‘Whatever you’re going to do, you might want to decide sooner rather than later,’ Dante murmured under his breath. ‘A gorgeous blonde just walked into the pub and if I’m not mistaken she has your name written all over her. More’s the pity.’
Sam swivelled around to face the main entrance, where three women stood, their eyes adjusting to the dim lighting, and one of them was his Ruby, looking like a vision.
* * *
‘Miller!’ Ruby growled, her eyes alighting on Sam sitting at the bar beside his two brothers as soon as she entered the pub. ‘Please tell me you didn’t know Sam would be here.’
When she’d called Miller and broken down over the phone her best friend had immediately called Molly and they had agreed to meet at their favourite bar. On the car trip over they’d pretty much heard the whole story. How she and Sam had agreed to a weekend-only affair, how she’d stupidly fallen in love with him and how she planned to move to London. Because what else could she do? Working in the same office as Sam was absolutely untenable under the circumstances. At least, it was for her.
Now she felt a sense of déjà vu tightening her insides because this was the exact same bar she’d met Sam in two years ago.
‘Don’t hate me,’ Miller began sheepishly. ‘But I might have known.’
‘I don’t hate you. But I might kill you,’ Ruby promised. ‘I already told you that he signed the transfer papers and told me that work was my favourite crutch. What did you think was going to happen by bringing us together like this?’
‘I don’t know. Something?’
‘He might have a point about the whole work-as-a-crutch thing,’ Molly offered.
‘Molly?’ Ruby gave her sister a furious look. ‘Whose side are you on?’
‘We’re on yours, sweetie,’ Miller soothed. ‘That’s why we’re here.’
‘You could tell him how you feel,’ Molly offered.
‘Tell him how I feel?’ Ruby looked at her sister, aghast. ‘Not everything turns out like a Disney movie, Molly. You should know that.’
‘I’m taking back what I said about you being scared of commitment,’ Molly muttered. ‘I’m inserting the word petrified instead.’
‘I wouldn’t say anything else if I were you.’ She jabbed a finger at her sister in exasperation. ‘Since you were no doubt in on this plan to sabotage me like this, I’m going to replace you with a cat. At least pets are loyal.’
Before Ruby could think about turning around and walking back outside, Sam rose from his bar stool and prowled towards her, the merry after-work crowd seeming to automatically part to make way for him.
Her heart very nearly stopped as he came to a halt in front of her, his tie askew and his hair rumpled as if he’d run his hand through it a thousand times.
‘I didn’t know you were here,’ she said, not wanting him to think that she had anything to do with this unwanted set up.
‘I have no doubt about that,’ he murmured in his black-velvet voice. ‘But now that you are I’d like to talk to you.’
Forget his sexy voice, Ruby told herself, and instead concentrate on how you’re going to get over him. Properly this time.
‘I don’t think that’s a good idea.’
‘Ruby!’ Molly exclaimed, elbowing her in the ribs.
‘Will you give us a few minutes?’ Sam asked, smiling at the two traitors beside her.
‘Of course,’ they readily agreed, rushing over to join Tino and Dante at the bar and leaving them alone together.
Sam frowned as he took in the boisterous crowd. ‘Let’s take this into the beer garden. It’s most likely quieter than in here.’
Wanting to ask him what ‘this’ was, but not sure she could speak without getting emotional, Ruby reluctantly let him take her hand and lead her outside. Whatever he had to tell her, she vowed to listen and say nothing. Then she’d walk away and never see him again. It would be better that way. There was really no need for him to know how badly she felt about how things had ended between them.
‘You look pale,’ he said, stopping beside a large potted fern that softened the brickwork on the building. ‘Do you need to sit down?’