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Whatever it took.
Whatever it cost.
He would have her.
CHAPTER TWO (#ue7500a0d-918b-50ca-8dcf-3902c4ab390b)
WHAT WAS THIS stupid Greek billionaire trying to do?
Ruby’s body felt strangely tight as she turned to pour a drink. She could feel his hot gaze trailing over her body.
She couldn’t imagine why a man like Ares Kourakis would be paying attention to her. He could have any woman here—starlets attending the film festival, ski bunnies, rich debutantes just in from the French Alps. He couldn’t possibly be interested in a regular girl like Ruby.
But why else would he be sitting at the bar, not looking at anyone but her and meekly drinking the worst-tasting beer in the world?
She couldn’t think of any other reason.
People were starting to notice, too. Monty and the waitstaff were constantly sneaking glances while the female customers sitting at the bar looked as if they’d happily stab her with their olive picks.
Ruby served up two gin and tonics, a screwdriver and a rum and Coke, then turned on him angrily. “Seriously,” she hissed, bending closer over the bar. “What is your problem?”
Ares’s gaze bored into her. “You.”
“Me? What did I do?”
“You’re the most desirable woman in the club. You fascinate me.”
She saw the dark hunger in his eyes. A flash of heat traveled through her body. She had little experience with men, but she would’ve had to be blind not to see that he wanted her.
Her gaze traced over him. The hard edge of his jaw, rough with five-o’clock shadow. The rough curl of his short dark hair. The rhythmic thrumming of his powerful fingers against the wood bar. She was aware of him in a way she didn’t want to be. Aware of everything, even the way her own knees felt suddenly weak beneath her.
He’d caused that just by looking at her. Just by telling her she was desirable. She’d thought she couldn’t fall for any rich man’s charm. That she was too smart to fall for it.
But was she? She felt strangely intoxicated, though she hadn’t had anything to drink. She felt like she was in a dream, though she was awake. This man, so handsome, arrogant and wealthy—so out of her league—had made just the barest effort and her whole body quivered, as if on his command.
What was wrong with her?
And, oh, sweet heaven, what would it do to her if he actually touched her?
What would it feel like if he lifted his hand from the bar and stroked her cheek? If his fingertips traced down her throat? If he cupped his hand gently around her breast?
Ruby’s nerve endings zapped with shock, her nipples tightening beneath her cotton bra. A sweet low ache coiled low and deep inside her. She put her hands on the bar to steady herself.
“What...” The words caught in her throat, and she swallowed, her voice suddenly shaky. “What do you want?”
His dark gaze fell to her lips. He smiled.
“Dance with me.”
Dance with him? This Greek god whom everyone else was losing their minds over? Ruby caught at the tendrils of her sanity. “No.”
“Why not?”
Don’t ever believe anything a rich man tells you. Her mother’s sad voice came back to her. They are liars, all of them. Liars and thieves.
Taking a deep breath, Ruby squared her shoulders and managed to say in a calm, strong voice, “I don’t dance.”
“You don’t dance? You don’t drink? You are old-fashioned.” His eyes slowly traced her body, making her cheeks hot in spite of herself. “I could teach you,” he murmured. “When is your break?”
She gripped the edge of the bar. “No, thanks. I just work here. It’s not what I do for fun.”
Ares tilted his head thoughtfully, taking a sip of his beer. “What do you do for fun?”
“I...” Ruby tried to remember. It had been a long time since fun was on her agenda. Even before her mother got sick, before Ruby had taken three jobs to provide for their family, she’d been busy after school, taking care of Ivy and running the house, back when their mom was the one who’d worked three jobs. Ruby blinked. Fun?
Ares covered her hand with his own.
“Tell me what you’d do.” His voice was low, persuasive. “If you could do anything in the world tonight.”
At the touch of his powerful hand over hers, a tremble went through her, as violent as a hard flood of rain across hot, parched earth. A bead of sweat formed between her breasts.
How could he make her body react like this just by putting his hand on hers?
Pulling away, Ruby muttered unwillingly, “I’d be up on the mountain.”
“The mountain?”
“Some of the other ski instructors are running Renegade Night.”
“What’s that?”
“There’s no night skiing at the resort, so before the season ends, just when the snow’s starting to melt, we run our own the old-fashioned way. Tonight’s the last full moon.”
“Is the moon so bright?”
“We also use torches.”
Ares’s eyes sharpened with interest. “I’ve never heard of it.”
“Of course you haven’t. It’s locals only.”
“I see.” Finishing the beer, he put the glass down on the bar. “Good to know. Thanks for the drink.”
Tossing a twenty-dollar bill on the bar, Ares left without another word.
Ruby stared after him, her mouth round with surprise. All she’d wanted him to do was leave her—and Ivy—alone. But now he had gone so abruptly, she felt oddly deflated.
“Wow.” Monty, the other bartender, snorted beside her. “That was cold. What did you say to make him practically turn and run?”
Ruby’s cheeks went hot. She quickly turned to restock the clean glasses. “He just wanted a beer.”
