Page 71 of Untamed
But today I get more than a roll of the eyes. Today I also get to watch her cheeks flush.
That’s a new development. One that is more encouragement than I need.
“Is there anything else you’re interested in offering up?” I run my hand along her thigh, moving in the direction of the part of her currently making my mouth water. “Because I skipped lunch.”
When Ruth’s eyes come to my face, her pupils are dilated and her lips parted. I’ve seen desire on a woman’s face more times than I can count, and that’s what I’m looking at now. Ruth wants me. She might not ever admit it, but that doesn’t make it less true.
And why shouldn’t I enjoy this short time with her? Would it really hurt anything if I give her what she wants?
Not the way I see it. She’s leaving, so there’s no way I’ll get attached. No way for me to be at risk.
Ruth wiggles around on my lap, the pink of her cheeks deepening enough I know she’s considering taking me up on my offer.
And I’m pretty sure she would have if Trevor didn’t choosethis exact moment to come storming into my office. His eyes swing to where Ruth is perched on my lap, but he seems unfazed to find us cuddled up on my sofa.
He zeroes in on Ruth. “I just got a call from our insurance broker.” He winces a little. “I don’t think it went well.”
Ruth scoffs. “What did you do?”
“He was talking about how our rates were going to go up, and when he started giving me numbers, I got a little… irritated.” Trevor seems almost scared to give Ruth the last word.
Rightfully so, because she gives him the kind of look our mother dishes out when she’s disappointed in us. “Are you serious?”
“I didn’t mean to be an asshole.” Trevor sighs, eyes closing. “It just happened.”
Ruth lifts her brows. “Is this your way of asking me to call the insurance broker back and smooth things over?”
Trevor lifts his lids, jaw setting as he meets her gaze. “I’ll give you five thousand dollars.”
Ruth doesn’t hesitate. “Deal.”
Before I can blink, she’s off my lap. Any hope I had of finding my way between her thighs evaporates as she follows my brother out of my office, chastising him for being his normal self.
I’m going to have to chastise him for offering Ruth money to do his bidding. Because if anyone’s going to give her what she needs—money or otherwise—it’s going to be me.
23
Tucker
After Ruth leaves with Trevor for the second time, the rest of my day goes to shit. I manage to get the project I’m finishing up disassembled and loaded up into the back of my truck, but I barely have the tailgate closed before I see one of my drywallers racing to his car.
He speeds from the parking lot so fast I’m pretty fucking concerned.
I let myself back into the building, and find the floor foreman. “Is everything okay with Hildebrandt?”
The foreman sighs loudly. “Daycare called. Said his kid’s projectile vomiting all over the place, and that he needed to come get them.” He shakes his head. “I feel bad for the kid, but we’ve got a room that needs to be sanded and prepped for paint.”
I look over the team scattered around the space, trying to come up with a plan. “Is anyone finished early who could knock that out real quick before they leave for the day?”
The foreman snorts. “No. Everybody’s got more than they canhandle as it is.”
I hate what I’m about to say, but it’s the only option. “I’ll take care of it.”
Sanding drywall is my least favorite activity. I fucking despise it. But it’s gotta be done. Especially since our drywalled units are on the higher end of our cost spectrum. People willing to shell out that kind of expense generally don’t like to be kept waiting.
It’s already late in the afternoon, so I know there’s no way I’m going to be finished at my normal time. Before I get to work making a fucking mess of myself, I text Ruth, letting her know what’s going on and that if she’d like to leave when Trevor does, I’ll meet her at home later.
Thankfully, my mother has already left with Birdie, deciding they would both be happier and more comfortable at home. She’s not wrong, but I was a little surprised Ruth was comfortable letting them go. Not because my mother isn’t amazing, but because Ruth hasn’t had Birdie out of her sight for more than a few minutes since she was born. Letting a relative stranger drive off with her toddler has got to be at least a little stressful.
