Chapter 14: Ruby - Keeping Knight

“Daisy, stay.”

Daisy casts a longing look at the bright pink Kong toy lying at Evie’s feet. The fabric is damp from chewing, and the ends are slightly frayed. Daisy’s tail thumps against the floor. Her butt wiggles a little.

“Stay,” Evie repeats. Her tone is low and commanding. Then she nudges the toy a little closer to Daisy while watching her carefully.

Daisy jolts slightly, like she’s about to leap for the toy. Her body vibrates with excitement. But she doesn’t move. Instead, she glances up at Evie with a pleading gaze.

If I could read Daisy’s mind, I’d bet she’s thinking, Okay. I stayed. Can I have the toy now? Please?

Evie smiles affectionately at the puppy. “Not yet.”

“Turn around,” Micah says. “See if she’ll take the toy when she thinks you're not watching.”

“Okay,” Evie replies. Turning her attention back to Daisy, Evie holds her hand up in a gesture to stay. “Stay.” Then Evie turns around so her back is to Daisy.

Micah pulls me close to his side and says quietly, “This is a tough one. But it’s a good indicator of how Daisy’s training is coming along.”

Daisy looks tempted. So tempted by the lure of the Kong toy that her butt hovers an inch or so off the ground, and her tail swishes madly across the carpet. Still, she stays.

“How old is she again?” I whisper to Micah.

“Four months,” he replies. “Still a baby.”

“Look at her.” I lift my chin at Daisy. “If her tail moves any faster…”

Micah chuckles. “She loves that toy, doesn’t she?”

After twenty seconds or so, Evie turns back around. She glances at the Kong toy at her feet, and then at Daisy, still sitting several feet away. With a smile, Evie exclaims brightly, “Good girl! Good Daisy!” Scooping up the toy, she adds, “Break,” while tossing it into the air.

In a blur of movement, Daisy leaps for the toy and catches it midair. Once she lands, she shakes the toy hard while growling at it. Then she takes off across the room, making little puppy hops as she goes. Every few feet, she stops to squeak the toy and shake it again. As she races in circles around the living room, Sampson watches from his dog bed, his posture relaxed but alert.

“She has so much energy,” I say with a laugh. “I’m tired just watching her.”

Evie makes a little tell me about it face as she nods. “She sure does. I have to run her for a good thirty minutes every night or she won’t settle down. And that’s on top of her training and all the walks she gets.”

“She lives with you, right?” I ask.

“She does,” Evie replies with a smile. “And she’s a great roommate, aside from the boundless energy right before bedtime part.”

Evie is one of the employees in the Canine Services division, and according to Micah, she’s been taking lead on training their newest puppy recruit. “Evie’s our most recent addition to Canine Services,” Micah explained before she came over. “She’s an experienced handler, but she doesn’t have as much training experience. So working with Daisy is helpful for both of them.”

“Daisy will work primarily with Evie,” Micah explains. “Depending on the specialty Daisy shows an affinity for, one of the other handlers may help with her training.”

Evie whistles, and Daisy comes to a screeching halt halfway across the living room. Her attention jumps to Evie immediately. “Come,” Evie orders.

Daisy trots obediently to Evie, then plops down on her haunches. The toy is still in her mouth. As she pants, her tongue lolls to the side. “Give,” Evie says, and Daisy drops the toy in her hand.

Evie turns to me. “Do you want to play with her?”

“Can I?” I ask, more to Micah than Evie. “Will it mess up her training?”

“Not at all,” Micah replies. “You can play with her. It’s good for Daisy’s socialization.”

Taking the slightly-damp toy from Evie, I look down at the puppy now watching me avidly. “Should I throw it? Or play tug?”

“Throw it,” Micah encourages. “She loves fetch. And it helps tire her out. Which I’m sure Evie would appreciate. Tell her to bring after you throw it.”

“Okay.” I cock my arm back and lob the toy across the room. Daisy takes off after it, and once she has it in her mouth, I say, “Bring, Daisy. Bring.”

Given my lack of training experience with dogs—actually, I have zero experience, since my dad was allergic—I’m not sure Daisy will listen to me. But she does, bounding back to me with the Kong held tightly in her mouth. Her expression is proud. Her tag waves like a little flag.

