Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Chase set down his suitcase on the hallway carpet. Then he barred his arm across the door to block her from going inside. “Hold on.”
“What? Why?”
“I want to do something.” Chase unlocked the door to Ruby’s apartment, but he didn’t let her in.
“You’re strange. But okay. Sure.”
Ruby was carrying a sleeping Haley. All the flowers were gone from their hair, and Ruby had unbraided hers. Soft, dark curls fell around her face and spilled across her shoulders.
Chase put one arm around Ruby’s waist, the other at her knees, lifting her. She yelped, holding tight to her daughter.
“What are you doing? You’re going to wake her!”
“You’re my bride. I’m carrying you over the threshold.”
“Such a cliche. I hate cliches.”
“It’s not a cliche, it’s a ritual.”
Ruby grumbled under her breath, and he thought he caught the words Prince Charming.
“You got a kiss, this is what I want,” he said.
“Because the kiss did nothing for you at all.”
“Nope. That was just for you.” He walked them to the living room.
“Can you put us down now?”
Chase set them gently on the couch. “See? Haley’s still asleep. I’m smooth, aren’t I?”
“So smooth.” Ruby shook her head, but she was hiding a smile. “I’m going to take her to her crib. You can put your things in my room.”
“I figured I should keep my suitcase out here.” There’d be less awkward maneuvering that way.
But Ruby didn’t answer. She’d already gone into Haley’s. He went back to close the front door and lock it.
Chase’s house only had one bedroom, so it had made far more sense for them to stay at Ruby’s. But it only just occurred to him that he’d be sleeping on that tiny loveseat in the living room for the next several months.
According to her lawyer, the trial could happen within six months, or the process could take a lot longer. Especially if Ruby—his throat clenched at this thought—was convicted and had to appeal.
Could he fit an air mattress in here? He wished he’d brought a sleeping bag.
Chase went back to the hall for his suitcase. He’d packed it that morning before he’d left his house. His place was a rental from his cousin, so he had some time to decide whether to keep it. But it all depended on how long this arrangement with Ruby lasted.
She’d been quiet the rest of the party and during the ride to her building. Chase knew that today had been overwhelming for her. In some ways, it had been for him too. But he wasn’t the one facing a murder charge or afraid of losing a kid.
The being-in-love-with-her part was confusing, and he’d already resolved to get over that nonsense.
But Ruby had spent most of the last two years taking care of other people.
Her mom, Haley, even Devon in some ways.
Now, she deserved to have somebody looking out for her.
Chase was honored to be the one to do it.
He just wished Ruby could see that for herself.
Her head popped out of Haley’s room. “She wants you to give her a kiss goodnight.”
“I’d love to.”
After they’d put Haley down, they both went back to the living room. Ruby saw his suitcase sitting there. “Wasn’t there room in my closet?”
“I thought I should keep my stuff here.”
“But it’s no trouble.” She grabbed his suitcase and wheeled it into her bedroom. Chase heard a drawer slide open.
He followed and found Ruby bent over her dresser, taking out piles of clothes. “I’ll make some space.”
A bunch of lacy things landed on top of the dresser, and Chase quickly averted his gaze.
The room smelled like Ruby, coconut and vanilla. Her bed was covered in blue and white throw pillows, a white quilt, and a furry blanket.
“But if I’m sleeping in the living room…”
“Why would you sleep there? I want you in my bed.”
Desire shot straight down his spine and into his dick.
Ruby dissolved into giggles, hand covering her face. “Okay, that came out really wrong. But we’re a team, right? It doesn’t have to be weird.”
“It doesn’t have to be.” But it will be. He subtly adjusted his pants.
That was a queen-sized bed at most. He was going to take up more than half of it.
And his nonstop erection was pretty much going to take up the other half.
It had taken all of his control not to get hard when he’d kissed her during the party earlier. Sharing a bed with her? He’d be lucky if he didn’t have a wet dream like he was a sex-starved teenager.
“I’ll keep my hands to myself,” Ruby said. “Promise. Let’s get you unpacked.”
“It’s really not necessary.”
She whirled around to face him, and her mouth had pressed into a hard line. “It’s necessary for me.”
That vulnerability was back in her eyes, the same thing he’d seen just briefly that afternoon.
“This is my home, and Haley’s home, but I need you to feel like it’s yours too. I want you to be comfortable, and that tiny couch out there isn’t going to do it, so don’t bullshit me.”
“Fine, I agree the couch won’t be that comfortable. But…” He gestured at her bed. “This might not be, either.”
“You carried me over the threshold because we’re married, and it’s weird, and we might as well laugh about it. Right? Neither of us knows how to do this, but we’re doing it anyway. So let me make a place for you here. Let me give that to you.”
“Okay,” he said softly. She wanted to feel like she was giving something back, not just taking. “I’ll sleep here.”
“If you want, I can sleep on the couch. I’m way more likely to fit. Or I could share Haley’s room if I rearrange her furniture or something.”