“Obviously.”
A waitress hurried up with another drink order. Dazed, Ruby poured three shots of tequila, and had just put them on the tray when the lights of the club suddenly turned full-on. She blinked, blinded by the bright light. There were groans of shock across the crowd as the music, too, was turned off.
Paul Vence, the wizened former musician who owned the Atlas Club, appeared on the dance floor in all his purple-leather-wearing glory.
“We’re closed for the night,” his voice boomed, surprisingly loud for a man so short. “Everyone out!”
The customers and the staff looked at each other in bewilderment.
“Out! Now!” Mr. Vence looked at the bartenders and staff. “Don’t worry. All of you will still get paid for the night. Tips included.”
The staff brightened considerably. “Shall we start cleaning up?” Lexie asked.
“It’s been handled. You can all just go.” His beady gaze focused on Ruby. “Especially you.”
And with an intake of breath, she knew.
Tell me what you’d do. If you could do anything in the world tonight.
Ruby felt a tingle at the back of her neck as customers slowly started to file out, muttering and moaning. With the lights on so brightly, the club looked plain, with bits of trash on the floor. The men suddenly appeared disheveled, their clothes wrinkled; the women had smudged mascara and tired eyes. The illusion was over. The magic of the nightclub—the music, the darkness, the flashing colors—was gone.
The waitstaff, on the other hand, were practically singing with joy in the changing room, chattering happily about how they’d spend their unexpected free night. As Ruby went back to retrieve her coat from her locker, she lingered, waiting until the others had left. She tried to tell herself she was crazy. Imagining things. There were plenty of other possible explanations.
But as she left the Atlas Club, he was waiting for her, as she knew he’d be.
The sidewalks had already grown quiet on the snowy street, as the last of the clubgoers and staff disappeared in the cold night to the nearby Settler, called the Sett for short, or other bars in the tiny mountain resort town.
Ares Kourakis was leaning against a streetlight, dressed in black, surrounded by snow. Butterflies filled her belly at seeing him.
“You did that, didn’t you?” she said accusingly.
Ares gave her a careless smile. “What if I did?”
She shook her head. “The club would have made a fortune tonight. How much did you pay Mr. Vence to close?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“And you made sure the staff had the night off. Paid. With tips and everything.”
“I knew it would kill your pleasure if they didn’t.”
Ruby’s voice croaked as she asked, “But why?”
“I told you.” He came closer beneath the street lamp, until their bodies were only inches apart. With his greater height, he towered over her. She squared her shoulders desperately beneath her vintage jacket, refusing to back an inch, but she couldn’t hide the rapid rise and fall of her breath. Reaching down, he tucked back a tendril of her long dark hair. “I want to be with you tonight.”
Be with her. Be with her? Looking up, she tried to glare at him. “Do you always get what you want?”
His dark gaze poured through her soul. “Yes.”
She swallowed. “But—but why?” she whispered. “Why me?”
“I told you. You’re incredibly beautiful.”
“Most of the girls in the club were way prettier than me.”
His expression changed. “You’re different.”
Ruby shook her head helplessly. “Different how?”
“You weren’t trying to get my attention.”
Ah. Now she understood. She felt suddenly, incomprehensively disappointed. She wasn’t special after all. Somehow he’d almost made her hope—
Cutting off the thought, she lifted her chin. “So you’re a spoiled child in a roomful of toys, throwing a tantrum over the one toy you can’t have.”
He drew closer, looking down at her.
“Your refusal only drew my attention,” he said huskily. “It wasn’t the only reason. Something about you...” His gaze fell to her lips, and for a second she thought he might kiss her, right then and there on Main Street. She shivered, holding her breath as he said, “Take me up on the mountain.”
Take me. Up on the mountain. She gulped.
“I can’t,” she breathed. “It’s...locals only...”
“You can.” His voice was so persuasive she felt like she couldn’t say no. In fact, she could barely remember what no meant.
Ruby took a deep breath. “Look, I’m sure you’re a great skier, but—”
“Actually I’m not. I suck at skiing.”
Her lips parted in astonishment, both at the assertion and that any arrogant man would admit to being bad at something. “Then why would you buy a house here?”
Ares looked at her. “There are other things I enjoy.”
His voice was low, making her shiver in the cold night. He wasn’t even touching her, but she felt electrified, half on fire. It had never felt like this with Braden, not once, not even when he’d kissed her. Even when he’d proposed to her, he’d never made her feel like this.
Run, her mother’s voice warned inside her. Run as far and fast as you can.
Instead, as Ruby looked up at Ares beneath the diamond-sparkled winter moonlight, she heard herself say, “Do you have ski clothes?”
His cruel, sensual lips curved. “Of course.”
She snorted. “But they’re probably some expensive designer, aren’t they? Brand new? In black?” When he didn’t deny it, Ruby shook her head. “I’ll find you something else.”
“What’s wrong with my clothes?”
“No one can know I’m bringing you up on the mountain. They’d be furious. Think you can keep your mouth in check and be inconspicuous and quiet?”