“Tell her to give,” Micah says, “and hold out your hand.” He turns my hand over so my palm is face-up. “Just like this.”

“Give,” I repeat while holding my hand out to Daisy. “Give.”

Daisy looks at me for a second, almost like she’s judging me. Do I want to give this woman my toy? I imagine her thinking. Can I trust her to give it back?

But a beat later, she drops the Kong into my hand. A surge of pride hits me. It’s just a small thing, but still, it’s a victory. “Good girl,” I tell her, trying to emulate the same enthusiastic tone that Evie used before. “Good Daisy. Good girl.”

“You can pet her,” Micah says. He gives my shoulder a little squeeze. “We’re just playing now. It’s okay.” Then he crouches and gives Daisy a scratch between her ears.

Following his lead, I kneel on the floor and stroke my hand down Daisy’s back. “Good girl,” I repeat. “What a good girl.”

From his bed, Sampson lets out a soft woof. “You too,” I add while glancing in his direction. “You’re such a good boy, Sampson. The best boy.”

Daisy nudges the toy, making it clear that as much as she likes pets, playing is better. So I toss the toy again. “Bring, Daisy. Bring.”

After another half-dozen sprints across the living room and back, Daisy finally flops onto the floor with a sigh. She rests her paws on top of the toy, making sure everyone knows it’s hers. Then she sighs again.

Micah puts his arm around my waist as I rise back to my feet. Then he leads me over to the couch and sits down beside me. Evie takes a seat in the armchair adjacent and flashes me a quick smile. “So, what do you think of Daisy?”

I glance at the puppy. Her eyes are already at half-mast. “She’s really cute. And so smart.” Pausing, I add, “I mean, I’m not an expert or anything. But she seems smart to me.”

“She is,” Micah agrees. “Of course, there’s no guarantee when you start training a dog. Some take to it. Some don’t.”

“How do you pick the dogs?” I ask. “Are there tests for the puppies? Or does it have to do with who the parents are?”

“It’s a combination of things,” he replies. “First, the parents are tested for common health issues. Heart problems, hip dysplasia… it depends on the breed. We talk to the breeder, as well. They can give an idea of the personality of the puppy. Then we do testing. Temperament, trainability, stuff like that. We also have to take into consideration what we’re looking for.”

“What if the dog turns out not to be a good fit? Then what?”

“Then we see if one of our employees is looking for a pet,” Micah answers. “That’s how Jamie, one of our security guards, ended up with his dog.”

“Wilson,” Evie adds with a smile. “He’s a great dog. Just a bit too friendly.”

“Too friendly?” I’m not sure I’ve ever heard of a dog being called too friendly.

“Wilson’s a lab,” Micah explains. “They can be really good at tracking and detection.” He laughs. “But Wilson was more interested in detecting people he thought would give him attention. Every time he’d see a person, he’d get distracted.”

“Distracted is an understatement,” Evie adds. “He’d launch into this grand performance. Sitting up on his haunches, paws in the air, flashing everyone these pleading, pay attention to me looks…”

“He’s happier with Jamie,” Micah finishes. “And ultimately, that’s what’s most important. We all love the dogs, and we want what’s best for them. Whether it’s working for Fox & Falcon or not.”

I glance at Daisy, who’s not quite asleep, but appears to be close to it. “She seems happy.” Then I glance over at Sampson, curled nose to tail on his bed. “So does he.”

“That’s the goal.” Micah gives Sampson an affectionate smile. “Especially this guy. After all the years of hard work, he deserves it.”

“How many dogs do you have again?” I ask him. “I thought you said five?”

“Yup. Five. There’s Sampson, of course. Then we have Cooper. His speciality is detection, and he works with Dan. Burke specializes in security, like Sampson. That means protecting his handler and apprehending suspects. Burke works with Kendra. Thiago works with Fluff. Fluff specializes in tracking. And Evie’s working with Daisy.”

“It’s so interesting,” I say, “how the dogs are trained to do different things. I’ve always known about police and military dogs. I just never thought much about what they actually did.”

“It is really interesting.” Evie smiles. “I feel really lucky to have found such a great job. I get to work with dogs and help people at the same time. Plus, I really like the people I work with.”

