780\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0mean,\u00a0we\u2019ve\u00a0all\u00a0been\u00a0really\u00a0busy.\u00a0So,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0hard\u00a0to\u00a0tell,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said,\u00a0confusion\u00a0still\u00a0evident\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0face.\u00a0\u201cWhy\u00a0do\u00a0you\u00a0ask?\u00a0Is\u00a0he\u00a0in\u00a0trouble\u00a0for\u00a0something?\u00a0I\u00a0mean,\u00a0it\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0surprise\u00a0me.\u201d\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0hard\u00a0for\u00a0me\u00a0to\u00a0talk\u00a0about,\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0finally\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cBut\u00a0the\u00a0gist\u00a0of it\u00a0is\u2026he\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0mark\u00a0me.\u00a0Whenever\u00a0the\u00a0subject\u00a0comes\u00a0up,\u00a0he\u00a0changes\u00a0it.\u00a0He\u00a0also\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0let\u00a0me\u00a0visit\u00a0him.\u00a0When\u00a0I\u00a0do\u00a0see\u00a0him,\u00a0he\u00a0usually\u00a0comes\u00a0to\u00a0me.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0been\u00a0months\u00a0since\u00a0we\u00a0found\u00a0out\u00a0we\u00a0were\u00a0mates,\u00a0and\u00a0he\u00a0hasn\u2019t\u00a0asked\u00a0me\u00a0to\u00a0move\u00a0to\u00a0his\u00a0pack\u00a0or\u00a0anything\u2026\u201d\u00a0Tabby\u2019s\u00a0brows\u00a0furrowed.\u00a0\u201cWell,\u00a0like\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0said\u2026\u00a0we\u2019ve\u00a0been\u00a0busy\u00a0and-\u201d\u00a0\u201cA\u00a0woman\u00a0answered\u00a0his\u00a0phone\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0called\u00a0him\u00a0the\u00a0other\u00a0day,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0blurted,\u00a0tears\u00a0blurring\u00a0her\u00a0vision\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0stared\u00a0down\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0hands.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0believe\u00a0it\u00a0either.\u00a0But\u00a0I\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0tell\u00a0if\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0cheating\u00a0on\u00a0me\u00a0because\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0not\u00a0marked\u00a0by\u00a0him,\u00a0and\u00a0our\u00a0bond\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0strong\u00a0enough\u00a0for\u00a0my\u00a0wolf\u00a0to\u00a0sense\u00a0deceit.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0not\u00a0sure\u00a0what\u00a0else\u00a0to\u00a0do\u2026\u00a0so\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0why\u00a0we\u00a0are\u00a0here.\u201d\u00a0Tabby\u00a0worried\u00a0her\u00a0bottom\u00a0lip;\u00a0her\u00a0cheeks\u00a0flushed\u00a0as she\u00a0stared\u00a0down\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0own\u00a0hands.\u00a0There\u00a0was\u00a0something\u00a0she\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0saying,\u00a0and\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0obvious.\u00a0I\u00a0looked\u00a0around\u00a0the\u00a0room,\u00a0wondering\u00a0if\u00a0anyone\u00a0else\u00a0had\u00a0noticed\u00a0Tabby\u2019s\u00a0sudden\u00a0change\u00a0of\u00a0demeanor,\u00a0but\u00a0none\u00a0of\u00a0them\u00a0seemed\u00a0to.\u00a0\u201cDo\u00a0you\u00a0think\u00a0he\u2019ll\u00a0be\u00a0around\u00a0at\u00a0all\u00a0this\u00a0weekend?\u201d\u00a0Nan\u00a0asked,\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0shifting\u00a0to\u00a0Tabby.\u00a0\u201cLike\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0masquerade\u00a0ball?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0nodded,\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0still\u00a0refusing\u00a0to\u00a0lift.\u00a0\u201cYes,\u00a0we\u00a0are\u00a0all\u00a0supposed\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0there.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0huge\u00a0event,\u00a0and\u00a0they\u00a0need\u00a0all\u00a0the\u00a0security\u00a0they can\u00a0get.\u00a0Chuck\u00a0is\u00a0scheduled\u00a0to\u00a0attend.\u201d\u00a0\u201cSo,\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0our\u00a0chance.