Sam frowned, his earlier fury with her returning full force. Did Ruby even know it was he who had been inside her delicious body not fifty-eight hours ago? He who had made her come so hard that she had clung to him like a baby koala about to fall out of a tree? The thought that maybe she hadn’t known had crossed his mind more than once over the weekend, but he’d immediately dismissed the notion. She’d known it was him. He was sure of it.
But what if she hadn’t? What if he’d been little more than a random hook-up she’d used to scratch an itch? Sam felt a deep growl rumble inside his chest. A part of him didn’t like to think that was all it had been for her, which was slightly irrational because wasn’t that all it had been for him?
Her stride slowed as she reached a secretarial desk, her face only slightly softening as she listened to the woman seated behind it. He studied Ruby’s profile. Her thick, straight hair was bound tightly at the base of her skull and he wanted to unwind it and mess up each blonde strand until it sifted like silk through his fingers.
‘If you’ll give me a minute,’ she said coolly, turning to look at him. ‘I need to take an important call before our meeting.’
Sam planted his hands on his hips as he regarded her. Was this a power play? Make him cool his heels while he had to wait for her?
‘Fine,’ he finally said, attempting to give her the benefit of the doubt.
‘Would you like a coffee while you wait, Mr Ventura?’
‘Sam,’ he automatically corrected the secretary. ‘And no. I’m fully caffeinated. Thanks.’
‘No worries.’ She smiled widely at him and he could see she wanted to say more but he paced around the small space like a caged tiger, his mind boiling over with the possibility that Ruby had no clue as to who he was other than her best friend’s brother-in-law.
‘You can send Mr Ventura in now, Ronnie.’ Ruby’s voice sounded over the intercom, raising his hackles. Mr Ventura, was it?
Of course, idiot, you’re in the office, not a bar.
Fine. He’d be calm and professional in return. Let her know he preferred first names in the office just as Drew did and then he’d ask her if she was okay. And perhaps why she’d sent him on a fool’s errand on Friday night and then run away from him.
‘I’d like to get something straight,’ she said, seated behind her desk like a queen attempting to exert control over a particularly unruly minion. ‘I know how busy you must be with the merger, and the move to new office space this afternoon, so I don’t want you to feel that you have to involve yourself in the Star Burger case. I have an incredible team working with me and we really do have everything well in hand.’
The woman had spunk; he’d give her that. ‘And hello to you too, Ruby. It’s good to see you again,’ Sam drawled, somehow managing to hold his fast-rising irritation in check.
She had, he noticed with some satisfaction, the good grace to blush. ‘It’s ah...nice to see you too.’
Like hell it was, he thought, refusing to sit down opposite her like the good boy she expected him to be. Instead he took his time studying her office as if he were truly interested.
‘I just don’t want you to think that I need your assistance right now,’ she continued as the silence lengthened between them. ‘I know you must be incredibly busy.’
‘So you said.’ He picked up a colourful paperweight from her bookcase and tossed it into the air. ‘Nice piece. Who gave it to you?’
‘My mother.’ She moistened her cherry-red lips, a signature look of hers if he remembered correctly. ‘After I made Senior Associate.’
‘That’s right.’ He looked across at her. ‘Drew said you’re very good at your job.’
‘Extremely good,’ she corrected, more defensive now than uncertain. ‘I’ve worked hard to get where I am at Kent’s.’
‘I didn’t say you hadn’t.’
‘I know, but some people assume it’s because of Drew’s affirmative action strategy and—oh, never mind.’
‘Relax, Ruby,’ he said, finally dropping into the club chair opposite her desk now that he had control of the conversation. And her. ‘This isn’t a job interview. I wasn’t having a go at your position in the firm. I’m sure you’ve earned it.’