Page 25 of Keeping Knight

Well, like might not be the best word to describe it. Looking at her bruises makes me feel like punching something. Ideally, the face of the man who hurt her. But I need to keep tabs on Ruby’s healing, which means I have to look at her bruises, anyway.

Without thinking, I brush my fingers across the ones at her throat. And shit, is her skin soft. I know I shouldn’t be thinking about something like that right now, but the more time Ruby’s here, the harder it is to ignore my attraction to her.

“I think the arnica is helping,” Ruby says, her amber gaze meeting mine. “Thank you for suggesting it. I’ve never used it before.”

“I learned about it when I was doing my medical training,” I reply.

Ruby regards me as thoughts work in her eyes. “You really can do everything, can’t you?”

I laugh. “Everything? Hardly.”

“A lot. You’re a medic, and you train dogs to do all these cool things, and I bet you know how to kill a person fifty different ways with just your hands. Plus, you’re a pretty good cook.” She flashes me a teasing smile. “Maybe not beef Wellington level yet, but pretty good.”

Chuckling, I ask, “Kill a person fifty different ways with my hands? I don’t remember saying that.”

Her cheeks go pink. “I was reading about Delta Force on my phone last night. And one of the articles said you guys have to train to take down a tango—that’s the right word, isn’t it?—bare-handed.”

“Those articles aren’t entirely accurate, you know. Because most of what we did was confidential. I couldn’t tell anyone what I did. Not even my family.”

“I know. Another article said that. About the confidentiality. But.” Interest brightens Ruby’s expression. “Can you?”

“Kill someone fifty different ways? Probably.” Belatedly, I realize maybe that’s not the best admission to make to a woman I’m having feelings for. Especially not one who was violently attacked less than forty-eight hours ago. “Not that I would. Not now. And I never hurt anyone who wasn’t a threat to my team or our mission. Never an innocent.”

Ruby touches my hand. “I know, Micah. I was just asking because… Well.”

“Well, what?”

“Well, I was wondering if you could teach me some self-defense? Not to kill anyone,” she adds quickly. “But to disable an attacker.” She catches her lip between her teeth again. “I felt so helpless the other night. I just didn’t have the strength to fight him off. I guess I was just thinking if you could teach me some things, it might make me feel safer.”

Though I hate the very idea of Ruby feeling like she’d have to defend herself, I understand why she’s asking. And she’s right. “I can teach you some things.”

“Today?”

“You’re still healing⁠—”

“Just easy things.” Ruby widens her eyes at me. “Please?”

Well, shit. When she looks at me like that, I can’t say no. “Okay. Later, we’ll go over a couple of very simple moves. But first, I have to head over to your apartment. Get those cameras set up. And I’ll grab all the things on your list. Did you think of anything else to add?”

Her forehead creases for a second. “No, I think that was everything.”

“Okay.” I give Ruby’s hand a gentle squeeze. “You can text if you remember anything. And while I’m gone, Jester will be here. Not that I think anything’s going to happen. I just thought you might feel more comfortable having company.”

And if I have to deal with a little jealousy, knowing that my very charming friend will be spending time with Ruby? I guess that’s motivation to get the job done faster.

“Jester is nice,” Ruby says. “Although he might try to get me to play a prank on you.”

Even better. My charming friend conspiring with Ruby while I’m gone. “If you insist,” I reply. “Just no plastic wrap over the toilet seat, please.”

Ruby giggles. “I won’t. I promise.” Then she squeezes my hand back. “Be careful while you’re gone, okay? I don’t want anything happening to you.”

My heart thunks unevenly. Warmth spreads through my chest. “I’ll be careful.”

“Do you think it was the ex-boyfriend?”

Houdini’s expression is solemn as he glances at me. “Motive’s there,” he adds. “The guy’s thinking he’s going to manipulate her into spending all this money on him, and then she cuts him off. Now he’s pissed, feeling rejected… people have killed for less.”

My jaw clenches. My hands instinctively ball into fists. I had an idea that Ruby’s ex was bad news, but after what she told us about him yesterday, there’s no doubt about it. The opportunistic asshole saw a vulnerable woman still grieving for her dad and had no qualms about taking advantage of her. Then he tried to push her into spending her money on him, going as far as taking her damn credit card. And while Ruby denied that her ex threatened her when she broke up with him, I’d put money on it not going well.