\u00a0He\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0know\u00a0that\u00a0Irene\u00a0is\u00a0here.\u00a0She\u00a0can\u00a0surprise\u00a0him\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0ball\u00a0this\u00a0weekend.\u00a0Then\u00a0we\u00a0could\u00a0see\u00a0if\u00a0he\u00a0took\u00a0another\u00a0woman,\u201d\u00a0Nan\u00a0said,\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0it\u00a0were\u00a0the\u00a0most\u00a0obvious\u00a0thing\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0world.\u00a0I\u00a0chewed\u00a0my\u00a0lower\u00a0lip;\u00a0my\u00a0eyes\u00a0remained\u00a0fixed\u00a0on\u00a0Tabby,\u00a0who\u00a0nodded\u00a0along\u00a0with\u00a0Nan.\u00a0\u201cYeah,\u00a0that\u00a0makes\u00a0sense,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said\u00a0softly,\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0finding\u00a0Irene.\u00a0\u201cDon\u2019t\u00a0worry.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0sure\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0just\u00a0a\u00a0misunderstanding.\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0look\u00a0so\u00a0certain,\u00a0but\u00a0Irene\u00a0nodded\u00a0anyway.\u00a0There\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0knock\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0door,\u00a0and\u00a0Nan\u00a0jumped\u00a0to\u00a0her\u00a0feet.\u00a0\u201cRoom\u00a0service!\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said\u00a0happily\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0rushed to\u00a0the\u00a0door,\u00a0making\u00a0the\u00a0rest\u00a0of\u00a0us\u00a0chuckle;\u00a0even\u00a0Irene\u00a0had\u00a0a\u00a0ghost\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0smile\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0lips.\u00a0I\u00a0stood\u00a0and\u00a0headed\u00a0towards\u00a0the\u00a0kitchen.\u00a0\u201cTabby,\u00a0can\u00a0you\u00a0help\u00a0me\u00a0grab\u00a0something\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0kitchen?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked\u00a0over\u00a0my\u00a0shoulder.\u00a0Tabby\u00a0stood,\u00a0smoothing\u00a0her\u00a0hands\u00a0over\u00a0her\u00a0pants\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0nodded.\u00a0\u201cYeah,\u00a0sure,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said,\u00a0excusing\u00a0herself\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0others\u00a0before following\u00a0me\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0kitchen.\u00a0The\u00a0second\u00a0we\u00a0were\u00a0alone,\u00a0I\u00a0rounded\u00a0on\u00a0her.\u00a0\u201cWhat\u00a0is\u00a0it?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked\u00a0her,\u00a0my\u00a0eyes\u00a0narrowed.\u00a0\u201cW\u2026what?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0stammered.\u00a0\u201cYou\u2019re\u00a0hiding\u00a0something.\u00a0Don\u2019t\u00a0deny\u00a0it.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0obvious.\u00a0Tell\u00a0me\u00a0what\u00a0it\u00a0is,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said,\u00a0folding\u00a0my\u00a0arms\u00a0across\u00a0my\u00a0chest.\u00a0She\u00a0nibbled\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0lower\u00a0lip,\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0going\u00a0everywhere\u00a0but\u00a0me.\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0see\u00a0the\u00a0slight\u00a0blush\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0cheeks\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0suppressed\u00a0her words.\u00a0\u201cTabby,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said\u00a0again,\u00a0my\u00a0tone\u00a0a\u00a0warning. \u201cTell\u00a0me\u00a0what\u00a0it\u00a0is\u00a0you\u00a0know.\u201d\u00a0She let\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0breath\u00a0before\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0finally\u00a0met\u00a0mine.\u00a0\u201cFine,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said\u00a0softly.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0hurt\u00a0her.\u00a0Please\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0tell\u00a0her\u2026I\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0be the\u00a0messenger\u00a0she\u00a0hates.\u201d\u00a0\u201cTell\u00a0her\u00a0what?