Heart & Hope (Rosewood Ranch #2)

Chapter 13

Chapter Thirteen

REED

S aying goodbye to Ruby by Mack’s truck was pure torture. I finally drummed up the courage to kiss the most stunning girl in the world, the day before she leaves. A real kiss, not the fake version at the inn. Fucking idiot.

And she has been gone almost a fortnight, and I’m like a lost sheep. Working the ranch Harry’s way by day. Planning this working ranch resort by night. It’s exhausting. Rubes has been helping as much as she can by calls and text. We are always pinging each other’s phones. But I still miss her something fierce.

And I’m completely out of my depth.

But hell will freeze over before I mess up this holiday ranch concept. Something changed when Ruby believed in me. I changed. I started to dream about enjoying life. And I haven’t done that since high school.

I have a purpose. And the thought of hosting people and putting smiles on their faces, seeing them experience things out here for the first time. It’s so corny, but it lights me up.

Ugh, I hate myself in the best way possible right now.

Harry has mostly come around to the idea. I mean, what good businessman wouldn’t? Multiple income streams with one property. It’s a win-win.

Ma putters about the kitchen, getting the last of the food for our family Sunday lunch ready.

“Need a hand?” I offer. Mack is sitting at the bench, reading something on the tablet. Ma glances up from her work.

“Sure, my boy. If you can take the cutlery and plates out, please.”

Mack studies me, chewing on a stick of carrot as if it’s the most tasty fucking thing he’s ever eaten. Okay...

Huddo and Addy file through the door, carrying a cooler bag which I’m guessing has Addy’s now famous salad in it. It’s become something of a staple for Sunday lunches and doesn’t last long.

“Hey, Reed,” Addy says, slinging an arm around me. I tussle her hair and slam a fist into Hudson’s shoulder before picking up the cutlery and plates and heading outside. Hudson and Addy are hot on my heels. I wander over to the table under the willow and plonk the load onto the tablecloth. Charlie wanders by the tree. That mutt has it bad for Addy—it’s hilarious.

When Harry rides in from the southern paddock, it’s time to eat. Ten minutes later, we are seated at the table, waiting for the parentals to come out with the meat. Ma sits to my left, and I give her the side-eye. Not her usual spot. Hudson, Addy, and Mack sit across from us, and finally Harry drops into his seat at the head.

We say a quick grace, but before I can shovel food onto my plate, Ma grabs my hand.

“No, there’s one more person to come.”

I survey the table. Who’s left?

Tires on the gravel driveway snap my head to the right of the homestead. Nobody at the table moves. I pick up my fork and trace patterns on the old, weathered wood. Killing time.

“Hey, sorry I’m late.”

The air leaves my lungs as my head pops up. And all I can do is stare.

Ruby stands, bag in hand, at the end of the table. Addy beams at her. Mack gives her a small wave.

“You are not late! Not at all. Come sit,” Ma says.

Ruby doesn’t move; instead, she looks directly at Pa.

“Harry.”

“Ruby.”

Every gaze alternates between the two. And then Harry says, “Right here, darlin’. Louisa saved you a spot.”

Ruby walks around the back of our bench seat and sinks onto the old wood between me and Harry. “Thanks,” she breathes in the old man’s direction before turning to face me.

“I—What . . . what are you doing here, Rubes?”

“I took some leave. I’m here to help.”

I can’t say a damn word. A stone forms rapidly in my airway as she drops her bag by the chair. “This all smells wonderful; I’m starving.”

“Well, dig in, sweetheart, there’s plenty to go round.” Ma picks up the salad servers, handing them to Addy, and passes the potatoes to me.

“Thanks, Lou,” Ruby says.

My heart thunders a million miles a minute. Harry and Ruby must have buried the hatchet by the looks of things. And her being here is absolutely fucking everything.

I load food onto my plate and Hudson chuckles. “Share some with Ruby, brother. She came a long way for you.”

Addy slaps his arm, and he winks at her.

God, this family. My family.

I smile at Rubes. Her brown eyes, rich and dark and lined with adoration, meet mine as she leans into me. “I missed you, baby.” Her whisper is so soft I barely hear it.

A man has never eaten so fast in living history. I scarf down the plate of food and wait as the minutes tick past as Ruby finishes hers, chatting away to Ma. When Ruby finally wipes her mouth on the linen napkin and sets her cutlery on the center of her plate, I grab her hand and excuse us both.

Ma waves us off with a chuckle.

The car by the white gate is not Ruby’s. Unease settles in my stomach.

“That’s not your car, beautiful.”

She shrugs, letting her bag swing in her hands in front of her. “It’s a rental. I flew in this time; all that driving was getting old. I have to take it back before six tonight, to Great Falls. And...” She bites her bottom lip. “I need to meet Mary-Sue at the inn again. Can you drive me? After I drop off the car, that is?”

“Sure, whatever you need. But how are you going to get around if you don’t have a car?”

“Well, your ma offered me a room here. Butis that spare room of yours free? It will be easier to help you if I don’t have to commute between the two ranches while I’m here.”

