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"Yeah."

Her eyes stay on mine for a second, long enough that I wonder if she's thinking the same thing I am. If she leaves with Sloane, tonight ends here. If she comes with me, I get fifteen more minutes alone with her.

Maybe more, if I'm lucky.

"Okay."

One word, and I'm suddenly very aware that I'm smiling.

Sloane hugs Ruby goodbye, says she'll talk to her tomorrow, then heads for the door without making a production out of leaving us together.

Ruby stays beside me, turning her empty glass slowly between her fingers while the last of the crowd moves around us. I'm still thinking about The Chain, the way her head came up when she recognized it and the smile she tried to hide when she realized I was looking straight at her.

She catches me watching her again.

Her eyes narrow slightly, but there's a hint of amusement in them. "You ready?"

"Yeah."

I take the empty glass from her hand and set it on the bar. When I turn back, she's stepped closer, probably just making room for someone passing behind her, but suddenly there's barely any space between us.

Close enough that I catch her scent and remember exactly what it was like having her naked against me.

Ruby looks up at me, her gaze drops to my mouth, and heat pulls low in my stomach.

"We should go," she says.

"We probably should."

Neither of us moves.

Someone brushes past behind me and breaks the moment. I put a hand on Ruby's lower back and guide her toward the exit, but the contact doesn't help. By the time we reach the door, giving her a ride home is no longer anywhere near the top of the list of things I'm thinking about.

The cold air outside feels good after hours under stage lights, but I'm still wound up from the show and far too aware of Ruby walking beside me. My shirt is sticking slightly to my back, my ears still have that muffled post-show buzz, and every few steps our arms brush.

We're halfway across the parking lot when a woman near the building calls my name. I recognize her from around town and wave without stopping.

Ruby glances over. "Do you know every woman in Humboldt County?"

I laugh. "No."

"It's starting to seem like it."

There's no bite behind it, which makes it more fun. "You keeping track?"

"I'm trying to figure out whether your local-rock-star ego has any basis in reality."

"It definitely does."

She snorts. "That confidence is impressive."

We reach the truck, but instead of opening the passenger door, I lean back against it. Ruby stops in front of me, still smiling from the smart-ass comment she made two seconds ago, and suddenly I’m not thinking much about driving anywhere.

She’s close enough that all I have to do is reach for her. My eyes drop to her mouth, and when I look up again, she’s caught me.

“You’re staring.”

“Yeah.”