Chapter 45 The first kiss
CHAPTER 45
The First Kiss
“The guy sitting across from you.”
Ruby stared at him in surprise. “You saw us?”
Leo shrugged. “I was waiting.”
Ruby laughed softly. “That’s Jane’s friend Victor.”
Leo raised an eyebrow. “Victor.”
“Yes.”
Leo pulled the car onto the road. “He seemed very interested in you.”
Ruby turned toward him, amused. “Were you spying on us?”
Leo chuckled quietly. “I wouldn’t call it spying.”
“You were jealous.”
“I wasn’t.”
Ruby crossed her arms playfully. “You were.”
Leo glanced at her briefly before returning his eyes to the road.
“He was flirting.”
Ruby tried not to smile. “He was just being friendly.”
Leo scoffed lightly. “Friendly doesn’t usually involve leaning that close.”
Ruby laughed again. “You’re unbelievable.”
Leo glanced at her with a teasing smile. “So… should I be worried about Victor?”
Ruby shook her head. “Absolutely not.”
Leo smirked. “Good.”
Ruby leaned back in her seat comfortably. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And you enjoy it.”
“Maybe……For a moment, the car filled with comfortable silence. The late afternoon sun painted the sky with warm shades of orange and gold. Ruby looked out the window peacefully. Then Leo’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, as his expression changed immediately.
Ruby noticed immediately. “What’s wrong?” she asked decreasing the volume of the music played from the car.
Leo didn’t answer right away. The name on the screen made his jaw tighten, it was Clara, she had sent a message.
Leo exhaled slowly before opening it……Leo, we need to talk. It’s important……His grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly.
Ruby watched him carefully. “Leo?”
He locked his phone and placed it on the dashboard. “It’s nothing.”
Ruby frowned slightly, but she didn’t press further, to avoid any more troubles.
The playful mood from earlier had faded. The car continued down the quiet road toward home, but the atmosphere between them had changed. And neither of them spoke for the rest of the drive. Leo kept both hands firmly on the steering wheel, his expression unreadable. Ruby stole a glance at him. He looked calm on the outside, but she knew something had changed the moment his phone buzzed earlier. The playful teasing about Victor had vanished instantly.
And she knew exactly whose message it had been.
Ruby shifted slightly in her seat. She tried to ignore it, but curiosity kept creeping back into her mind.
Why would Clara message Leo again?
They finally pulled into the large driveway of the Carter mansion. The car rolled to a smooth stop in front of the house. For a moment, neither of them moved. Leo turned off the engine. The silence grew even more heavier. Ruby slowly unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out of the car. Leo followed a second later, closing the door with a quiet click.
They walked toward the house together. The night air was cool, carrying the faint scent of flowers from the garden. Inside, the house was quiet. Most of the staff had already retired for the evening. Ruby slipped off her shoes near the entrance and moved toward the stairs.
But Leo’s voice stopped her. “Ruby.”
She turned back. He was standing near the door, his tie slightly loosened, watching her.
“Yes?”
For a moment he said nothing, he didn't know what to say to her. Ruby hesitated before speaking again.
“Leo… about earlier—”
He sighed quietly and ran a hand through his hair. “It’s nothing.”
“It didn’t look like nothing.” Ruby stepped closer.
“You were fine until you saw that message.”
Leo’s expression hardened slightly. “I said it’s nothing.”
Ruby frowned. “Was it Clara?”
The name hung in the air between them, as Leo’s jaw tightened.
Ruby noticed the reaction immediately. “So it was.”
Leo exhaled slowly, clearly growing irritated. “Ruby…”
“What does she want now?”
He rubbed his temple. “She just sent a message. That’s all.”
Ruby crossed her arms. “And that ruined your mood?”
Leo looked at her sharply. “My mood isn’t ruined.”
“Then why are you acting like this?” The tension between them thickened.
Ruby had not meant to sound accusing, but the question slipped out before she could stop herself.
Leo took a step closer to her. “Why are you so concerned about Clara?”
Ruby blinked.
“Because she’s your ex.”
“And?”
“And she keeps showing up in your life.”
Leo stared at her quietly for a moment. Ruby could feel her heart beating faster now. She wasn’t sure why she felt so bothered by it, but she did.
“Ruby,” Leo said slowly, “you’re overthinking.”
She shook her head. “No, I’m not.”
“You are.”
Ruby let out a frustrated sigh. “Well excuse me for asking about the woman who keeps messaging you.”
Leo’s patience was thinning. “She sent one message.”
“And you went silent immediately.”
“Ruby—”
“Are you still talking to her?”
The question slipped out before she could stop it. Leo’s eyes darkened slightly.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
She regretted the words the moment they left her mouth.
Leo took another step closer. Now they were standing only inches apart.
“You think I’m secretly meeting Clara?” he asked quietly.
Ruby swallowed. “That’s not what I said.”
“But that’s what you meant.” Ruby opened her mouth to respond—
But Leo suddenly moved. Before she could finish another word, his hand gently caught her wrist, pulling her slightly closer.
“Ruby,” he said in a low voice.
Her breath caught.
“You talk too much.”
And before she could react— Leo kissed her.
The world seemed to stop. Ruby’s eyes widened in shock as his lips pressed against hers. For a second she froze completely. She had imagined what it might feel like to kiss Leo before… but nothing had prepared her for the reality.
His lips were warm, firm, and demanding. The kiss wasn’t gentle or hesitant. It was intense, like he had been holding it back for too long.
Ruby’s heart started racing wildly in her chest. Leo’s hand moved from her wrist to her waist, pulling her closer against him. The sudden closeness made Ruby gasp softly against his lips. The sound seemed to deepen the kiss. Leo tilted his head slightly, kissing her more slowly now, but just as intensely.
Ruby’s mind spun.
She should probably pull away.
She should say something.
But instead… she found herself responding. Her fingers slowly curled into the front of his shirt. Leo felt it immediately. The small movement encouraged him. His grip around her waist tightened slightly, drawing her even closer. Ruby could feel the warmth of his body through their clothes. Her pulse was pounding. The kiss deepened, no longer just a sudden interruption but something far more dangerous. Leo kissed her like he had been wanting to for a long time.
Ruby felt breathless. Her thoughts blurred as the world around them faded away. All she could focus on was him. The warmth of his hands, steady pressure of his lips. The way her heart refused to slow down.
When Leo finally pulled back slightly, Ruby was still holding onto his shirt. Her breathing was uneven. She looked up at him, stunned.