“Even though your boss is a workaholic?” Micah teases.

Evie cocks her head. Her lips twitch. “Maybe he was. I’m not sure about that anymore.”

Micah glances at me. His hand comes to my leg, and he gives it a gentle squeeze. “Maybe I’ve discovered there’s life outside of work.”

Tingles race across my thigh where he touches me. A burst of happy warmth expands in my chest.

“I couldn’t agree more,” Evie says. “Which reminds me, I should probably get going.” She rises from the armchair. “Dart league starts at six. And I still need to walk Daisy and give her dinner before that.” She glances at Micah with her eyebrows raised. “Unless you need anything?”

“Oh, no.” He rises from the couch. “I don’t want you to let your team down.” To me, he adds, “Evie’s a pro at darts. She won a national dart competition a couple of years ago.”

Evie laughs. “It was a regional competition. And it wasn’t a big deal.” She claps her hands. “Daisy. Come.”

Immediately alert, Daisy bounds over to Evie. Evie reaches into her belt bag and takes out a leash, then clips it to Daisy’s harness. “It’s been really nice meeting you, Ruby. Anytime you want to visit with Daisy, I’m happy to bring her over. And if you want to convince Micah to put a dartboard up in here…”

“Do you want a dartboard?” Micah asks me. “We could put it in the TV room.”

“Oh, it would mess up the wall,” I reply while envisioning dozens of tiny holes in Micah’s undoubtedly expensive wallpaper.

Micah waves his hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about it.”

I tug on his arm. “I’m not good at darts. At all. Like, the last time I played with Kylie and Jordan, the manager of the bar had to ask me to stop. He was afraid I might accidentally hurt someone.”

“He told you to stop playing?” Micah scowls. “You were a customer trying to enjoy herself. He shouldn’t have done that.” His eyes narrow. “What bar was it?”

Seized by an image of Micah storming into Jack’s Corner Pub and berating the manager for his perceived slight against me, I reply quickly, “Oh, I don’t remember. Some place in Hell’s Kitchen. It doesn’t matter.”

Micah doesn’t look convinced. “He shouldn’t have done that.”

“It’s fine. Really. But that’s why I don’t think a dartboard in your condo would be a good idea.”

“We’re getting a dartboard,” he states firmly. “I don’t like the wallpaper in the TV room, anyway. And I’ll teach you how to play.”

“Oh, and then you and Micah can join the dart league,” Evie interjects. “After everything’s back to normal, I mean.” Then she moves towards me to give me a quick hug. “It will be. Soon. I’m sure of it.”

* * *

Once Evie and Daisy are gone, and Sampson's in the kitchen, enjoying his own dinner, Micah comes back into the living room and sits down beside me. He loops his arm around my shoulders and presses a kiss to the top of my head. “What did you think?” he asks. “Did you enjoy meeting Evie and Daisy?”

“Oh, yes. Definitely.” I smile at Micah. “Evie’s really nice. And Daisy is so cute. Energetic, but cute. It was cool seeing how you train the dogs. You’ve told me about it, but seeing it in person is different.”

Micah’s expression turns thoughtful. “If you’d like, I can take you to Fox & Falcon to see our training facility. It’s got an agility run and an area for the dogs to track scents. Then you can see the dogs go through some of their more advanced skills.”

“I’d love that.” A beat later, my enthusiasm plunges. “I guess I have to wait, don’t I? Until…”

Until the person who tried to kill me is caught, I leave out. Because, despite the evidence pointing to Sylvia as the culprit, the district attorney claims it’s not enough. “There’s motive,” the DA explained, “but we don’t have anything actually linking Mrs. Ashe to the attempted murder. Or the bomb. No receipts, nothing in her search history, and the warrant at her house didn’t turn up anything incriminating. I’m not saying she’s innocent. But there’s not enough to charge her. Not right now.”

Micah is convinced that Sylvia’s guilty. He thinks the evidence is out there, and they just need to find it. So the investigation continues.

