Make Me Yours(25)

She shrugs, taking one out and squishing it in her hand. “Feel it.” We sit together, and I give one a squish. She squishes hers back and forth in her little fingers, whispering, “Gigi says I can’t have them.”

Pressing my lips together, I think about what a little scientist she is. Or a little weirdo. “You need to mind your Gigi.” Her brow falls, and I lean closer. “But I’ll let you keep them. Don’t get them in your bed. They might pop, and that would make a huge mess. We’d probably have to get a whole new bed.”

She jumps forward, throwing her arms around my neck. “I love you, Ruby. You’re my best friend.”

It pretty much seals the deal. “I love you, too. Now put these up and get in the bed.”

“Maybe if I get all stars I can get a puppy for Christmas like Darling in Lady and the Tramp.”

Chewing my lip, I look around at all the super nice furniture. I think of the polished wood floors. “Have you talked to your dad about getting a puppy?”

“Gigi says puppies are a lot of work. She says they’re babies that never grow up, and I’m the baby for now.”

I think about this a minute, and as much as I hate to say it… “She kind of has a point. Dogs are a lot of work, and you might be too little to help walk it and teach it to do tricks.”

“Would you help me?” Her little hazel eyes go round, and I won’t lie, it squeezes my heart. How can I say no to that?

“This isn’t like the ketchup packets, Lil. You’re going to have to ask your daddy about this one.” Her little shoulders drop, and I tuck the blankets tight all down her sides. “Now you’re a well-rolled dumpling.” She nods slowly, her eyes still downcast.

I exhale a sigh. “Tell you what. If your daddy says you can have a puppy, I’ll for sure help you with it.”

Her expression flips to excitement so fast, I start to laugh. I’m pretty sure this little con artist knows exactly how powerful her own set of puppy-dog eyes are.

We read a quick story and finish the night singing “Bella Notte” from Lady and the Tramp before “Now I lay me” prayers and turning out the light.

I’m standing out on the landing trying to figure out how to handle this situation when I notice Remi on the floor below looking up at me. My heartbeat picks up, and I walk down to where he’s standing.

“Don’t you have work to do?” I can’t resist teasing him.

“I’m at a stopping point.” He grins and that dimple makes a special appearance. “I like listening to you sing with her. She never sang so much before you came here.”

“The songs are the best part of those movies.”

“Want to have that glass of wine now?”

It feels like a risky suggestion, but hell if I’ll say no. “I’d love it.”





10





Remi


The lights of the neighborhood reflect across the lake, and the moon is full.

“You picked a good song for tonight.” We walk through the French doors holding glasses of wine, and I stop in front of the two easels.

Lillie’s painting is bold black lines and large patches of dark and light blue, but Ruby’s looks like something out of a gallery. It’s delicate abstract with short brush strokes and subtle gradients of color.

“This is really good. Did you minor in art?”

“Heck no.” She laughs and shakes her head as she sips her wine. “My dad would never approve of such a useless degree.”

“Art’s not useless.”

“It’s not something Kenneth Banks was willing to fund, and I caved just like the pushover he always said I was. Always second-guessing myself…” She steps up beside me looking at the canvas, her slim brow furrowed. “But never mind all that. Earlier today you said something that confused me.”

I’m still trying to get over this little reveal she just gave me about her childhood. I can’t help wondering how much we have in common.

“How did I confuse you?”

“You said your dad criticized you. What in the world could he criticize? You’ve done really well. You served in the military, then you were a huge tech success…” Her dark brow furrows, and she seems almost protective—of me. It’s completely out of left field.

My father is not my favorite topic, but I’m intrigued by her interest. “I was successful because I followed the plan he approved.”

“You’re saying there was an alternate plan?” Her eyes narrow, but a smile hints at her lips, those full, kissable, rosebud lips.

“A plan my father called absolutely ludicrous.” Glancing down, I clear my throat. Not many people know this part of my history. “I wanted to be a singer.”

Her jaw drops and her pretty, pretty eyes go round. “Shut up.”

“It’s true.” I walk over and sit on the sofa in the center of the patio.

She follows me and sits on the table in front of me, excited. “You can sing?”

“I was in a band in college… for about a minute. Until Howard found out.” I take a sip of the dry wine. “Naturally, he was horrified.”

“I take it Howard’s your dad?” I nod, and her lips press into a knowing smile. “That explains it.”