Heart & Hope (Rosewood Ranch #2)

Chapter 30

Chapter Thirty

RUBY

I t’s magic.

Pure, glittering, wondrous magic.

The entire conference room has been transformed from drab beige and paneled walls with pastel carpet to a transcendent space. You could say the inn has had a glow up. It’s my best work yet.

Half of the room is under round dining tables. Tall centerpieces stud the centers, tea lights, crystal, and fine bone China adorning each place setting. The theme of white-on-white has washed out the outdated tones, creating something heavenly. Stunningly whimsical.

Servers with silver trays weave through the black-tie crowd. Reed slips his hand around mine, lacing his fingers through. “This is magnificent, beautiful.”

I cast my gaze about the room, doing a visual check of every element that was planned. String quartet, check. Abundance of flowers from the local florist, check. Bar flowing and hors d’oeuvres circulating, check. Guests spill in through the open double doors where Mary-Sue is greeting each one.

“I need to do the rounds and help Mary-Sue. Save me a seat?” I ask Reed.

He leans in, all clean-shaven, cologne, green eyes, and square jaw. “You bet, beautiful.”

I twist the wedding band on my finger. I’m not usually nervous at events, but today has been too much already. And despite the event prep coming off without a hitch, something’s off. Reed’s focus drops to my hands.

He closes his fingers around my left hand and raises it to his lips. Pressing a soft kiss to my knuckles, he winks. “Go impress the panties off them, Mrs. Robbins.”

With a wry smile I peck his cheek and wander through the growing crowd to where Mary-Sue stands. She greets me with open arms. “Ruby, you have outdone yourself, darlin’.”

“I’m so happy you like it. Elegance was the element I was going for, I thought it suited the inn and its owner.” I lean into her, and the older woman squeezes an arm around my shoulders.

“Where is that gorgeous husband of yours?”

“He’s finding our table.” I glance Reed’s way. He is mid-conversation with Bill.

“Well, I imagine you two will want to settle down and have yourselves some beautiful babies very soon.” Mary-Sue grins at me.

“Ah, actually we?—”

“Ruby Robbins, or is it Rawlins? I’m getting it all mixed up between New York, Great Falls, or is it Lewistown. Tell me, which is it, Ruby?” The light voice should sound friendly, but its familiarity sends a chill down my spine. I hesitate before turning to find Starr, dressed in an apron with a silver tray propped on one hand. Her smirk is almost sickening, and when she tracks her attention to Mary-Sue, my breath stops.

Fuck me.

“Rawlins?” Mary-Sue says, confusion lowering her brows. “I thought Reed didn’t know the Rawlinses, are they relations on your side?”

“Ah, they are, um . . .”

“So, which is it, Robbins or Rawlins?” Starr says too sweetly.

“Robbins,” I choke out.

Mary-Sue’s staring at my wedding band, her focus shifting to Reed as he laughs at something Bill says. Heat rushes my neck and face. A waiter floats past, and I snatch a tall glass of champagne from the tray, throwing it down in three gulps.

“It’s Robbins, hon,” Mary-Sue says to Starr. “You know that. You should keep moving, we can’t have the guests going hungry or thirsty. That’s not in the event plan.”

“Sure, wouldn’t want to ruin anyone’s evening.” She swaggers off, tray held high as if that’s her fuck-you-Ruby trophy.

“That girl is so daft, I swear, she’ll forget her own head one of these days.” Mary-Sue turns from the receding waitress’s form to me.

Fuck. That was too close. I thank my lucky stars she didn’t bring up the lawsuit. I have no idea how I would explain that away to Mary-Sue.

My last event in Montana must go smoothly. Stalking my way to the hostess at the other side of the big doors with the tablet to check in guests, I give her a warm smile. “Everyone here?” I ask.

“Every last one. Your party is goin’ to be stellar, Ruby.”

“Mary-Sue’s party, and yes, it’s all going to plan. Thanks. Keep me posted if you have any worries with guests or anything else, okay?”

“Sure, enjoy your night.”

I weave through the mingling of perfumes, tuxes, and shimmering floor-length dresses toward Reed. The seat beside him is empty, his arm draped over it, as if he’s saving it. He’s chatting, laughing, and when he takes a sip of his beer and I scan the table, the next man I find runs heat up my spine.

Morley.

Fuck me.

And he’s sitting right next to Mary-Sue.

I lean over Reed and let my hair fall around his face as I level my lips to his ear with my softest whisper. “Morley is here again ? How the hell does that happen twice?”

He turns, glancing up at me with a cheeky wink. One that tells me he’s got everything under control. I hope he does.

Since when does Ruby Robbins hope?

Hard work, all the way. No glitches. And Morley here is definitely a glitch. How the hell did he make the guest list without me realizing? Again!

But if Reed isn’t worried, that’s good enough for me. And then I see it, the chair by Morley is empty. Who is he waiting for? A vacancy that could end in disaster. I sink onto the seat by Reed and adjust my dress. His hand, warm and strong, finds my thigh before his fingers tangle through mine.

When the music fades, Bill stands, glass in hand.

“Welcome! First off, thanks for coming out tonight. And a big thank you to the investors who were here for the last event and this one. The revamp and opening would not have happened without you. To my lovely wife for helping with the plans for this, my new venture. Have a great night, y’all.”

His new venture? Mary-Sue does all the grunt work and the long hours. What an ass.