“No.” He rested his hand on Ruby’s shoulder. “You’re right. I’ll be here for a while, so this will work. We’ll make it work. Thank you.”
She exhaled, nodding.
He grabbed his suitcase and unpacked. His uniform pieces went on hangers in the closet, along with the lockbox for his gun, which he stowed on a high shelf.
He couldn’t help staring at his dark blue clothes next to Ruby’s small, richly colored ones. Hard to believe how much life could change in just a couple of days. But if he were ever in trouble, he’d want Ruby in his corner. Chase had no doubt about that.
After work the next day, Chase came home to music playing. “Hey girls, I’m home.”
“We’re in the kitchen.”
He stopped by the bedroom to lock up his gun, then went to join them. He’d already changed out of his uniform in the locker room at the station, which he did when he wasn’t in a rush.
An upbeat song played from Ruby’s phone, probably some indie singer-songwriter he’d never heard of, because that was the kind of music she liked. Ruby’s hips swayed as she stirred a pot on the stove. Haley was dancing frantically, waving a spatula in the air.
It was possibly the cutest thing he’d ever seen.
“This looks like fun. Just an average night at the Whitestone residence?”
“Whitestone-Collins now.” Ruby smiled at him, and he felt a tug behind his belly button.
The night before, Chase had stayed up later than he usually would, scrolling his phone. Then he’d taken a shower and jerked off, which he figured he’d be doing a lot over the next several months. Like, twice a day.
By the time he’d gotten to bed, Ruby had already been asleep with the lights off. Her back had moved with her even breathing.
So damn beautiful.
Which he was going to stop noticing…now.
“Can I help with dinner?”
“Nope, I’ve got it. Just pasta.” Ruby switched off the stove and carried the pot to the sink to drain. “I did a lot of thinking today while you were gone.”
Chase leaned against the counter. “Sounds like your day was more productive than mine.”
He hadn’t told anyone at work about their marriage, except for adding Ruby and Haley to his health insurance with HR. He figured the change in his marital status would stay confidential for the time being. But eventually, word would get out. Chase would deal with that when it happened.
It had been hard enough ignoring the feelings that were tapping insistently with every beat of his pulse.
Not to mention the morning wood that had greeted him when he woke. Luckily, he and Ruby had slept with their backs to one another, several inches of space separating them. He hoped he hadn’t snored, but she hadn’t complained.
The pot clanked as Ruby set it on the counter. “I decided I’m not going to let this beat me. No feeling sorry for myself. I’m going to be the kickass woman I know I am.”
“Right on.” He was proud of her, though he wouldn’t say that. She didn’t need him to.
“I hope you’re aware how lucky you are.”
He felt himself grinning. “Am I?”
“It’s going to be a nonstop slumber party around here. Popsicles after naptime. Dance parties. Taco Tuesday and Thursday.”
“No effing way.”
“Way. Everyone else out in the world is going to wish they married me first because they’re missing out on all the amazingness.”
“Damn, I should’ve married you sooner.”
“You should’ve.”
Haley jumped up and down, banging her spatula on a cabinet.
Chase couldn’t resist. He grabbed Ruby, spun her around, and planted a kiss on her head.
“What was that for?” she asked, laughing.
“For being you. For letting me be on your team.”
“I’m glad you’re on my team.”
His arm was still around her waist, and she was still gripping his shoulders.
A new song came on, and Haley dashed around the living room, but in the kitchen everything seemed to have stopped.
Chase looked down at Ruby’s stormy blue-gray eyes.
Her eyelashes lowered, her gaze going soft, though it didn’t waver from his.
“I should get the munchkin some dinner before she gets too riled up.” Ruby’s voice sounded husky.
“You mean, we should. Don’t leave me out of the fun.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
That night, they both got into bed, and Ruby switched off the lamp on her nightstand. He heard her shifting around against her pillow, though it was too dark to see much more than her profile.
“Jane and I have a meeting with Bennett Security tomorrow,” she said.
“Did you want me to come?”
“Don’t you have work?”
“Yeah, but I could figure something out.”
For several minutes she didn’t say anything, and Chase wondered if she’d fallen asleep. Then she spoke.
“I thought you were supposed to stay away from the investigation.”
“I am.”
“Going to a meeting with my lawyer doesn’t sound like staying out of it.”
He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “Ruby, what do you want me to do here? You’re my friend. My wife. I want to do whatever I can.”
“But you’ve done enough. What’s going to happen when your sergeant finds out you married me? Or the other patrol officers and detectives?”
Shit’s going to hit the fan. “It’ll be fine.”
The mattress moved like she was sitting up. “Let my lawyer and Bennett Security handle my case. You focus on your job. Promise me you won’t get involved. Don’t be Mr. Selfless.”
His teeth dug into the tip of his tongue.
“Chase, promise me.”
“All right. I promise.” Even though he really wasn’t happy about it.