F&F isn’t just focusing on Sylvia, though. Until her conviction is a certainty, they’re still looking into other suspects, too. Liam, a couple of people in my building with criminal records, my angry author client, and even Aidan in our cooking class, because, as Micah put it, “I just get this feeling about him. It might just be because he’s irritating. But I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

Do I think Sylvia did it? I’ve thought about it countless times in the three days since I watched her interview. Sometimes I think yes, she could have. If she really believes the things she accused me of, then yes, she could have motive to kill me. But then I think about the Sylvia my dad married. Not because he had to, but because she made him happy.

Would that Sylvia kill me? I’m not sure.

“I could arrange for you to visit F&F safely,” Micah replies. “I can get the guys to help. We can use the company SUV for transport, set up some extra surveillance… and Rogue just installed a garage at the office. So it would be safe getting inside from there.”

My stomach sinks as I listen to all the precautions Micah would have to take just to take me into Midtown to visit Fox & Falcon. There’s no way I’m going to ask him or his friends to do that.

“It’s okay,” I say quickly. “I don’t need to go. Meeting Daisy is more than enough.”

Micah frowns. “But you just said you would love it. And I’d like to show you around. You could meet the rest of the people on my team. Plus there’s Jamie—he’s the security guard who adopted Wilson. He’s great. And Kurt and Axel and Beau⁠—”

“It’s just a lot of effort that you don’t need to do. I mean, you already asked Evie to come over, on her day off no less…”

“Evie was happy to come over. I didn’t make her.”

“But you’re her boss. It’s not like she could say—” My mouth snaps shut. Heat rises in my cheeks. I didn’t mean to make it sound like Micah pressured Evie into coming over, especially when I know he was just trying to help me.

“Anyway,” I add, “Here is fine. I don’t need to go anywhere else.”

Micah stares at me for a second. Then he turns to face me and takes my hands. “Yes, I’m Evie’s boss,” he says. “But I would never push her to do something outside of her work hours. I respect her and the rest of my employees too much. I mentioned to her how I’d like to introduce you to Daisy. Evie offered to come over. That was it.”

“Oh.”

“And,” he presses on, “I don’t want you to feel trapped here.”

“I don’t.” Much. Most of the time, I’m happy to be in this lovely condo with Micah and Sampson for company. It’s just once in a while that I’ll start feeling antsy and claustrophobic. I’ll get this itch to go for a walk in Central Park or grab a slice of pepperoni at Pete’s Pizza. Or I’ll think about how much fun it would be to go to the Museum of Natural History with Micah to look at the dinosaur exhibits.

I know why I can’t. And I would never, ever complain about it. I just keep those little itches to myself so Micah doesn’t have yet another thing to worry about.

“Ruby.” Micah arches his brow. “If you didn’t feel trapped sometimes, I’d be shocked. You’ve been stuck in my condo for over two weeks now. I don’t care how big the place is. That’s still a long time to be in one place.”

“I don’t mind,” I insist. “I like being here. With you and Sampson… plus, your friends come over, and I met Evie and Daisy…”

“I like you being here, too.” His expression turns solemn. “But I want to take you places. Not just Fox & Falcon. I want to take you to all the places I would if things were normal. Restaurants. Shows. Museums. I’d bring you to our vacation cabin in the Catskills. Or our place on Hilton Head.”

“You would?”

“Of course.” He meets my gaze. “I want to take you on dates, Rue. Real ones. Not ordering pizza and watching movies in the TV room.”

“I like pizza and movies.”

Micah leans in to kiss me. “So do I. But I want to give you more.”

“You do, Micah.” I lace my fingers between his. “You give me so much. Not just staying here, and protecting me. But you’re always thinking about me. You order all the food I like, and you watch rom-coms and shows about kittens and puppies instead of the dragon movies you enjoy. You stocked up on all those paint by numbers for me, and⁠—”

“Paint by numbers are fun. And I like the show about kittens and puppies.”

“You invited Evie and Daisy over to distract me,” I point out. “Just like you asked Sofia and Rogue over last night.”

“Evie offered,” he retorts. “And I just happened to be talking to Sofia yesterday, and we thought it might be fun to play some games and order takeout. Like a double date.”

“It was fun.” And as a distraction, it was pretty effective—I couldn’t obsess over Sylvia or relive those humiliating moments when I came back to myself in the closet while in the midst of a cutthroat game of Risk with Micah, Sofia, and Rogue.

