“You don’t strike me as shy,” Michael says distractedly weaving his fingers into my own as he watches the city zoom by through the limousine’s tinted windows.
I should tell him. Right now, I should tell him the truth about me and who I am. About my past.
But I chicken out.
Dinner had been so wonderful. The way he’d looked at me – no man has ever looked at me like that. And I want it. I’m beginning to want something more with Michael. I’m beginning to want a relationship and I’m hoping that there’s some path around my past. I’m hoping that I can just sweep it under the rug and pretend that my past doesn’t exist.
I lay my head against his strong shoulder and dream about what it would be like to claim this man for my own. To have him completely. I’m tired of fighting him away. I want him so bad.
I must have gotten lost in my fantasy because, before long, the car stops. I lift my head and peer out the window and panic immediately sets in.
There are photographers everywhere. Flashing bulbs. A red carpet. Screaming fans.
The driver opens the door and Michael steps out onto the red-carpeted sidewalk. He reaches out a hand for me.
My face is hot. My heart is pounding. I’m sweating. “Wha-what is – is this, Michael?”
He sticks his head into the car, an ear-to-ear grin spread across his face. “We’re at the premiere of Unraveled after Dark. I saw you reading the novel. Remember? The author is one of my clients. She got us tickets to the screening.”
I feel faint. I feel like I’m about to pass out.
When he said we were going to the movies, I’d figured we’d catch a late show on East 86th Street. The world-premiere of one of the most anticipated movies of the year? Complete with shutter-happy paparazzi? This is more than I bargained for.
“No! I can’t be here!” I retreat further into the limousine, now barely able to breathe.
Michael looks confused. “I thought you’d enjoy this. I’ve seen you reading the novel. I don’t understand.”
“I can’t be here, Michael. You can’t be seen with me. You don’t know who I am,” I insist.
Michael tosses a glance at the expectant crowd behind him, waiting eagerly to see which hot actress or pop star emerges from the limousine. He turns back to me and looks mortified. He lowers his voice and his face is red. “Ruth, what the fuck is going on? What are you talking about? Who are you?”
“I’m not just some innocent, sweet intern who works at your father’s law firm. I killed a man with my bare hands. You can’t be seen with me.”
Michael’s jaw hangs open. His eyes are wide.
There it is. The look I never wanted to have to see on his face. Disgust. Shock. Anger.
I have to get away from him. Now.
I grab my purse and scurry to the other limousine door. I throw it open and dash into the street, dodging around oncoming traffic. My long, sequined red dress floating around me, I manage to catch a cab once I make it to the other side of the street.
With tears streaking down my face, I glance out the window and see Michael, staring in my direction, standing frozen in the bright theatre lights.
Preview of “Blinded by Desire – Ruthie (Book 2)”*
Chapter 1
“Ruthie? I thought you had a date. What are you doing here?” Hailey sets her margarita glass down on the coffee table and leaps to her feet as I storm through the front door.
Shit – Madison is here.
She barely rips her attention away from the movie playing on the television to acknowledge me. Great – Michael’s sister, in my apartment. This is just what I need right now.
I barrel past them and shut myself in my bedroom. Before long, Hailey is banging on the door. “Ruthie – open up!”
“Go away, Hailey,” I say through my tears as I peel off my floor-length red sequined gown and watch it fall to the floor.
I should have known. From the moment this dress showed up at my front door this evening, I should have known that this was no ordinary Friday night at the movies. I should have known that Michael had something over-the-top planned for us…And I should have put a stop to it.
But I shut my brain off. I ignored the obvious. And now, Michael knows my secret. And he’ll never look at me the same again; that’s for sure. I’ll probably lose my job because what law firm wants a lowly intern carrying as much dirty baggage as I’ve got.
It’s all over for me. All because I couldn’t stay away from Michael.
I sink into a sobbing mess on the floor and bury my face in my hands. This was supposed to be my chance to start over. To clean up my mess of a life. I got a second chance. My past had been swept under the rug. All I had to do was focus on my goals. Focus on my dreams. But yet again, I let myself get distracted by a man. Yet again, I sabotaged myself yet again.
I hear a booming knock at the front door and Hailey rushes off to answer it. I hear her muffled voice speaking at the end of the hall. Then, heavy footsteps barreling towards my bedroom. My door swings open so hard that it slams into the wall.
