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"Where is she?" he asked abruptly

Mrs McKenzie clarand stairs

"Where is she?" he asked again, a hint of worry in his voice

"In the bedroo anxiously

Alec sighed with relief

"It's just that I'm a bit worried She won't stop cryin' I know she doesn't seem as unstable as before, but--"

"Why is she crying?"

"I dunno"

"Thanks, Mrs McKenzie," Alec said, heading toward the stairs, wondering why Ruby was crying Was it because of hi her unfairly? Had he hurt her in some way?

You ? Alec cursed hi her No one calls kidnapping and i more to say

He hesitated at the door to their bedroom What must he do? She only had teeks left, and he pro to i for her to worry about

When he opened the door and walked in, he saw her lying on the bed with Captain Snow beside her She was stroking the dog's head The blasted dog see as he just sat there, looking too da

Alec wished she could stroke hiently, just like that Not on the head, of course, but somewhere else--somewhere more private

Shit!

He swore under his breath as he walked toward the bed

"You're back?" she asked in a soft voice

Alec came closer to sit beside her He didn't beat around the bush "Why are you crying?"

Ruby sat up because she found hihtly Then she grabbed Captain Snow and put him on her lap, almost as a barrier between Alec and her

"I'm allowed to cry, aren't I?" she asked, her eyes downcast

"Yes, I suppose"

He touched her chin with his fingers and thumb, and lifted her face up so that she could look at him

Ruby glanced at hiue lapped out at her in pleasure as she petted his head

"I think you should stop Your eyes are very red," he said, s at her

"You can't tell "

He ht cheer you up"

Ruby widened her eyes and moved back so fast that Captain Snow fell frohed

"For your information, Alec, I don't want to be kissed by you I don't even like you" She knew in her heart she was lying, of course Otherwise, why in the hell didn't she tell Brian to come and take her ahen she had the chance?

Alec's heart missed a beat And Brian? You want Brian to kiss you? How many ti, fat zero the size of a goose egg! Hoanted to prove her wrong How he hoped she would want to kiss hied for her to want much more from him

He rabbed her arm

"What?" she asked, frowning

He pulled her closer "Time for dinner," he said, as he lifted her up in his arms

"You don't have to carry me, Alec, I can walk My foot is better now, if you must know"

"I know," he said as he strode toward the door

Captain Snow jumped down from the bed and followed them

As they ca roo out the table

Ruby couldn't help but ad rooement, and on each side were candleholders with lit candles

Alec placed her carefully on the side seat

"Thank you," she said

Alec nodded, taking the seat at the head of the table beside her Then he proceeded to pour red wine into two glasses

"Drink this," he said, handing her the glass "It'll help"

She looked at hi people usually drank when they felt uncoht now She wondered if drinking really did help After all, she was filled with dread for not telling Brian where she was She felt like she betrayed him, and sorely missed her family

She snatched the glass froulp

Alec watched in unmasked surprise

She looked up at him and said, "It doesn't help"

"With what?"

"You said it'd help It doesn't," she moaned in an accusational tone

"You have to drinkas troubling her Perhaps he'd get it out of her after she got very drunk

Ruby started drinkingto start?" she asked, looking at him

"Start what?"

"Start helping"

He laughed "It's not ic, Ruby"

She licked her lips and pushed her glass towards him "More, please"

Alec raised his eyebrows, but picked the bottle up and poured some more until it was half-filled

Lizzie brought in the roast laetables just then She placed it in front of them and left

Ruby drank sorily started eating her lass of wine Alec knew she was absolutely drunk Her eyes were drooping and her speech was getting slurred He knew she had no idea what she was talking about

"I feel dreadful, shi hair "Poor man "

Alec leaned forward, looking at her closely "Why are feeling dreadful?"

She rested her head on the table as she looked at him "I should have told him I feel dreadful I betrayedhim Youmade me betray him It'sh not fair" Then she closed her eyes

Alec reached out and stroked her cheek It looked as though she fell asleep, and right after dinner He didn't get anything out of her after all, despite her being dead drunk

He went to her side, picking her up and carrying her out the door In the bedrooently put her down on the bed so that he would not wake her Ruby chose that moment to open her eyes, and stared up at hiently against his skin

Alec couldn't believe that! She was stroking hiazed down at her

Her hands ers into his thick hair

"All because of you," she murmured

"Because ofat her ruby-red lips

"Uh-huh," she responded, nodding her head at the same time "Becaush of you, I didn't tell him"

"Who did you not tell?"

"Becaush of you," she repeated Then she lifted her head toward hiave him a peck on his lips

Alec could only stare at her

Ruby's lips slipped over to his hard cheek and she gave him another peck there Then she rested her head back on the pillow, a contented smile on her lips

Alec just stared down at her as she closed her eyes His thuht you better than that"

Ruby sleepily opened her eyes "Huh?"

"Perhaps you need another lesson?" he asked, his eyes twinkling

Ruby cocked her head to one side as she gazed up at him "Maybe"

Ah, an invitation indeed Alec was no fool He stroked her lips with his fingers and thumb Then his head dropped closer and his lips touched hers

He kissed her hard--his tongue slipping between her luscious lips, and into her mouth to explore her sweetness

Ruby quivered, tightening her arroaned She responded to his de kiss At first, it was soroild beside his as she, to

o, explored his seasoned mouth

When Alec moved his head back to look at her, he saw that she closed her eyes and her breathing became deeper and more even

"Madame, you tempt me every day It's a wonder that I haven't snapped yet and ravished you"

No response

Alec kissed her on the lips again gently, before getting up He noticed her skinny jeans, which looked very tight on her, and doubted she would be coe into her pyjamas

He went into the walk-in wardrobe, found her suitcase, and opened it As he began looking for her pyjamas, he spotted the address book on the side pocket of the suitcase Snatching it up, he flipped through the pages In the B section, he found Brian's na with his cell phone number

"Shit!" he swore loudly as he rushed out, barely glancing at Ruby's sleeping for heavily to the door

Entering the drawing rooh the last dialed nuh of relief The numbers on the screen were clearly the numbers outside of the UK New Zealand? Ithome then Was that the reason she cried?

Then he checked the second to the last dialed number

"Shit!" he swore again There, the nued to Brian