And yes, I know Micah said there was nothing to be embarrassed about. But like many things in life, easier said than believed.

“Rue.” Micah kisses me again. “I know you seem to have this thing about me doing things for you. I’m not sure why. But I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it until you believe me. I care about you. I want to make you happy. And it makes me feel good, doing things for you. So it’s a win-win.”

My heart squeezes. When he says it like that, it seems so simple.

“I guess I just wish I could do more for you,” I reply. “You’re always doing things for me. But I can’t do the same.”

“But you do,” Micah insists. “You make me happy. You’re always checking on me. Asking how I’m doing. You make my coffee in the morning, and those protein smoothies for after my workout. You made me that paint by number⁠—”

“Micah. That’s not much of a gift.”

“It is.” His gaze dips. When it lifts to meet mine again, there’s a vulnerability I haven’t seen there before. “I’ve never had a woman do things for me before. Not like you do.”

I blink at him. “What do you mean?”

“You think they’re little things. The protein shakes and getting me a glass of water before bed and scratching my back while we watch TV. But they’re not. They’re things you do because you want to make my life easier. Better. And you don’t expect anything from it.”

“Of course not.” I frown. “That’s not how doing nice things works. You just do them because you care about the other person.”

“I know.” He cups my cheek as he gazes into my eyes. “And that’s why all the things you do mean so much. Because you do them because you care about me.”

“I do.” I turn my cheek so I can kiss his palm. “Very much.”

And hearing him explain how he sees things, something that’s been off balance shifts inside me. It evens out. Clicks into place.

Our relationship isn’t me always taking. I give him something valuable, too.

“Rue.” Micah hugs me to him. “You give me so much. More than I can explain. Nothing you could ask for would be too much.” He kisses me. “Nothing.”

My throat goes tight. “Micah.”

“Ruby.” His gaze burns into mine. “You’re incredible. And I⁠—”

I silence him with a kiss.

A kiss that carries with it everything I feel for him. Trust. Admiration. Affection. And something deeper and more intense; something that feels an awful lot like love.

I’ve wondered about it over the past few days. Is it possible to love Micah already in such a short time, especially given the circumstances? Logic says no. It’s too soon. That the stress of my situation could mess with my emotions. Logic says I should wait until everything’s back to normal before even considering the possibility of love.

But then my heart speaks up, and it says something different.

Love doesn’t happen on a schedule. It doesn’t come with conditions. It just happens; sometimes when you least expect it.

When I think about it like that, the question isn’t hard to answer at all.

I’m falling in love with Micah.

I haven’t told him yet. But I show him with my kiss.

I take the lead, nipping at his lips and teasing them open so I can plunge inside. I kiss him desperately. Like I’m starving, and he’s the only thing that can sate me.

Micah makes this low, growly sound low in his throat. As he kisses me back with equal intensity, he hauls me onto his lap. His hands are all over me. His erection juts between my thighs, achingly close to my center.

One hand tunnels through my hair, tilting my head back so he can kiss me more deeply. His other hand slides beneath my shirt to cover my breast. He rolls my nipple between his fingers, giving it the slightest tweak. The brief flash of pain transforms into pleasure.

I scrape my nails across the back of his neck, and he groans again. His erection thickens. He rolls my nipple again.

Desire surges through me, intense and insistent. It wants more. It wants everything.

“Micah,” I moan as I drag my mouth from his. “I want you.”

His eyes darken. The tendons tighten in his jaw and neck. “Rue.”

“I do.” The empty ache deep inside me is almost unbearable. All I can think about is how good it would feel to have Micah there instead. Feeling him stretching me. Filling me. Plunging deep over and over again until my body explodes in a firework of stars.

“Ah, Ruby.” He kisses my neck. Then he sucks at the little spot beneath my jaw before lifting his head to look at me. There’s satisfaction in his eyes. Possession. “I want you, too.”

“Good.” I shift on his lap so I’m straddling him. His erection notches between my thighs, and I rub against it without thinking. It just feels so good. So right.

