Kiwi Bride Series: Highland Kiss (33 page)

“
Let’s have some fun
tonight,” Alex proposed.

“
Agreed,” Ruby replied,
deciding that whatever it took, she would not think about Alec
anymore, and simply enjoy the ball.

Not
long afterwards,
Ruby found herself in a limo with Jayden and Alex, heading to the
ball on the other side of the town. Half an hour later, they walked
through the front door of a lovely Victorian mansion, and Ruby
couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty of the house and its
décor.

“
Does he live here?” Alex
asked her husband as she grabbed a glass of champagne being handed
to her by a waiter in black and white uniform.

“
Yes,” Jay replied, “as
far as I know.”

“
Who lives here?” Ruby
asked before she could stop herself.

Alex replied, “Mr.
Hast—”

“
Ah, Mr. and Mrs.
McCartney,” a woman in an elegant black dress greeted them. “I am
Mary Clarity. I’m so glad to finally meet you.”

“
The charity organizer,”
Jay said. “Nice to meet you. May I introduce my wife, Alexandra,
and our friend, Ruby Williams-Chan? They’re both
half-Cambodian.”

“
Oh, how marvelous,” the
woman said. “I must show you the gallery, and of course, introduce
you to our famous and kind host.”

“
That’s great,” Alex said.
“I heard he does a lot of charity work for third world countries,
Cambodia included.”

“
Really?” Ruby asked.
“Whoa.”

“
Yes,” Mrs. Clarity said.
“He has donated millions to Africa, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam,
just to name a few.”

Ruby scanned the huge room
and spotted the gallery. There was something in there that drew
her, and without saying a word to her companion, she headed that
direction.

“
Ah, I see Miss Hasting
and Mr. McArthur. Miss Hasting is Mr. Hasting’s younger sister. She
used to be a model, and she and Mr. McArthur are engaged. It was
all very recent.”

Alex couldn’t help
exclaiming, “Oh my God! It’s Brian.”

“
I beg your pardon?” Mrs.
Clarity asked.

“
Brian
McArthur?”

“
Yes, indeed. His name is
Brian McArthur.”

“
Does that mean?” Alex turned to her husband who just gave
her a look that said,
Don’t
ask me. I know nothing.

Susan and Brian were
suddenly upon them. He was not at all surprised to see Jayden and
Alex there, nor was he surprised to spot Ruby on the other side of
the room. She was at the gallery, admiring the various life-sized
photos on the wall of refugees from different countries on display.
He hadn’t approached her yet. He hoped to delay it as long as
possible, and also hoped that she wouldn’t see Alec, too. His hope,
however, died a sudden death when the man, himself, appeared by his
sister’s side.

“
How are we all doing
here?” he asked, a handsome smile on his face.

“
I was just introducing
your sister and Mr. McArthur to Mr. and Mrs. McCartney,” Mrs.
Clarity said.

Alex politely smiled at
Alec and said, “We already met the other day.”

Brian took a sip of his
champagne, hoping Alec wouldn’t ask any questions about the odd
statement the beautiful Mrs. McCartney made.

Alec cocked his head to
one side; his eyes clearly showing his confusion. “Really? How?
When was the other day?”

Alex was about to say
something when Brian interrupted her, “It was for coffee. I’m
starving. Why don’t we all go and get something to eat? How about
you, Mrs. McCartney? Surely, you must be famished, eating for
two.”

Alex grinned and touched
her tummy. “Yes, I am rather.”

Jay didn’t miss the
panicky look that passed on Brian’s face the moment when Alex
mentioned they had met before. He wondered what was going on. Then,
Brian glanced at Ruby on the other side of the room, a worried
expression on his face. Suddenly, it all clicked. Brian. Ruby. And
could it possibly be Alec? Jay wasn’t sure if he wanted to get
involved. Then again, it was too late anyway as all hell broke
loose when Alex said loudly, “That picture looks awfully familiar.
It looks like Ruby.”