“Michael? Michael, what are you doing here? What’s going on?”
“Not now, Madison!” he growls at his sister as he storms into my room and slams the door shut behind him.
I peer up at him from my seat on the floor. His face is red and his eyes are narrow as he glares down at me. “Go away, Michael,” I say quietly, sniffling through my tears.
“Get up. We need to talk.” His tone is firm and unyielding.
“I want you to go away.” This time, I try to sound more convincing. I fail.
He reaches down and grabs me by the arm, yanking me to my feet. “Get up, Ruth.”
“Ouch!” I wince, rubbing my now-sore arm. “What the fuck, Michael! Get out of here!” I stomp and point towards the door.
I hear Hailey’s voice, just outside the door. “Ruthie – are you okay?”
Madison pipes in. “Michael – Michael, answer me!”
Michael lowers his voice to a whisper. “You’re not getting rid of me. Not until I understand what’s going on.”
“Ruthie? Is everything alright?” Hailey calls again.
I look into Michael’s eyes and see his pure determination. I can tell that he’s not going anywhere until I give him some answers.
“Hailey – I’m fine,” I say to reassure my roommate all while glaring a hole into Michael. “Can you guys give us some privacy please?”
“Okay – I’m right in the living room if you need me.” I hear the concern in her voice. I listen to the sound of her and Madison’s footsteps returning down the hall, back to the living room.
“I need to know what’s going on, Ruth. What you said in the limo – was it true?” His expression has softened now. He looks like’s he’s desperately hoping that I didn’t mean what I said to him earlier. That it was a joke or a misunderstanding. That what I said to him isn’t true.
But it is.
I don’t know how I’m going to explain it to him. How I’m going to make him understand. It took me so long to come to grips with it myself.
I wrap my arms tightly around my body, suddenly very self-conscious about standing in front of him in my panties and bra. I already feel so vulnerable about having this conversation. I can’t be half-naked too. “I – I want to get dressed first.” My voice sounds so sheepish that I barely even recognize it.
Michael just sighs and leans against the wall, as I reach into my drawer and pull out a worn pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt. It seems to take every ounce of energy in my body to put them on.
I sit on the edge of my bed and fiddle with my hands in my lap. I don’t even know where to start telling this story.
I jump when I hear a sneeze on the other side of the door. Michael swings the door open and finds Hailey and Madison lurking quietly in the hallway. He sighs in frustration. “Come on, Ruth. Let’s go somewhere private and talk about this.”
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ing soon…
Dirty Stranger
(The Dirty Suburbs Series – Book 3)
Isla
I'm paying alimony to my idiot ex-husband, my business hardly makes enough to keep the lights on and I'm literally holding my car together with duct tape. Scratch that, I'm holding my life together with duct tape.
So I won't go on a date with the mysterious, new-in-town barista who makes my morning soy hazelnut lattee just the way I like it...He'd better stop trying to hypnotize me with those honey eyes and those bulging shoulders that stretch the jersey of his coffee shop uniform, because I have enough on my plate and the last thing I need is yet another liability.
Reuben
The cinnamon-haired yoga chick who orders the soy hazelnut lattee every morning won't give me a shot. She thinks I'm just some college boy with student loans trying to get in her pants. Well, she's right about one thing.
From the moment she first sauntered into this coffee shop with her long legs and her sad eyes, I've wanted to toss her onto the polished wooden counter and show her just how much of a man I am.
There's so much more to me than meets the eye. I'm just trying to make her fall for me before my secrets make it to town.
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Coming soon…
Dirty Favor
(The Dirty Suburbs Series – Book 4)
He proposed!
Okay, that statement may be a bit misleading. My best friend's handsome, charming brother didn't really propose marriage to me. It was more of a proposition than a proposal, actually.
Y'see, Prescott needs to close a business deal for his law firm and to do that, he needs a fiancée. That's how I got dragged into this mess.
I should just say 'no', but he isn't the only one in need of a favor. He promises that he can help me land the internship I need to launch my career.
So, I made a deal with the tall, broad-shouldered devil in the custom-tailored suit, and now I'm wearing this enormous rock on my finger.
But, it's strictly business...until he looks at me with those bedroom eyes and he flashes me that panty-melting smile.
What the hell have I gotten myself into?
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Dirty Player (The Dirty Suburbs Book 2) Page 26
