Free Ruby's Fantasy by Cathleen Ross Page A

and he groaned.
    â€˜When it’s you, I enjoy everything.’ He swallowed, throat parched. ‘I just don’t want Ghost enjoying it, too.’
    Ruby clamped her legs together and lowered herself to the floor. She put her hand on his shoulder for support.
    â€˜I’ll have dinner ready at six. Surprise me with your outfit. If you’re not planning to stay over, come as a virgin.’
    Ruby laughed. ‘I’ll think of something suitable for the evening.’
    He picked up her mobile phone from the counter. ‘What’s your password? I’ll punch in my number and you can text me when you’re ready. I’ll come around and escort you.’
    â€˜I’m capable of walking next door,’ she protested, putting both hands on her hips.
    â€˜I don’t want you leaving the shop without a bodyguard. When you need to go somewhere, call me. If I’m out installing surveillance equipment, call Ghost. I’ll put in his number too. The rest of the time I’ll be monitoring you so that I know you’re safe. Until I find this spider freak, you stay close to me. A knife can do a lot of damage fast.’
    Ruby opened her mouth as if to protest and shut it again.
    â€˜Please?’
    A sigh left her lips. ‘My password’s quadruple two.’
    He unlocked the phone, filed her password away in his memory and punched in his and Ghost’s phone numbers. ‘Now I need your email account. I’ll connect the phone to your computer in case it’s ever stolen. All you’ll have to do is log onto the phone site and you’ll know where to find it, plus I can trace you if you’re snatched and you have your phone with you.’
    â€˜Anything else you want to do before you leave?’
    A flame of desire heated his blood to boiling. ‘Keep teasing me, Princess, and I’ll throw you over my shoulder and take you upstairs.’
    But Ruby just smiled and blew him a kiss. ‘Now that’s a fantasy for another day. I have the perfect outfit for that one. Bye, Jake.’
    Jake shook his head and walked next door to his shop. Why didn’t she trust him? Something was going down tonight and she didn’t want him there. Abe lived life on the edge. Anyone who treated women like he did wasn’t Jake’s style and if Ruby was planning to get involved with him in any way, she was asking for trouble.
    Ruby looked around the shop. Jake had mounted one camera in the front of the shop and one in the back, which meant she had to put the samples for the strippers in a bag in one of the changing rooms, which was the only place in the shop where the camera had no access.
    She spent the morning serving customers and organising samples that she thought would appeal to strippers and while she had no intention of modelling the outfits for men she was comfortable with demonstrating them for women. Gathering up beaded panties, thongs and bras with matching studded collars, she put them in the bag, along with spectacular crochet lust teddies that Emerald had designed. It was fine for Jake to insist on relying on him, but it wasn’t in her nature to expect a man to protect her. She’d always looked after Emerald. Besides, the strippers wouldn’t talk to Jake, especially with Abe looking on. Things like that made women lock up their secrets. What if they knew something? She was determined to find out.
    Jake marinated some steaks in red wine and garlic. Lots of the pungent herb. No one was getting close to his princess. He sautéed some vegetables until they were crisp before looking at his watch. Six o’clock. Would Ruby call? She wasn’t keen to rely on him that was for sure. He’d noticed the darkness in her eyes when she’d struggled with whatever had hurt her.
    His phone buzzed and he took in a deep breath of relief, glad he’d managed to get through to her. He strode down his stairs, through his office space and out his