. “So?”

He shrugged. “Sometimes I think fathers are overrated. My own was a piece of work.”

Slightly mollified, she changed the subject. “Did you grow up in Greece? You don’t really have an accent.”

“I was born in Greece. But most of my life I’ve lived elsewhere. New York, mostly.” For a moment, silence fell as she drove the truck down the thin sliver of highway going through the moonlit, snow-covered valley. Then he said, “In my experience, all fathers do well is pay the bills.”

With a snort, Ruby shook her head. “My father never paid a single bill for us. Neither did Ivy’s.”

He frowned. “What about child support?”

“They found ways around it.”

“But legally…”

Gripping the steering wheel, Ruby looked at the road. “It’s complicated.”