Hearing the name, Ruby,
instantly drew Alec’s attention. He frowned as he looked at Alex.
But when he saw Alex looking straight past him toward the gallery,
he turned and felt his heart pumping faster and louder in his
chest.

On the other side of the
room, Ruby stood transfixed as she gazed at the life-sized photo of
a little half-Asian girl and a Caucasian boy. The photo was black
and white, but Ruby could recognize the people in that photo
anywhere. It was a picture of her when she was a little girl and
her childhood friend. It was taken when they were living in the
camp back some thirteen years ago. She felt tears brewing in her
eyes and her stomach knotted. How did it get here? Who took that
photo? For the life of her, she couldn’t remember.

“
Isn’t that sweet?” Mrs.
Clarity said behind her. “Mr. Hasting lived in the camp for six
months when he was a teenager.”

Ruby suddenly felt sick.
She slowly turned, and her eyes met those of a grey color, staring
back at her. She didn’t know what came over her, but the room
started to spin and her body shivered as if she had a
fever.

What’s going on? Alec is
here? And also the youth in the picture with her?

“
Ruby?” Alex called from a
distance. Suddenly, Alex was beside her, taking her arm with
concern. “Are you all right? You’re so pale all of a
sudden.”

Ruby looked up at Alec
again. His intense gaze was still on her, and Ruby wished the floor
would just open up and swallow her. His eyes seemed to be blazing
with so many emotions: anger, confusion, love, and desire all
rolled into one.

“
I… I just feel a bit
thirsty, that’s all,” Ruby said. She couldn’t stand there with Alec
looking at her any longer, so she moved away, but could still feel
his eyes on her.

“
Hey, are you all right?”
Alex asked with concern. “You want a drink or
something?”

Ruby shook her head. “No
thanks. I’m fine.”

“
Are you sure? You look
awfully pale.”

Ruby nodded. “Pretty sure.
I just had a shock, that’s all. I think I need to use the
restroom.”

“
Okay.”

Ruby hastily moved through the crowd toward the women’s
restroom. She needed to get away.
Oh God! What the heck was going on? Why was Alec here? Why
was she here?

Alone in the corridor of the big mansion, she felt tears
stinging her eyes as she blindly found her way toward the bathroom.
When she couldn’t handle it any longer, and was sure she was about
to break down any moment, she rushed into the nearest room and shut
the door. Leaning herself against the wall, she shut her eyes and
sobbed.
Oh God!
She never wanted to see Alec again.
Why did she have to see him here? Now?

She staggered toward the
sofa and sat down, trying to control her tears. A few moments
later, she took deep, slow breaths and squared her shoulders. She
was determined to never see Alec again; and now, she had to go down
and tell Alex and Jayden that she was leaving.

Getting up, she turned to
the door and jumped. For there, standing by the door, was the
person she most wanted to avoid.

Ruby didn’t know what to
do, so she just stood there, looking shocked, rooted to her
spot.

Alec watched her. A part of him wanted to take her into his
arms. He just couldn’t believe it.
Ruby. Here. In his house. Now.

He didn’t speak as he
continued to observe her, wondering what she was thinking. He
wanted to ask her so many questions. Why did she leave him? What
did he do wrong?

Ruby could feel the
tension in the air, thick and hot. She moved toward the door, but
before she could make it, he wrapped his hand around her wrist and
pulled her toward him. Ruby collided against his massive build, and
panicked.

“
Alec!” she
gasped.

“
Ruby,” he said
softly.

“
Please, let me
go.”

“
Not until you tell me why
you left.”

Ruby bit her lip, dreading
his question and failing to find an adequate answer.

“
I left because I wanted
to.”

“
Why?”

“
Because I wanted to. We
have no future together, Alec. You and I. I mean—” She broke off;
tears filling her eyes again. “I—”

“
Do love me?”

“
What?”

Alec let go of her wrist
and cupped her face. He looked deeply into her eyes. Ruby wanted to
break down and just tell him that she wanted to be with him. But
she knew she couldn’t do that. She wouldn’t do that.