She is giving me the cutest little cringy face. Something I’ve never seen from her before. She wants to come play house with me?

Abso-fuckin-lutely.

“Spare room is all yours. And I will happily drive youanywhere you want.”

“Good. I was hoping you’d say that.” She nudges my shoulder with hers.

“Olive gave you leave? Or should I rephrase that. You, Ruby Robbins, took time off?” I feign a stunned expression.

She chuckles. “Yeah, well, a few things in my life have surprised me of late. It will be good to step back for a little bit and have room to think, you know.”

“But not too much time, since you came here to work, unpaid?”

“Helping you is not work, Reed. I like taking care of you.”

And there they are, my own words, outta her pretty mouth. Something in her bag buzzes, and we both startle. She plucks her phone out. “Shoot, I really should head over to Great Falls if I’m going to make it back before they charge me for another whole day of rental.”

“Lead the way, baby.”

Ruby pushes through the white gate, heading for her car, as I stay rooted to the spot in pure awe. Nobody has ever taken me seriously, apart from maybe Ma. But it’s natural as breathing for Ruby Robbins. She doesn’t seem to see me through the same lens as everyone else.

It’s heart-wrenching, because the one person who actually sees me doesn’t belong here. Sucking in a long breath, I follow her out. She is tossing her bag onto the passenger’s seat as I lean on the side of the rental. “Did you want to grab something to eat after your meeting with Mary-Sue?”

She freezes as she stands back up. Pushing her shoulders back with a small smile that never reaches her eyes, she sighs. “Reed, I don’t date, remember.”

That sucker punch to my gut sends the wind from my lungs.

I know this. She told me.

But my hands slide into my back pockets as I try to hide my disappointment. “Yeah, sure, I remember. But you gotta eat, right? Friends eat, together, I mean.”

“Yes, they do.” She smiles now, her eyes lighting up as her hand lands on my shirt, a finger tapping over my heart.

Goddamn, Ruby Jane, we do not feel like just friends anymore. Not from where I’m standing.

But I don’t tell her that. I nod and head for my truck, hoping the blood that rushed south to fill my now hard-as-fuck cock will disperse elsewhere.

The rental purrs to life behind me as I open the truck door and hop into the driver’s seat. Ruby waves as she drives past. My forehead hits the steering wheel, and I release a groan. My rational brain knows we are only friends.

So, why is this thing between us so intense?

The rental place was quiet, as usual. And I sit in my truck outside the inn as Ruby strides inside, heels clacking on the paved driveway. I slump in my chair and scroll through my phone, letting Nickelback send my mind places with their grungy, soul-wrenching lyrics.

Ten minutes later, my phone vibrates, and a message from Ruby slides down the top of the screen.

This is going to take a while. Come inside, husband. ;)

Husband.

Right, the fake marriage thing. I flip the glove box compartment open and snatch up the silver wedding band she gave me, sliding it onto my left ring finger. I roll the truck into the valet spot and kill the engine before hopping out and sliding my phone in my back pocket.

I turn back and grab the Yankees cap off the dash and dump it over my messy hair. Rubbing the three days of growth on my face, I walk through the front doors to find Ruby leaning by the front counter with Mary-Sue.

“Hi, Mary-Sue,” I say, closing the distance.

“Hello, Mr. Robbins. Your wonderful wife here was sharing her ideas for our next event. You wouldn’t mind if we had a longer meeting than planned, would ya, hon?”

“No, go ahead. I’ve got some work things to catch up on myself.” I pull my phone from my pocket and wave it like that’s where I conduct all my real estate business. Mary-Sue takes a call and Ruby glances over her shoulder and mouths thank you .

I crowd her against the counter, wrapping around her from behind. “You’re welcome, baby.”

My words are no more than a whisper, but when Ruby’s hand rests on my arm and her brown eyes find mine, my heart stutters out. Her eyes list to the cap a heartbeat later, and she traces a hand over my jaw, her fingertips floating over the scruff that’s there. “I like this.”

“Then it stays.”

“Good.”

“Well then.” We both snap our gazes to a beaming Mary-Sue. Ruby goes to pull away, but I hold her close, not wanting Mary-Sue to read into that. Her scrutiny and outdated ideas are ridiculous, just as Ruby said. But I can’t help feeling a small appreciation for the old-fashioned woman who made it possible for me to spend any amount of time with Rubes.

“I’ll be a little while. Did you want to grab a coffee in the restaurant while we work?” Ruby says.

“Sure, you know where I am if you need me, beautiful.” I dot a kiss to her cheek and head for the restaurant entrance to the right of reception.

The two women wander off to Mary-Sue’s office as I sink into the small café chair. I open up my emails. I actually do have work email to respond to, despite it being Sunday and the fact that I’ve never run a business before.

I like having something important to do. Something that matters, that I want to bring to fruition. Like I’m building something from nothing, with my mind and my hands. Maybe that’s what Harry was trying so hard for me to understand?

