"You feeling alright?" Ruby Vale cast a sidelong look at her boyfriend. Jack Willis paused from sizing up his pool shot, and slowly raised his eyes to meet hers.
"Course I'm feeling alright. Why wouldn't I?" Jack shrugged and took his shot.
"For one thing, you're quiet," Ruby said. Jack snorted. "And secondly, I'm kicking your butt here."
"We all have our off days, Rube." Jack straightened up. "Don't get used to it." Ruby stuck out her lower lip in a mock pout.
"Have our customers been giving Jack a hard time about the romance novel?" she teased. "I'll beat 'em up for ya." Jack smirked.
"I'm sure you'd give them a run for their money, kiddo!" he pinched her side lightly. Ruby fumed at the nickname, and lunged at him. Jack laughed and leapt nimbly onto the pool table.
"Get down here and fight like a man, Willis!" Ruby shouted.
"Aw, Rube. You know I'd never hit a girl!" Jack jumped down and mussed her hair.
"Jack, I swear….if I ever get my hands on you…"
"No complaints here!" Jack grinned. "But me, on the other hand…" he slipped behind her and grabbed her arms, pinning her wrists together.
"Jack, don't…" Ruby pleaded. "Don't you dare."
"Why shouldn't I?" he challenged with a grin. "It's so tempting, Miss. Vale. I don't know if I could control myself." He lowered his chin to her shoulder, his breath tickling her ear.
"Ever the romantic, Mr. Willis," she replied. "Speaking of which…how's the book coming along?" She was trying to dissuade him. Her arms were beginning to ache from being held up.
"It's okay," Jack lowered her arms a little. "I'm a little stuck on something."
"What? Maybe I can help." Ruby jerked her arms free.
"I doubt it," Jack chuckled.
"Hey, I WAS the author of the first book…for awhile," Ruby snapped. "C'mon. try me."
"Alright," Jack shrugged. "See, Bryan and Virginia are standing in the rain. Bryan turns Virginia to him and says, You stole my heart so long ago, my love. It gets pretty heated then, but suddenly Bryan gets down on one knee," Jack demonstrates. "Takes her hands in his," he does so with Ruby's. "and whispers, as the rain pours down on them, Now I put my heart in your hands. Be my wife."
"It's amazing," Ruby said, slightly choked up as she gazed down at him. "Where's the problem?" Jack looked her in the eyes and swallowed.
"I don't know Virginia's answer." He gripped her hands and kissed them. "What does Virginia say?" Ruby got down to his level.
"Nothing. She just smiles in her own way and kisses him," Ruby presses her lips to Jack's. "Because they both are close enough to know her answer."
"I love you, Rube."
Ruby just smiled. No words were spoken, because they were both close enough to know the answer.