“I hope it wasn’t sleep with an asshole.” I have so many inappropriate thoughts going through my head. I’d like to test out her response to the word forbid in a variety of scenarios.

Ruby shoots me a dirty look, as if she can read my mind. “No. I moved to New York and pursued my dream.” She mutters something else that I don’t quite catch. “Anyway. If you still have enough time to do something fun that doesn’t include prostitutes, I highly recommend enjoying a few hours in a café with a hookah, it might calm you down a little.”

I run a hand through my hair. “I’m usually very calm.”

“Unless cleavage and Wentworth are involved.”

“I’m fine with the cleavage, as long as it’s not combined with Wentworth.”

“But any other time the cleavage is acceptable.”

“I’m not answering that. I’m working my way into a points deficit and this feels like a trap.”

She points the fork at the screen and smiles deviously. “You’re learning.”

“How are my other two girls?” I ask, intent on changing the topic so I don’t get myself into more trouble.

Ruby blinks a few times, as if I’ve shocked her. “Other two girls?”

“Tiny and Francesca?” I like her in green.

“Oh. Right.” She shakes her head a little. “Do you want to see them?”

“When you’re finished eating. Don’t let your food get cold.”

“I’m full. It’s fine.” She takes me over to the terrarium first where Tiny is resting on her rock. Then she goes over to Francesca’s cage and takes her out, walking down the hall to my bedroom. “Sorry. Your bed’s not made, we were in here earlier.”

There’s some rustling around. I hear a few things hit the floor and then she sets the device up against the pillows and climbs up onto the bed. My bed. She’s wearing those tiny little shorts of hers again. And a tank. Her legs are incredible. I want her ankles resting on my shoulders and the very limited amount of clothing she’s wearing to be gone when that happens. Not that I’ve been thinking about this scenario a lot or anything.

Francesca runs around on the bed, playing hide and seek under the covers until she gets tired. Then she crawls onto Ruby’s lap and sticks her head under her shirt.

“What’s going on there?”

“She likes to hide out between my boobs.” Francesca peeks her head out of the neckline.

“Smart girl,” I reply.

I can’t wait to go home. Actually, I’m hoping to be back sooner than I originally planned. I only have a few more things to do in Amsterdam and then it’s back to London. Lexington is going before me to tie up some loose ends there, which is great because he’s driving me batshit nuts with all of his micromanaging. I also think his inability to lay off of the perks here is interfering with work. Normally he’s pretty good at moderation, but it doesn’t seem that way right now. He needs to dry out for a few days.

I’ve done all the sightseeing I want to. Home is where I want to be most. In my own bed, eating my own food, prepared in my own kitchen. I want dinner with Ruby. Except she’s likely going to be moving out when I get back. Which I’m not all that excited about. I like my time with her.

“How’s the job hunt going?”

Ruby bites her lip and her gaze shifts away. “It’s okay. I have another audition later this week. I have a couple of interviews for some part-time work outside of theater, just for something a bit more steady.”

“Oh. That’s good news then?” Her tone makes me think it’s the opposite. That she’s looking for something outside of acting must mean she’s having difficulty finding a role and that seems like a real travesty. She’s a born actress from the stories she’s told me. From the moment she could talk, she’s been performing, school Christmas concerts, drama classes, lead roles in every high school production. Even her first kiss was on a stage. She said it was awful because the lead had eaten a burger with raw onions on it before they rehearsed the scene. She sounds exactly like I was with rugby, except she’s just starting and I’ve already been down that road.

“Oh, yeah. Definitely. Things are looking up.”

“And what about apartment hunting? How’s that going? Have you found anything suitable yet?” It’s another reason I want to come home early. I’d at least like a little time with Ruby before she moves out.

“Oh, um, well . . . I’m still looking, but I have a few friends I can stay with once you’re back.” Her fingernails are at her lips. She’s not biting, but I think she’d like to be.

“That seems like a lot of unnecessary work.”

“What does?”

“Moving your stuff again.”

“Well, I don’t have much to move, right?”

“Still. It seems pointless. To move out when I get back, I mean. You might as well stay until you find something that works. If you want.”

“That’s very kind of you to offer, Bancroft, but I don’t want to impose. You’ve already done more than enough for me.”

“It’s not an imposition, Ruby. I have the space and Francesca loves you. I’d hate for you to have to move all your things just to do it all over again. And there’s no point in rushing, I don’t want you to end up in some dive just because you feel like you’re imposing when you’re not.”

Ruby props her cheek on her fist. Francesca is still snuggled up in her cleavage with her head poking out. “You’re sure it’s okay?”

“Positive. I have lots of space.”

“Obviously, I’ll pay rent and help out with groceries.”

“We can negotiate that later. I’m not particularly worried about it.”

“I don’t want a free ride.”

I’d be more than happy to give Ruby all the free rides she wants, but I keep that to myself. “We’ll figure it out when I’m back.”

“Okay. Thanks Bancroft. You’re being awfully good to me, especially considering I gave you the silent treatment for two days.”

“I’m trying to earn back some points. Where am I now?”

She smiles and ducks her head, then scratches under Francesca’s chin, which is conveniently located very close to her boobs. I’ve never been so jealous of a ferret as I am now. It gives me a legitimate reason to stare. Her eyes lift and a small smile appears. “A solid nine-point-five now. You’re almost back where you started.”