An email for a quote for holiday cabin construction sits in the inbox. I want at least three to be ready for the opening. And the kitchen will have to be expanded to accommodate all those people, not to mention the upgrade on the big barn. Hudson and Addy volunteered to help with that. Having a carpenter for an older brother sure helps.

Scanning the email for the figures in the quote, I decide it’s whiskey I’m needing, not coffee. Holy hounds in hell. That option is not in my budget.

I place the phone down and lean back in the chair, hands knitted behind my neck, letting my eyes close.

“What can I get y’all?” a sugary voice drawls.

I open my eyes to a somewhat familiar face. A brunette waitress stands, pad and pen in hand, in a black top and short skirt, black apron tied too tight around her waist.

“Coffee, one sugar. Please.”

“You don’t remember me, do you?”

“Um . . . No?”

“The name’s Starr, we met a few months back at the bar down the street.”

Frowning, I sit forward and fold my arms over my chest. “Sorry, I meet a lot of people at the bar.”

“Yeah, I know.” She snaps a hand to her hip. “You can tell your vicious guard dog bitch to back off, by the way. This is a small town, and if you want to keep that reputation of yours, Rawlins, I suggest you tell her to take it down a notch.”

“You’ve lost me. My what?”

The waitress saunters away. But she tosses a scowl over her shoulders as she says, “Oh, and she owes me a new top.”

My eyes widen as I rack my brain for what on earth this girl is talking about.

When my coffee arrives, it’s brought out by another waitress. She’s much older and barely bothers with a smile. I scroll through more emails and reply to some that are in budget and seem okay to go ahead with. And an hour passes quickly as I tap out notes and random ideas for the holiday ranch.

“You look enthralled.”

I glance up to find a smiling Ruby with her bag over her shoulder. “Ready? I’m starving.”

“Yup, let’s get out of here.” I push out of the seat and drop my tip by the drained coffee mug. With my hand on the small of her back, I lead Ruby out to the valet space with harried steps.

“You must be really hungry,” she says, shooting me a narrowed glance.

“Nope, tell you about it in the truck.”

“Okay.”

When I hear the sweet purr of my black beauty, she rolls into the driveway and the tension in my gut releases a smidge. I open Ruby’s door, and she climbs on up. Running a hand through my hair, I reapply the cap before jumping into the truck and putting it into drive.

Clear of the inn, I turn to face Ruby. “I have to tell you something.”

“Shoot.”

“The waitress at the restaurant recognized me.”

“Crap,” she breathes.

“I’m sorry, Rubes. It’s possible she won’t put it together. And if she does, maybe she won’t say anything?”

“Maybe. I hope so.”

“But here’s the deal. It was this girl, Starr, that I met at a bar one Friday, months ago. Nothing happened; I wasn’t interested. But she apparently remembers me.”

Now something like guilt sits in Ruby’s eyes as she worries her bottom lip through her teeth.

“What?” I ask.

She cringes. “I may have spoken to her in Lewistown one night?”

I chuckle. “What did you do, Ruby Robbins?”

“I threw wine in her face. But”—she holds a hand up, her best lawyer face taking over—“in my defense, she was bad-mouthing someone very dear to me. And she so, so deserved it.”

I am trying to stifle the hysterics bubbling up my insides. My grip turns white on the wheel. I pull over by a small barber shop and slide the truck into park. “You are telling me that Starr was smack-talking Reed Rawlins, and you took her out?”

“Well, not in the Mackinlay sense of taking someone out.” She waves her hands in the air.

I should hope not.

But I slide a hand over my face as I fall apart with laughter. She huffs a small laugh and then her hand wanders over my jaw. “Reed, she was hunting you for—” Her eyes close as she shakes her head, so subtle. “For some kind of threesome, or something.”

She swallows hard.

And the wind disappears from my lungs as her face turns to stone at the devastation lining her eyes. Her shoulders plummet with each breath.

“Rubes.”

Her hand drops from my jaw. “I know it’s none of my business, but god, she was so disgusting. I wanted to slam my fist into her face. She’s lucky all she got was that top-shelf bottle of red.”

I huff a laugh, and her eyes fly open. “Reed, it’s not funny!”

Leaning over, I cup her face with my hands, and the wide-eyed devastation that was there moments ago returns. “You being jealous, baby? That’s not funny at all. It’s sweet.”

Her breaths shallow out. Her fingers wrap around my wrists. “I?—”

“Tell me, Rubes.”

She pulls away and purses her lips, staring out the window. I kill the engine and climb out of the truck. Outside her door, her brown eyes burn into mine through the tinted glass. I open the door, and she turns on the seat to climb out, but I wedge between her legs and put my arms on the top frame of the truck door rim. “You sure you’re hungry?”

Now, every breath I take is not enough, and the stretch in my jeans from the solid hard-on she gave me with those eyes alone should be outlawed.

“Reed,” she rasps.

Ruby saying my name will never get old.

“I’m right here, baby.”

Her fingers wrap around my collar. The warmth of them brushing over my collarbones sends electricity straight to my heart. My left hand dangles from the rim of the doorframe, and she glances at the ring.

She swallows hard. “Maybe we should grab our food to go . . .”