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked,\u00a0my stomach\u00a0knotting.\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0already\u00a0expecting\u00a0the worst.\u00a0She\u00a0took\u00a0a\u00a0deep\u00a0breath\u00a0before\u00a0speaking,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t prepared\u00a0for\u00a0what\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0to tell\u00a0me.\u00a0\u201cChuck\u00a0has\u00a0a\u00a0girlfriend,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said,\u00a0wrapping\u00a0her\u00a0arms\u00a0around\u00a0herself.\u00a0\u201cShe\u2019s\u00a0actually\u00a0a\u00a0friend\u00a0of mine.\u00a0You\u00a0might\u00a0have\u00a0already\u00a0met\u00a0her\u2026\u2018\u00a0I\u00a0let\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0breath\u00a0like\u00a0the\u00a0wind\u00a0was\u00a0knocked\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0me.\u00a0So,\u00a0Irene\u00a0was\u00a0right\u2026\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0fooling\u00a0around\u00a0with\u00a0someone\u00a0behind\u00a0her\u00a0back.\u00a0How\u00a0could\u00a0he\u00a0do\u00a0that\u00a0to\u00a0his\u00a0own\u00a0fated\u00a0mate?\u00a0\u201cIs\u00a0it the\u00a0girl\u00a0who\u00a0works downstairs?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked,\u00a0afraid\u00a0to\u00a0know\u00a0the\u00a0answer.\u00a0She\u00a0nodded.\u00a0\u201cClarissa,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said\u00a0softly.\u00a0\u201cYes.\u00a0They\u2019ve\u00a0been\u00a0together\u00a0for\u00a0almost\u00a0a\u00a0year.\u00a0When\u00a0Irene\u00a0said\u00a0that\u00a0Chuck\u00a0was\u00a0her\u00a0mate,\u00a0I\u00a0thought\u00a0that\u00a0maybe\u00a0he\u00a0dumped\u00a0Clarissa\u00a0after\u00a0finding\u00a0his\u00a0true\u00a0mate.\u00a0But\u00a0after\u00a0hearing\u00a0the\u00a0rest\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0story,\u00a0I\u00a0realized\u00a0that\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0the\u00a0truth.\u00a0He\u2019s\u00a0still\u00a0very\u00a0much\u00a0with\u00a0her\u2026\u201d\u00a0\u201cYou\u00a0should\u00a0have\u00a0said\u00a0that\u00a0to\u00a0Irene,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said\u00a0with\u00a0narrowed\u00a0eyes.\u00a0\u201cShe\u2019ll\u00a0be\u00a0devastated\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0finds\u00a0out.\u2018\u00a0\u201cAs\u00a0I\u00a0said\u2026\u00a0I\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0be\u00a0that\u00a0messenger,\u00a0Judy.\u00a0She\u00a0needs\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0it\u00a0for\u00a0herself\u00a0in\u00a0order\u00a0to\u00a0believe\u00a0it,\u201d\u00a0Tabby\u00a0said,\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0shifting\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0little\u00a0window\u00a0that\u00a0looked\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0living\u00a0room.\u00a0Irene\u00a0sat\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0couch,\u00a0watching\u00a0as\u00a0Nan\u00a0picked\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0food\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0room\u00a0service.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0her\u00a0to\u00a0shoot\u00a0the\u00a0messenger,\u00a0or\u00a0just\u00a0not\u00a0believe\u00a0me.\u201d\u00a0\u201cAnd\u00a0you\u00a0think\u00a0she\u2019ll\u00a0find\u00a0out\u00a0while\u00a0at the\u00a0ball?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked;\u00a0she didn\u2019t\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0confirm\u00a0it\u00a0for\u00a0me\u00a0to\u00a0know.\u00a0\u201cYes,\u201d\u00a0Tabby\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cChuck\u00a0mentioned\u00a0last\u00a0week\u00a0that\u00a0he\u00a0plans\u00a0to\u00a0propose\u00a0during\u00a0this\u00a0ball.\u00a0If\u00a0he\u00a0really\u00a0is\u00a0still\u00a0with\u00a0her\u2026\u00a0I\u00a0have\u00a0a\u00a0feeling\u00a0Irene\u00a0is\u00a0about\u00a0to\u00a0get\u00a0all\u00a0the\u00a0proof\u00a0she\u00a0needs.\u201d\u00a01\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ruby is a master of holiday romance and slow-burn love stories that warm the heart like a crackling fire. Her novels weave festive magic with lingering glances and tender moments, drawing readers into cozy worlds where love unfolds one snowflake at a time. Off the page, she\u2019s baking cookies and dreaming under twinkling lights.<\/p>\n
