Why Resist a Rebel - By Leah Ashton Page 0,24

the challenge. It could be nothing else. And maybe he felt that he should be the one doing the rejecting, not her?

She nodded, and she watched the movement reshuffle her hair just a little.

Yes. That was it.

And after tonight—that would be that. He’d have achieved his goal, and in a week’s time she’d be very, very old news.

Which suited her just fine.

Didn’t it?

FIVE

Dev was late. Only a few minutes, but late, just the same.

He’d meant to be later, actually, having liked the idea of Ruby sitting alone at the restaurant, getting increasingly frustrated with him.

Simply because he enjoyed the flash of anger in her eyes almost as much as the heat of the attraction she was so determinedly—and continually—ignoring.

But, after a while, he began to feel like a bit of an idiot sitting alone in his penthouse suite, mindlessly watching the Saturday night rugby, when the alternative was spending time with a beautiful...

No, not beautiful. At least not on the standards that Hollywood judged beauty. But a compelling...intriguing woman. Yes, she was that.

Unarguably more interesting than his own company.

But when he was ushered into the private dining area of the exclusive restaurant by an impeccably well-mannered maître d’, he was met by a table exquisitely set for two—but no Ruby.

His lips quirked as he settled into his seat. Interesting.

The restaurant sat right on the edge of Circular Quay, its floor-to-ceiling windows forming a subtly curved wall that provided a spectacular view of the harbour. To the right were the dramatic sails of the opera house. Straight ahead was the incomparable harbour bridge. Lights illuminated the mammoth structure, highlighting its huge metal beams.

He’d eaten at this restaurant before, and had certainly dined against a backdrop of the world’s most beautiful skylines many, many times—but he wouldn’t be human if he wasn’t impressed by sparkling Sydney by night.

It was like nowhere else in the world.

However. Sitting alone in a dining room that could seat thirty—and which he’d had organised for tonight to seat only two—even a remarkable view could quickly become boring.

Which it did.

A waiter came and offered him a taste of the wine he’d selected, then after pouring Dev’s glass he merged once again, silently, into the background.

Minutes passed. Slowly, he assumed, as he refused to succumb and check his watch.

He considered—then dismissed—the possibility that she wasn’t coming at all.

No, she’d be here.

Almost on cue, the door to the private room opened on whisper-smooth hinges. He looked up to watch Ruby being ushered inside. And then kept on looking.

She wore a dress in greens and gold that caught and reflected every bit of light in the room. Her legs were long beneath a skirt that hit at mid thigh, and shown off to perfection by strappy, criss-crossed heels. When his gaze—eventually—met hers, he connected with eyes that were defiant and bold beneath a fringe that was smoother and more perfect than usual: not a golden strand out of place.

Her lips curved in greeting, but he wouldn’t call it a smile.

He stood as she approached the table, and she blinked a couple of times as he did so, her gaze flicking over him for the briefest of instants.

The maître d’ received a genuine smile as he offered Ruby her seat, and he then launched into his spiel, speaking—Dev assumed—of wine and food, but he really wasn’t paying any attention. Instead he took the opportunity to just look at Ruby as she tilted her chin upwards and listened attentively.

This was, after all, about the first time she’d been perfectly still, and silent, in his presence, since their original interlude beside the costume trailer.

Then, she’d been veering towards adorable, while tonight she was polished and perfect. Different, for sure—but equally appealing.

After a short conversation, the maître d’ repeated his vanishing act, and Ruby turned her gaze onto him.

‘You’re late,’ he pointed out.

She nodded. ‘So were you.’

He smiled, surprised. ‘How did you know?’

‘I didn’t. But it seemed the kind of stunt you would pull. You’ve been very consistent in your quest to irritate me.’ Calmly, she reached for her water glass. ‘Not very chivalrous of you, however.’ Another pause. ‘Personally, I am never—intentionally—less than punctual. Time is everything in my job, and I see no reason why it shouldn’t be in the rest of my life.’

Time is everything.

How true. Often, Dev had only recently discovered, you had a lot less time than you thought.

‘So chivalry is important to you, Ruby?’

She took a sip from her water glass, then studied him over the rim. ‘Actually, no,’