Page 23 of Keeping Knight

“Micah,” I start. My voice wobbles again.

“Ruby.” His gaze meets mine. “We’re taking a break. Let’s go into the kitchen. Get a drink. You need it for your throat, anyway.”

“Good idea,” Rogue agrees. “Whenever you’re ready to start again…”

Micah wraps his arm around my shoulder and leads me from the table. “I’ll let you know,” he says. Then, to me, he adds more kindly, “Come on, Rue. Just a quick break.”

Without giving me a chance to argue, he guides me from the dining room, through the butler’s pantry, and into the kitchen. Then he takes me over to the large marble island and nudges me onto a stool. While I sit, a little startled by how quickly he got me out of there, he takes a bottle of water from the fridge, twists it open, and sets it in front of me.

“Drink,” he states. “You’ve been talking too much.”

I know I should take issue with how he basically took control—forcing me into a break, marching me into the kitchen, and now ordering me to drink. But as I look into his worried eyes, I can’t bring myself to call him out on it. Not when it’s obvious his intentions were good.

And if I’m being honest with myself, the break is a relief.

So I take a sip of water, closing my eyes at the cool liquid soothing my throat. Then I set the bottle down and look at Micah. “I could have kept going.”

“I know you could have.” He slides onto the stool next to me. “But you didn’t have to. And I don’t want you pushing yourself, making yourself sick...”

A swell of emotion sweeps through me, bringing a fresh surge of tears. Bossy as he may be sometimes, Micah is the kind of man I wish I’d dated instead of Liam. Micah wouldn’t have pushed me to spend my dad’s money. He wouldn’t have rummaged through my wallet. Micah wouldn’t have accused me of being a drag when I was feeling sad and didn’t want to go out.

If I’m being honest with myself, Micah isn’t the kind of man I wish I’d dated. I wish I’d met Micah back then. I wish he was the one I dated, instead.

“Ruby.” Micah brushes a tear from my cheek. “Don’t cry.”

“I’m sorry.” I scrunch my face up, but it doesn’t stop the tears. “I’m just… It’s just been a lot.”

He stares at me for a long moment, indecision darkening his eyes. Then he leans forward and wraps his arms around me, hugging me to him. “I know,” he murmurs. “You don’t have to be strong all the time. It’s okay.”

I sag against him and press my face to his neck. His skin is soft and smells faintly of citrus and mint. “I have to be,” I whisper. “There’s no one else to do it for me.”

“There is now.” His hand strokes my hair. “You have me.”

Chapter Six

MICAH

I think the solarium might be my new favorite room.

Or at least it is when Ruby is in it.

As I stand in the doorway, mug of steaming tea in hand, I watch her in silence.

She’s sitting on the same couch we used yesterday morning when I brought her here after her nightmare. Her legs are tucked up beneath the Army sweatshirt I lent her, and her hair spills in damp ringlets down her back. In profile, her features are pensive. Her teeth dig into her lower lip, and she tugs on one of her curls, a little habit I’ve noticed she does whenever she’s feeling anxious.

On the floor in front of her is Sampson, who’s stuck to her like glue ever since she arrived. He’s mostly relaxed, but his ears are pricked back, alert to any sign of a threat. Ruby leans over to give his head a scratch, and his tail thumps happily. He turns to look at her, and though I can’t see his expression from here, I’d bet anything he’s giving her his very best please pet me look.

Ruby pats his head again, then scratches behind his ears. His tail thumps more enthusiastically. “You like that?” she asks him quietly. “Is that the spot?”

He flicks a glance back at her, as if to say, Duh. Didn’t you notice my tail?

“Okay,” she says with a little laugh. “Behind the ears it is.”

I know I should tell Ruby I’m here. There’s a reason I came looking for her, and it wasn’t to stand in the doorway of the solarium like a stalker. Not to mention, I think she’d prefer if I give her the tea before it’s lukewarm.

But it’s just so nice, seeing her here.

It feels strangely right.