Ruby Red 3 - A Romance for All Time (Complete)

Chapter 35

Sam didn't know what he was going to say to Ali.

For a moment, and only a moment, he'd considered telling his fiancée the bruising already forming on his knuckles was from his sparring session with Leif at the boxing club this morning. Not that he wanted to lie to her, more like just not add to the mountain of crap piling up around her these past few days.

Nope. Best to get it over with. If he'd learned nothing these past months, the truth will out.

He turned the doorknob, ignoring the jab of pain in his right hand, and entered their home. It used to be their sanctuary, but ever since Vicky held him at gunpoint on the pale hardwood floor of the entry, Sam had trouble relaxing here. The rational side of him knew Vicky was in jail, couldn't hurt him or Ali anymore. He wished he could only pay attention to that side. He wished every time he opened the door; he didn't see Vicky standing there threatening to destroy his life.

But Vicky wasn't there. Ali was. Sitting on the couch, tablet on her lap, video chatting with someone. "Oh Brenda, he's back now. Talk later?"

"Didn't mean to interrupt."

Tablet forgotten, she crossed the room and took Sam in her arms. "You can always interrupt." She placed a not-so-chaste kiss on his lips. Coming up for air, she teased, "But we were finished. Brenda had to get back to work."

"You're in a good mood."

"I guess I am." Ali tilted her head to the side and studied him. "But something's bothering you. What's up?"

How did she always know?

With the lightest of touches, he traced her cheek. Her gentle touch landed on his hand and her eyes widened. "Sam, your hand!"

The inflamed skin betrayed him. She studied first his left and then the right at his side. "Both hands."

Taking him by the elbow, Ali pulled him into the kitchen, turned on the tap and shoved his hands under the cold water. "Hold them here."

Why wasn't she asking what happened? She yanked a towel out of a drawer and held it under the ice dispenser on the fridge. The machine made a loud grinding noise before it spat out frozen chunks.

"That's enough. Dry them with this." She offered him a different clean towel from the open drawer. "Careful," she directed when he yelped in pain as the rough material met his sensitive skin. She pointed to one of the bar stools. "Sit."

Ali sat opposite him and gently took one hand in hers. Her fingers were cold and damp from holding the improvised ice pack. First, she softly blew on each knuckle, then tenderly pressed the ice pack against Sam's bruised bulges. He winced at the contact. "Sorry," she murmured.

"Don't you want to know what happened?"

"Do you want to tell me?"

Sam sighed, regarded her bent head before him and blurted out the truth. "I punched Noah. A lot."

Everything in the room stilled.

A curtain of raven locks shielded Ali's face from him. Sam longed to reach out and sweep the hair away, gauge how annoyed at him she was by her blue eyes. He was angry at himself. Mad he'd let Noah goat him into the fight. Concerned it was another ploy Jack would use against them. But mostly upset Ali would be disappointed with him.

Silence reigned.

"I didn't intend to. It... it just kind of happened."

The quiet hush continued, broken only by the soft shifting of the ice inside the towel.

"Leif and I were walking back to the office from the gym, and he was there, on the sidewalk, strolling towards me as if he didn't have a care in the world."

The ice pack bobbed over his sore knuckles, the pain of each press nothing compared to the lack of response from his fiancée.

"He... he actually tried to shake my hand. Held it out towards me and everything." Sam swallowed, pulse racing. He didn't know if it was from the fear of Ali's nonresponse or the retelling of the story. "I tried to walk away; I swear I did. But then he asked after you."

A hand went beneath the veil of hair, keeping Ali from him. As quickly as it disappeared, it returned and resumed its hold on the towel with the ice.

"He didn't even pretend to be sorry. Acted like he hadn't..." Sam waved a bruised hand around, "well, you know. And I don't... I saw red. Next thing we're on the ground and my fist wouldn't stop hitting that stupid chin of his."

Sam twisted to try to catch a glimpse of Ali, but her hair continued to block his view. She remained mute.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done it."

Ali shifted to place the ice pack on his other hand. With the movement, the hair swayed, and he caught a glimpse of her mouth. Was that a smile on her lips?

"Ali?" This time he did reach out and remove the barrier between them. She turned away from him, placing her hand over her mouth.

This was not like her, to be so... shy with her emotions. Maybe when they first met, but he was sure they were way past that. They trusted each other and with trust came the confidence to express any and all emotions. The good and the bad. They fought, had a difference of opinion, even yelled, but without reprimand or repercussion. Ali never gave him the silent treatment.

Until now. Frustrated, he demanded, "Talk to me."

She shook her head, lifted her face to his and met his eyes with sapphire irises shining with... delight.

Ali was laughing. And it irritated him.

"What's so funny?"

Her hand left her mouth, and laughter peeled through the room. High-pitched giggles bounced off the cupboards, the hardwood flooring. How could she be laughing at this? She attempted to speak but only little squeaks passed her lips.

"It's not funny," repeated Sam. But her laughter was infecting him, washing away his irritation. Despite his best efforts, he couldn't keep the smile from his own lips. Followed by a chuckle. Soon they were both roaring and gasping for breath.

Ali was the first to manage to speak. "You really... hit him... in... in the middle of the street?"

Sam nodded, the grin slipping a little.

"Like that scene from Bridget Jones Diary? Did you crash through any windows? Smash any cakes?"

Now she was toying with him. "No," he pouted.

"You know I don't condone violence of any kind." She dropped the damp towel with the remaining ice on the island counter. "It accomplishes nothing."

"I know, but—"

She placed a finger over his lips. "Let's just say, that this once," she paused and looked at him barely feigning seriousness, "and only once," another pause and Sam nodded, "I'll make an exception."

"It'll never happen again."

Ali crawled into his lap and placed her head on his shoulder. "Better not. I might start thinking Leif and this boxing club are a bad idea."

"Leif ended it, pulled me off Noah and told him to bugger off."

"At least someone had some common sense." She kissed his cheek, then his forehead. "Remember, I signed up to marry a lover, not a fighter."