‘You hadn’t given it much thought?’ He shook his head, his frown deepening. ‘You applied for it, didn’t you?’
‘Well, yes, but...’ She had only applied because she didn’t think they’d be able to work together and since then she’d had other things on her mind. Things like what they would do together on the weekends, and whom he was with when he wasn’t with her. Things that were all embarrassing indications that yet again she had regressed to the emotional maturity of an insecure schoolgirl where Sam was concerned. ‘Is that a problem?’
If possible his expression turned even darker. ‘What kind of a question is that? Of course it’s a damn problem.’
Ruby moistened her lips. ‘I’m usually pretty good at remembering things. I’m sorry—I guess I’ve been busy.’
‘Too busy to let me know that you’re moving to London?’
‘Well, I wasn’t sure if it would even be approved and—’
‘And you thought you’d wait, is that it? Spring it on me at the last minute?’
‘No.’ She frowned as she tried to make sense of his mocking tone. ‘That’s not how it was at all.’
‘Then how was it, Ruby, because I’m a little confused about what’s going on here?’
He wasn’t the only one. Her mind was such a jumble of emotions and feelings she felt dizzy. And worst of all she knew that she couldn’t share any of that with him. ‘Perhaps we could talk about it later,’ she volunteered, wanting time to sort out some sort of strategy where Sam was concerned. ‘After work.’
‘Oh, yes, of course. Work. Your favourite crutch.’ His lips twisted into a hard slant. ‘Well, not this time, Ruby. We’ve played by your rules long enough. Now we play by mine.’
‘My rules?’ Ruby said incredulously. ‘How can you say that? I’ve done everything you asked of me.’ She’d set every weekend aside for him, not making any plans that didn’t include him, or that couldn’t be changed at the last minute. She’d kept her phone close and waited for him to call—longed for him to call. She’d dreamed of him, missed him, given her heart to him... ‘I’ve given you everything you wanted.’
‘Hardly, angel,’ he dismissed scathingly. ‘But none of that matters now. All that does is this.’ He stabbed a finger at the transfer notice that lay on her desk between them. ‘And whether you want me to sign off on it or not.’
Tell me you don’t want to sign it, she pleaded silently. Tell me you want me to stay here. With you.
The unexpected thought caught her unawares, tightening her throat. Should she tell him what she was thinking? Should she open up and admit how she felt about him?
An ancient argument between her parents came rushing back to her. She’d been about to ask her father to help with her maths homework while her parents were sitting at the kitchen table. Then her father had stood up, shaking his head, accusing her mother of being too needy, too clingy. Ruby had witnessed her mother’s devastation, her utter helplessness, as she’d begged her father not to leave her. He’d done so anyway and Ruby had made a silent vow that no man would ever be able to accuse her of the same thing. That she would never want a man more than he wanted her. And yet that was exactly how she felt right now. History repeating itself one generation on.
Swallowing hard, she shoved back the tears that threatened to clog her throat and lifted her chin. ‘Why wouldn’t I want you to sign off on it?’ she asked crisply.
A muscle flicked in Sam’s jaw. ‘Well, that’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it, angel? And frankly I can’t think of a single good reason why you wouldn’t.’
CHAPTER TEN
‘LET ME SEE if I’ve got this straight,’ Dante drawled, sitting on the barstool beside him. ‘You asked her if she wanted you to sign the transfer papers and then you signed them without waiting for her answer? How does that work exactly?’
‘I didn’t need to wait for her answer. Her silence was telling.’ Sam looked between Dante and Tino and wondered which one of them was more stupid. ‘She wouldn’t have applied for it if she didn’t want to go.’