Ruby’s POV

John’s eyes widened, just for a second. Then came the laugh—quiet, breathy, playfully dismissive.

“No,” he said smoothly. “Come on, Ruby. You know me.”

I stared at him, expression blank.“Why didn’t you tell me about her promotion?”

His body tensed, then he backed away from me slightly, as if by creating the distance between us, I wouldn’t pick up on him being that affected, then turned me to face him.

For a moment, he didn’t say anything.

I had a little ...