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 780 780\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0mean,\u00a0we\u2019ve\u00a0all\u00a0been\u00a0really\u00a0busy.\u00a0So,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0hard\u00a0to\u00a0tell,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said,\u00a0confusion\u00a0still\u00a0evident\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0face.\u00a0\u201cWhy\u00a0do\u00a0you\u00a0ask?\u00a0Is\u00a0he\u00a0in\u00a0trouble\u00a0for\u00a0something?\u00a0I\u00a0mean,\u00a0it\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0surprise\u00a0me.\u201d\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0hard\u00a0for\u00a0me\u00a0to\u00a0talk\u00a0about,\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0finally\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cBut\u00a0the\u00a0gist\u00a0of it\u00a0is\u2026he\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0mark\u00a0me.\u00a0Whenever\u00a0the\u00a0subject\u00a0comes\u00a0up,\u00a0he\u00a0changes\u00a0it.\u00a0He\u00a0also\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0let\u00a0me\u00a0visit\u00a0him.\u00a0When\u00a0I\u00a0do\u00a0see\u00a0him,\u00a0he\u00a0usually\u00a0comes\u00a0to\u00a0me.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0been\u00a0months\u00a0since\u00a0we\u00a0found\u00a0out\u00a0we\u00a0were\u00a0mates,\u00a0and\u00a0he\u00a0hasn\u2019t\u00a0asked\u00a0me\u00a0to\u00a0move\u00a0to\u00a0his\u00a0pack\u00a0or\u00a0anything\u2026\u201d\u00a0Tabby\u2019s\u00a0brows\u00a0furrowed.\u00a0\u201cWell,\u00a0like\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0said\u2026\u00a0we\u2019ve\u00a0been\u00a0busy\u00a0and-\u201d\u00a0\u201cA\u00a0woman\u00a0answered\u00a0his\u00a0phone\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0called\u00a0him\u00a0the\u00a0other\u00a0day,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0blurted,\u00a0tears\u00a0blurring\u00a0her\u00a0vision\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0stared\u00a0down\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0hands.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0believe\u00a0it\u00a0either.\u00a0But\u00a0I\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0tell\u00a0if\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0cheating\u00a0on\u00a0me\u00a0because\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0not\u00a0marked\u00a0by\u00a0him,\u00a0and\u00a0our\u00a0bond\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0strong\u00a0enough\u00a0for\u00a0my\u00a0wolf\u00a0to\u00a0sense\u00a0deceit.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0not\u00a0sure\u00a0what\u00a0else\u00a0to\u00a0do\u2026\u00a0so\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0why\u00a0we\u00a0are\u00a0here.\u201d\u00a0Tabby\u00a0worried\u00a0her\u00a0bottom\u00a0lip;\u00a0her\u00a0cheeks\u00a0flushed\u00a0as she\u00a0stared\u00a0down\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0own\u00a0hands.\u00a0There\u00a0was\u00a0something\u00a0she\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0saying,\u00a0and\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0obvious.\u00a0I\u00a0looked\u00a0around\u00a0the\u00a0room,\u00a0wondering\u00a0if\u00a0anyone\u00a0else\u00a0had\u00a0noticed\u00a0Tabby\u2019s\u00a0sudden\u00a0change\u00a0of\u00a0demeanor,\u00a0but\u00a0none\u00a0of\u00a0them\u00a0seemed\u00a0to.\u00a0\u201cDo\u00a0you\u00a0think\u00a0he\u2019ll\u00a0be\u00a0around\u00a0at\u00a0all\u00a0this\u00a0weekend?\u201d\u00a0Nan\u00a0asked,\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0shifting\u00a0to\u00a0Tabby.\u00a0\u201cLike\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0masquerade\u00a0ball?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0nodded,\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0still\u00a0refusing\u00a0to\u00a0lift.\u00a0\u201cYes,\u00a0we\u00a0are\u00a0all\u00a0supposed\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0there.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0huge\u00a0event,\u00a0and\u00a0they\u00a0need\u00a0all\u00a0the\u00a0security\u00a0they 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