The Veiled Cage (Lady Lawyer Series Romantic Suspense Novels Book 1) (29 page)

She remained silent.

“I’
m going to deploy Jaspyr. Would you like to give me a goodbye kiss
?”
He asked, wanting to goad the fear from her gaze as much as he wanted to discover its cause.

“
No,
I’
d like to give you a swift kick to you
r
—”

“
Rubina, you really ar
e
—”

“
Do
n’
t you dare say it
.
”

“
Delightful
.
” He smiled as her eyes flared and banished the shadows.

“
I can assure you
I’
m not that either. Stop smirking
.
”

“I’
m not.
I’
m smiling. I find you enchanting, Rubina
.
”

“
Stop that
.
”

“
Stop what? Complimenting you? Should I not tell you your beauty is only exceeded by your sharp mind, and I ca
n’
t seem to resist either
?
”

“
You definitely should
n’
t
.
”

“
Why, are you a nun as well as a lawyer?
I’
d respect any vows yo
u’
ve taken. If not disinterest, then what is it? I suppose my tech center is not the most romantic of settings
.
”

Ruby sighed
.“
No,
I’
m not a nun
.”
When he said nothing, she continued
.“I’
ve dated, nothing has stuck. And I have
n’
t wanted it to.
I’
ve wanted simple. I have my work
.
”

“
Very important work
.”
             

“
Yo
u’
d be complicated
.
”

“
Tha
t’
s the nicest thing yo
u’
ve said to me
.
”

“
You need your head examined. Stop by and see Amy on your way out. Sh
e’
ll set you straight in no time
.”
             

“
Your concern warms my heart
.”
He grabbed her hand, and held it to his chest. When she did
n’
t pull away, he linked his fingers with hers.

“
Emilio
?
”

“
Yes, Rubina
?
”

“
Go deploy your drone
.”
She unlinked their hands and used hers to push him out the door.

He could still hear her laughing when he reached Coli
n’
s desk.

“
I like having you around
,”
Colin said
.
“
She has
n’
t laughed like that sinc
e
—
”
he stopped short.

“
Since
?
”

Colin hesitated, and then continued
.“
Yo
u’
re on the team. I suppose I should tell you about Tara Baxter
.
”

“
I hear you have a flair for technology. Why do
n’
t you tell me while we send Jaspyr on his mission
?
”

“
Yes, absolutely. Let me switch over to auto-respond
.”
He changed modes and bolted upright
.“
Where are we heading
?
”

“
To the roof
.
”

“
But we are
n’
t cleared for roof access
.
”

“
I have various real-estate holdings
.
”

“
This is your building
.
”

“
Yes, allow me to give you a behind-the-scenes tour, starting with its roof
.
”

“
Do
n’
t tell Ruby that you own the building
.
”

“
I would
n’
t dream of it. She insisted that I accept a fee
.
”

“
Tha
t’
s Ruby for you, as quick to help others as she is to decline aid. She prefers to make it on her own. Do
n’
t stand in her way
.
”

“
My aim is to help her, not hinder her
.
”

“
What did she think of the Ruby Special
?
”

“
She insisted on pretending it was junk food
.
”

“
She ate it? Huh, she ate fortified food. Is
n’
t that something
?
”

“
Is it
?
”

Colin studied him
.“
I say this as a happily attached man. I do
n’
t know if i
t’
s the genius factor, the gorgeous face, the accent, or a combo, but Ruby does
n’
t know wha
t’
s coming. I
t’
s about time someone gave her a reason to surface from her legal cave
.
”

“
Yo
u’
ve spoken to Justin, have you
?
”

“
Yes, and I have excellent vision
.”
He tapped his glasses
.“
I like you, but tha
t’
d change fast if you hurt her. Sh
e’
s family to us
.
”

“
I wo
n’
t put her heart in any risk beyond which
I’
d place my own
.
”

After a moment, Colin nodded and said
,“
Fair enough
.
”

“
What would Rubina think of your efforts to protect her
?
”

“
It would irritate her
.”
Colin grinned at the thought.

Emilio returned his smile
.“
What are brothers for
?
”

Chapter 15

Emilio entered Rub
y’
s office and said
,“
You must have received my drone reports
.
”

“
Yes
.
”

“
And . .
.
”

“
And ther
e’
s a lot to do before Monday
.
”

“
Which means
?
”

“
I have to work it all through. While yo
u’
re here, I need info about your latest gadget
s—
the ones not on the market yet
.
”

“I’
d be delighted to discuss it over dinner
.
”

“
No
w’
s not really the time for a date
.
”

“
Your objection is to the timing? Yo
u’
ve been holed up in here for hours, Rubina
.
”

“
Yes, I do
n’
t micromanage. We all come and go as we please. W
e’
ll reconvene at eight
.
”

“
You also do
n’
t feed your team
.
”

“
Colin can dial for delivery as well as I can. Have him order lunch
.
”

“
I
t’
d be quite late for that. I took the liberty of ordering a spread at the appropriate hour
.
”

“
What time is it
?
”

“
Four. The others warned me not to interrupt you
.
”

“
And yet here you are
.
”

“
Yes, here I am
.
”

“
Did it glow green
?
”

“
What
?
”

“
Did your lunch options glow
?
”

“
No. I took your aversion to real food and penchant for junk into account. Jasmine helped me with the selection. We decided on a mix
.
”

“
She has her own vices. Did she order you for dessert
?
”

“
I have a hunger for you, Rubina.
I’
m not the type of man who indulges in a sampler. Understood
?
”

“
Yes
,”
she said
.“
Thanks for taking care of lunch. I sometimes forget not everyone fuels up on sugar and caffeine
.”
She looked up hopefully
.“
Any of the junk left
?
”

“
You cannot survive on caffeine, sugar, and tenacity, Rubina
.
”

“
I know. The
y’
re not good for me, and neither is sarcasm. But after two hours of sleep in forty-eight, they sustain me
.
”

He brushed the pad of his thumb against the dark marks under her eyes.

