She became uncomfortable under his scrutiny. “It’s well known that when you’re a billionaire, you can have what you want. Money talks.”
“True in most cases.” He clasped his hands together. “But I don’t operate like that. Sure, we throw lots of money at worthy causes without asking for anything back. It’s something we always said we’d do and we’re keeping our word. We choose our charities carefully and do what we can and I would’ve given the money to the shelter even if you weren’t involved because I believe it’s a good thing for San Francisco. But I’d never buy my way into something that someone didn’t want me involved in, like a relationship with you. I don’t work like that.” He paused and gave her a smile. “I get that this is giving me a chance to be with you where otherwise you probably wouldn’t have agreed but it wasn’t the reason I gave you the money. That’s for the shelter. The dates are a bonus. I’m very excited about the opportunity to get to know you again.”
“You promise me that’s the truth?”
Simon held his hand over his heart. “Promise.”
Ruby picked up her glass. “Glad to hear it.” She sipped the cool liquid. “So, what now? I hate leaving the pets alone for too long.”
“Well, how about we eat something here, hand the bikes in at the drop off station and catch the ferry back to the wharf? I can have you home in a couple of hours.”
“Sounds fair.”
Simon lifted a hand at the waiter and asked for menus.
* * *
They stepped onto the ferry and found a seat inside out of the wind. Ruby settled down and leaned back on the seat. “I’m so full. Thank you for lunch. It was really nice.”
“You’re welcome.” He sat quietly beside her as the ferry’s engines rumbled into life. “I love this trip. Been ages since I’ve done it.”
She glanced out the window as the ferry reversed away from the dock. “Me too.”
“Tell me more about the shelter.”
“Hmm, a lots changed over the last few years. Now I have Carly on board, we’re more focused and not living day to day like I did under the last management. Carly’s great at organizing things like the fundraiser.” Ruby sighed. “But we still have the same problems plaguing us. Like the hassles with the lease and lack of government funding.”
“But you do such a great job. Surely the county can come up with land for you? There’s plenty of it around laying bare.”
She shrugged. “They’ve offered us land in the past but it’s not suitable and I don’t like the idea of offering anything else. The problem is that we need to be near the city to do the most good. No point being out the back of the middle of nowhere because then the animals don’t make it to our door quite so easily. They get dumped down any street and often end up dead or going feral.” She glanced out the window as they rounded the point and headed toward the wharf the other side of Alcatraz Island. The ferries going back and forth with tourists seemed to be running non-stop. “Plus people won’t come too far out of town to adopt. It’s easier to go to a local breeder and buy a new puppy.”
“I get that. Well, if I can do anything to help, please feel free to ask.”
Ruby gave a non-committal grunt. As they curved around the point, she seemed to sit up straighter. His home came into view and a look of longing crossed over her face. “Do you remember when we…..”
She never finished the sentence but Simon knew what she was about to ask. Do you remember when we used to dream that we’d buy that house and raise a family there?
He did and it spurred him on to make this work between them. But it was doing it in a way that made her comfortable to be around him, to trust him again, that was the problem. He couldn’t come across as manipulative or needy. She had to want to be with him because she forgave him and loved him.
The rest of the trip was quiet and Simon left her to her thoughts. He wasn’t about to push her into an uncomfortable conversation when she was busy thinking of what might have been.
When he dropped her off at home, Ruby was quieter than she had been earlier. He put it down to the memories and an internal debate going on in her head. Hopefully the side that wanted him would win out.
“I’ll see you tomorrow. About the same time if that’s okay.”
She nodded. “What are we doing?”
“What do you want to do? We can go to the park and walk in the gardens. I like being outside more than I used to. Don’t usually get much of an opportunity so I’m making the most of it.”
“Can I bring the dogs?”
“That’s what I was thinking.” He smiled as her face relaxed. “We can take a picnic lunch. I’ll organize it if you like. Okay?”
“Sure. But four dogs on a picnic?”
He grimaced and then smiled. She was going to die when that turned into five dogs. “Between us we can do it. Let’s at least try, okay?”
“Right. I’ll see you then.”
“Bye.” She put her hand on the door to open it then paused. “Um, did you want to say goodbye to the dogs before you go?”
“If you don’t mind?”
She smiled and opened the door. Four balls of fluff came powering out and headed straight for him. Simon crouched down and let them sniff and lick him, laughing at how easy they accepted him. It had to mean something and he was counting on it.
Chapter 8
Simon drove his Porsche to pick up Ruby with George hanging his head out of the open passenger window, the wind blowing his cheeks open. “Now, remember, George, this is a test of sorts. You need to get on with