“Rue.” It’s said on a rough exhale. “Ah, shit.” In one move, Micah flips me over so I’m sideways on the couch beneath him. “I want you,” he repeats. “But I won’t rush things. I want you to be sure.”

“I’m sure,” I gasp as his fingers trail across my stomach. “I want you.” My cheeks heat slightly when I add, “Inside me.”

He unfastens my jeans and works them over my hips. Then he peels them the rest of the way off and tosses them to the side. “Beautiful,” Micah says as his gaze moves across my body. “So beautiful.”

He spreads my legs and drapes them over his shoulders. I should feel exposed, in just panties like this, but I don’t. The way Micah looks at me, I feel appreciated. Treasured.

Micah lifts my hips and cups my butt with one hand, raising me higher. He ducks his head so it’s inches from my center—close enough to feel his breath against my heated skin. “So beautiful,” he repeats. “Having you like this…”

Leaning closer still, he puts his mouth on me. Strokes me with his tongue. Pulling my panties aside, he spreads me wide and plays with me with his fingers. He works at me, using his mouth and hands to taste and explore.

I look at Micah, and my breath catches at the hunger written across his features. When his gaze lifts to meet mine, his pupils are almost completely black. The skin over his cheekbones is tight. A dull flush colors his cheeks.

If I had any doubt that he wants me, it’s erased right now.

“I want to make you come,” he says. “Not sex. We will. Just not today. But I want to taste you when you come all over my tongue. I want to watch your face when you orgasm. I want to know how you sound. Is that okay with you?”

It takes me a second to process. “We’re not having sex?”

“Not today. You’re too important to rush things. But I’d like to make you come. It’s very good for stress relief, I’ve heard.”

“Oh. I guess⁠—”

I almost swallow my tongue when Micah’s finger slides inside me. “Yes?” he asks with his eyebrows raised. “What do you think?”

“Yes,” I reply in a strangled voice. It’s hard to keep my thoughts together when his thick finger is moving inside me. “Stress relief is good.”

His gaze holds mine. “Yes, you want me to make you come?”

A second finger enters me, stretching me deliciously. My hips thrust instinctively, my body wanting more. “Yes. Please.”

A wolfish smile spreads across Micah’s face. “Good.” Then he pulls his fingers out of me just long enough to take off my panties before plunging them deep again. “You feel so damn good.”

Then he buries his head between my legs and kisses me.

My head falls back.

My breath catches.

My mind goes blank as exquisite pleasure takes over.

Micah uses his mouth and fingers to work me into a frenzy. He sucks at that sensitive bundle of nerves at my center while his fingers thrust in and out of me. First slow and careful, then hard and fast, he brings me to the edge faster than I could have imagined.

I’m moaning, making sounds I’ve never heard myself make before. My eyes are squinched shut. My hands clutch at the cushion.

My stomach muscles are quivering, and there’s a tremendous pressure building inside me. My inner walls squeeze Micah’s fingers. My body is hot and slick for him, so ready for whatever he’s willing to give.

“Ruby,” he murmurs. “You’re so damn beautiful.” Then he pulls my little bud into his mouth. His fingers pull nearly all ‌the way out, then slam home again. They curl inside me, hitting a magical spot that lights the fuse already smoldering inside me.

I explode. White lights dance across my vision. My body locks up as ecstasy shoots through me. A deep, throaty cry escapes. When I pry my eyes open, Micah is watching me with an expression of pride and satisfaction.

As the aftershocks ripple through me, Micah pulls me into his arms and rolls us over so I’m on top. He cuddles me to his chest and presses a kiss to the top of my head. “I was right,” he murmurs.

“Right about what?” I ask, lifting my head so I can look at him.

“How you look when you come.” His lips curve up. “I thought you’d be breathtaking. And I was right.”

My heart stumbles. Squeezes. “Micah.”

It’s right there. So close to coming out.

I’m falling in love with you.

But I chicken out. Instead, I kiss his jaw and say, “I want to know how you look when you come, too.”

Micah strokes my hair. “Oh, you will. It’s not if. It’s when.”

I know he’s trying to protect me. That’s why I can’t be mad about him wanting to wait. Still. I’m a grown woman, and I know what I want. “Soon,” I insist.

“Soon,” he agrees. “Definitely soon.”