“
Do you love
me?”

She could hear the pain in
his voice, begging her to take him back, and for her to come back
to him.

“
I.., I… ”

“
Ruby William-Chan, I’m
sorry I kidnapped you, imprisoned you, and hurt you in so many ways
in just a few short weeks, but I know one thing, which is that I
love you. You’re my best childhood friend. I’ve never forgotten
you, my little Ruby, or the time we spent together in the camp.” He
moved his fingers down to touch the elephant pendant resting on her
chest.

“
You never forgot me?” she
asked, tears in her eyes.

“
Never. And I don’t care
that you want to run away from me. I want you and I will do
anything to get you back. You’re not leaving me, Ruby.”

“
What do you mean? We have
no future together. I live in New Zealand, and you, you live here,
in this type of lifestyle.”

“
And you’re telling me you
don’t want this lifestyle? You don’t want me in your
life?”

“
No. That’s not want I
mean. Oh, I don’t know.”

“
Aye, you do know, Ruby.”
He cupped her face again. “Do you love me, Ruby?”

Ruby looked up at him and
nodded. “Yes. Yes, I do. I love you so much, it hurts. And that’s
why I had to leave. I don’t want to get hurt.”

“
Ruby, I will never ever
hurt you again. I want you in my life. Please come back to
me?”

“
What would I be to you
then? If I were to come back?”

“
You would be my lady,” he
said, gently stroking his thumb against her sensitive cheek. “And
more importantly, you will become my wife.”

Ruby stared at him,
utterly shocked. “What?”

“
That’s if you want to.
Though I’d prefer it sooner rather than later. What do you think?
Before or after Brian and Susan’s wedding?”

“
Alec!”

“
You’re only allowed one
answer, Ruby. Aye or aye?”

“
What kind of choice is
that?”

“
The choice I’m giving
you. Now then, aye or aye?”

“
Nay.”

Alec narrowed his eyes.
“That’s not an option.”

Ruby raised her eyebrows
at him. She couldn’t believe it. Alec Hasting was asking her to
marry him. She was practically floored.

Alec moved his head toward
her and kissed her passionately. Ruby wrapped her arms around him
and kissed him back.

Suddenly, the door
opened.

“
Holy shit!” Alex
cursed.

Alec pulled back to see
Alex and Jayden at the door while Ruby blushed
intensely.

“
Oh my gosh!” Alex said
into the room. “Mr. Hasting, what have you done to my
friend?”

“
It’s a long story,” Alec
replied. “But I’ll keep it short. Ruby has consented to be my wife
after all.”

“
What?” Ruby
shouted.

“
When?” Alex asked,
confused.

“
That’s good news,” Jayden
said.

* * *

With the new queen-sized
bed made up, Ruby stepped back to survey her handiwork.

“
I think that’s the last
of it,” Mrs. McKenzie said.

Ruby nodded, grinning. She
couldn’t wait for her family to arrive for the engagement party.
Then, soon after that, her friends Alex and Jayden, and later,
Nikita and Isabella.

“
Thank you, Mrs.
McKenzie,” Ruby said to the older woman.

“
Yer welcome, Miss Ruby,”
Mrs. McKenzie said. “Yer family now so don’t hesitate ta ask fer
anythin’.”

Ruby bit her lip. She
couldn’t believe it. Soon she’d be Mrs. Alec Hasting. The thought
sent a thrill throughout her body.

Mrs. McKenzie left then,
and Ruby went to draw the curtains closed.

Alec, however, decided to
barge through the door at that moment.

“
What’s this, missy?” he
demanded, his hands on his hips. “Didn’t I tell you that you
wouldn’t be staying in this room?”

Ruby glanced over her
shoulder at her fiancé. She hid a grin, knowing all too well that
she’d get him all riled up after announcing that she intended to
stay in her old room, the room he first locked her in when she was
his captive.