Something happened. Did he tell her something stupid? Or did he try something with her?
I glared at him. “Is the meeting done? I don’t want to intrude.”
“Of course not.” Ru stuck his hands into his pockets. “I’m sure you’re ready to get back to the music. Will you two be in the studio today?”
I fisted my hands in my pockets. “Eventually.”
“Eventually? That doesn’t sound like we’re being productive.” Ru tapped his watch. “Her time is money. And besides, I have some other deals that have come up for Simone. Word is spreading that she’s here and working on a new album with you.”
And I bet you’re the one spreading the word.
I hated the idea of her working on music with anyone else. “We’ll have to put an exclusive clause in the contract. I don’t like the idea of sharing Simone.”
Ru turned to Simone and tossed her a wicked smile. “Awww. Look at that. He doesn’t want to share you. This looks like it will be option A.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“Nothing.” Ru walked off and formed his fingers in the shape of a W. “I’ll be on the best side, which is clearly the west side.”
Simone watched him leave with anger plastered over her face.
“By the way, Gio,” Ru called over his shoulder, “you have ghosts in the hallways. They dance out there around midnight.”
“Interesting.” I turned his way and showed him my middle finger, making sure Simone couldn’t see it. “I hope the ghosts don’t kill you or anything. You’re welcome to stay in a hotel tonight at my expense.”
Ru responded with a sound that was between a growl and a chuckle as he disappeared into the house. The whole time, Simone watched us both and remained silent.
I faced her. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing I can’t handle.” She shrugged and started to walk off toward the house. I tenderly grabbed her arm and pulled her back to me.
“We don’t lie to each other,” I said, breathing in her lush scent. “You don’t have your usual smile on. Why not?”
“Ru’s worried about us.”
I held in my annoyance. “What did he say?”
She tucked a few curls behind her ear. “He mentioned...the other women you’ve had here.”
“There haven’t been any other women in this house. Besides my mother, you’re the only woman that’s come here to visit me.”
That smile didn’t return to her face, but her expression softened. I didn’t like the look in her eyes either, like she was hoping I was telling the truth but wasn’t sure. Who was I to blame her? I’d heard Jason say the same shit to most of the women he’d brought to his house.
“You’re the only woman that’s come here, baby. Really. Besides my mother, you’re the only one, baby.”
The only problem was that I was actually telling the fucking truth.
“Okay,” she said, but I could tell she was more on guard than usual.
Ru, your time is up. I’m going to drag you out of here. All I have to do is not alarm Simone.
“What else did he say?” I asked.
“You don’t have to explain yourself to me. We’re not—”
“What? Together? No, we’re not, but still, I don’t like the idea of some guy touching you either.” I pulled her in even closer. “I don’t even want to hear about anyone ever kissing those lips before me. I know it must’ve happened, but I don’t want to hear about it. And I don’t like the fact that Ru told you this bullshit. So, if you have any concerns or questions, tell me.”
She let out an exasperated breath. “He said he overhead from your maids that you have tons of women over all the time.”
“He’s lying.”
“Okay.”
“What else did he say?”
She got out of my hold. “Let’s just leave it alone. I figured Ru was overdoing it and lying. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”
“Simone?” I called after her.
She stopped and turned my way. “Yes.”
“We won’t be eating in the house. I’m taking you out.”
She gave me a suspicious look. “Did you happen to purchase a building too?”
“What?”
“Nothing.” Finally, her signature smile showed on her face as she walked to me. “Dinner without Ru sounds good.”
I gave her my arm and she hooked hers around it.
“We have to get my car out of the garage,” I said.
We headed down the stone trail. I thought about the comment she’d made earlier.
“Ru bought a building?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“He thought it would be a good place for me to stay while we worked on your album. I thought he’d lost his mind. The place is thirty minutes away and a rat’s nest.”
I nodded, thinking of how I would rearrange Ru’s face. “You were right. He is a great manager. He’s being proactive.”
“Very funny.”
“Are we going to pretend like he’s not deliberately trying to cock block me?”
“Well, it’s clearly not working. I don’t think anyone, or anything, could block your cock from me, Gio.”