Caught off guard by his tenderness, she held still and watched him.

He saw spine and fatigue in her sea-green eyes
.“
Yo
u’
re a fascination
.
”

“
Perhaps
.”
She moved his hand aside
.“
Be fascinated later. Le
t’
s talk possibilities
.
”

“
Between you and me
?
”

“
No, gadgets. We need solid evidence, safety, and a plan involving subterfuge. Think your techie mind is up to the challenge
?
”

“
I know it is
.
”

“
Ther
e’
s that robust ego
.
”

“
Ther
e’
s nothing wrong with a healthy awareness of on
e’
s abilities
.”
His heated look told her he meant more than technical prowess.

“
No, there is
n’
t. I figure i
t’
s only a matter of time before I find out if i
t’
s real or imagined
.
”

“
W
e’
ve made ample progress, Rubina
,”
Emilio said
.“
I
t’
s nearing the dinner hour. Your consultant must have three squares or his productivity will plummet
.
”

“
Nobod
y’
s stopping you
.
”

“
Our work will await our return
.
”

She gave him her full attention and a wicked grin
.“
Where did you have in mind? Jet over to Denmark and dine at the worl
d’
s best restaurant? W
e’
d nibble toast points loaded with caviar harvested from the Caspian sea, sip the most sought-after wine
?
”

“
Are you enjoying yourself
?
”

“
Yes
.
”

“
Are you done
?
”

“
For now
.
”

“
Wha
t’
s your answer
?
”

“
No, thanks.
I’
d rather grab a burger and eat it in my office
.
”

“
May I make a suggestion
?
”

“
Actually,
I’
m not done. I know about high-end.
I’
ve seen dear friends and clients seduced by it with lasting consequences. I have no interest in it
.
”

He started to speak.

She raised her hand, palm facing him.

“I’
m not an heiress or an aspiring actress. I have no interest in glitz, your fancy food, or your mountains of gold. All
I’
m after, Emilio
,”
Ruby paused to tap his temple, and continued
,“
Is your mind. Got it
?
”

“
Ah, so yo
u’
ve pegged me as a playboy and decided yo
u’
re immune to my charm
?
”

“
Yes. That sums it up
.
”

Her verbal blow connected with his gut. Keeping his tone casual, he said
,“
As you wish. How about a classic tha
t’
s survived the age
s—
pasta with meatballs the size of your fist
?
”

“
Yo
u’
re persistent,
I’
ll give you that
.
”

“
You took issue with fancy. We wo
n’
t go for fancy. Unless ther
e’
s another reason yo
u’
re reluctant to be alone with me
?”
He looked at her in challenge
.“
You would
n’
t fall for a frivolous Casanov
a’
s advances, would you
?
”

“
No, no reason
.”
Ruby jutted out her chin
.“
What kind of meat are we talking? Soy blend
?
”

“
No, the real deal. Grass-fed beef
.
”

“
Real cow
.”
Her mouth watered as her eyes narrowed
.“
Who ratted out my weakness
?
”

“
That I wo
n’
t say. But I will tell you it cost me a bulk bag of espresso beans, and an espresso maker tha
t’
d do them justice
.
”

“
I hesitate to ask the brand, but you already know my affinity for the brew. Which one
?
”

“
Hollenbeck
.
”

“
I
t’
s Arianna, then. Best friends since Kaye High and you turn her traitor with Hollenbeck
.
”

“
If yo
u’
re nice, Anna might share
.
”

“
Anna? On a nickname basis now
?
”

“
Yes. Believe it or not, some women enjoy my company. Seek it out, even
.
”

“
Some women stay with companions that throw them around their living quarters
.
”

His expression darkened
.“
Which begs the million-dollar question
.
”

“
What do you think that is? Why do these women stay
?
”

“
No, Rubina. Why do these men degrade, demean, and violate women? The responsibility is theirs
.
”

Ruby considered him. Decision made, she slapped her thighs as she rose
.“
So . . . wher
e’
s this meatball joint?
I’
m starving
.
”

✧

The Gabriella Blanca Center had pride of place in the cit
y’
s center. Towering and majestic, it brushed against the gauzy clouds floating leisurely across the azure sky.

Ruby trailed her hand along the sandstone as they made their way to the impressive entrance
.“
You do
n’
t see architecture like this anymore
.
”

“
Its residents affectionately call it the Castle, particularly the pint-sized ones
,”
Emilio said.

“
Residents?
I’
ve often wondered what happens here
.
”

“
I
t’
s a comprehensive program that requires many volunteer
s—
for life-skills classes, for its childcare program. It aims to break the cycle of abuse. Women and their children are welcome here
.
”

“
How long do they stay? How does the program work
?
”

“
The program is designed to rebuild their confidence and give them dignity. Each woman works, and pays rent based on her income. She becomes better educated and a better mother during the program, which can take up to two years. Many women transform in astonishing ways in eighteen months, and are ready to go it on their own. Of course, the
y’
re not really on their own. The
y’
ll always have this community supporting them
.
”

“
So yo
u’
r
e—
what? A volunteer
?
”

“
Yes, and ther
e’
s my beautiful date for the evening
.
”