A few men wander over, congratulating Bill on the inn. Mary-Sue sinks further into her chair with every dismissive comment that leaves his fucking mouth. The hurt on her face drives me wild. How can she sit there and let that jerk of a husband claim her success and hard work? It’s inconceivable.

Food appears at my place, and Reed orders another beer.

“So Ruby, Reed was telling me you two have other business. Something about a holiday ranch.”

I stiffen and Reed gives me a nod, a manic smile filling his face.

“Yes, actually, we were working on a ranch in the area. The opening was almost as good as this one.” I force a too-bright smile.

“And how exactly did you get that job, Ruby?” Morley asks, malice glinting in his eyes.

Tampering down the overwhelming need to stab a fork through his eyeballs, I clear my throat and smile. “I worked a party for Louisa Rawlins over by Lewistown. So, word of mouth, I guess.”

I shrug, hoping... No, praying Morley will drop it.

“The Rawlinses, what did you think of them?” Morley leans forward, eyes darting between Reed and me.

“Lovely. Are you from around here?” I ask, innocence plastered over my face.

“Oh, Justin here is our nephew. And one of our newest investors,” Bill says, slapping Morley on the shoulder.

“How wonderful.”

I guess Morley and I are both faking who we are and what we know now.

“Yeah, we like to keep it in the family round here,” Morley says, sipping his beer, eyes narrowed.

I catch my eye roll before anyone can notice and dig into my food. When nobody else has anything else to say, I glance up. Morley’s smirk is set on me before it tracks to Reed. Who is happily ignoring him. Like they really just met, and they have nothing to talk about. I relax a little, enjoying the flavors of the meal, sipping on the champagne.

“Oh, my lord! I’m so sorry I’m late, babe,” a woman says, rushing past, bumping my chair as she rounds our table and flops onto the chair by Morley.

Skye.

My gut sinks.

And when she scans the table and her focus slams to a halt on my face, I push my shoulders back and suck in a breath. I can almost see my career swirling the drain with the next lungful of air I drag in. Reed shifts on his seat.

Fuck.

“What the hell?” Skye says to Morley before turning to Mary-Sue. “This is the woman that threw the wine in my face at the bar!”

Fuck. Please, please don’t mention the lawsuit!

Mary-Sue’s face goes from happy with Skye’s arrival to confusion to outright disgust. I’m guessing Morley is a close nephew. And Skye has been automatically made part of the family.

“Ruby, is that true?” Mary-Sue says quietly. I can see the disappointment bloom over her face.

“It was a—” I look to Reed. I can’t lie. Not anymore. “You know what? Yeah, that was me. Skye and her friend were harassing Reed. It was... unwholesome, to say the least.”

I know exactly how much weight ‘unwholesome’ carries for Mary-Sue. And I weaponised it. Heat flushes my body.

“He was good for it, until you came along,” Skye says, screwing up her face.

Mary-Sue glances between us, horror and confusion tangling across her face. “But why would your husband be at the Great Falls bar looking for—” She shakes her head. “Never mind, gossip is nobody’s friend, and definitely has no place in this room tonight. Why don’t you tell me how you two met? How long have you been married, Ruby?”

Thankful for the redirect, I focus on Mary-Sue, not Skye, who right now is burning a hole through my head with her glare. “We met in the city, one of those fundraiser events, you know.”

“I was working a development job on the east side, got a last-minute invite, you know how it is. And Ruby was there,” Reed adds.

I stare at him, but he simply smiles and squeezes my hand. The air leaves my lungs, and I swear my heart swells.

Morley chokes on his beer, and only then does he shift his gaze to the rings on our hands. He huffs an incredulous laugh. “Oh, for fuck’s sake! Aunt Mary, they’re not married. That’s Reed Rawlins. Harry’s son. She’s from New York.” His focus swings back to me. “Are you two even together?”

And there it is.

I freeze as fear snakes up my spine.

Desperation twisting my face, I glance at Reed.

His face is stone, eyes homed in on Morley. His hands curl to fists. And when he closes his eyes and shakes his head real slow, I know it’s time to go. I stand and excuse myself, grabbing up my purse. I pull Reed from his chair. He stands beside me, close, and wraps an arm around my waist.

“Ruby? I don’t understand?” Mary-Sue’s face is devastated.

“I’m sorry, Mary-Sue.” I suck in a breath and swallow past the stone lodged in my throat. “I hope you enjoy your event. You deserve it.” I glimpse at Bill as I turn and head for the double doors, Reed beside me.

“Well, that was unexpected, baby.”

“It’s fine. It’s—it will be okay.” I fight the sob crawling up my airway as we pass through the doors, and they thud closed behind us.

Reed turns me to face him and takes my face with both hands. “Hey, you did so good. Mary-Sue got the event she wanted. Her inn is going to be a huge success, and you were part of that.”

I wrap my fingers around his wrists, wrangling air into my lungs. I’ve never felt like more of a failure. Not even with my overachieving family. I really wanted this to work out. I thought I could do this.

“Let’s go home,” I whisper. Everything deflates in this moment. My hopes, the tunnel vision that I have held for my career for so long. Tears swell, lining my eyes.

“Ruby?” Mary-Sue says from by the door.

We both turn toward her. Reed drops his hands from my face and pulls me into his side, as if that can protect me from her wrath.

And I meet the older woman’s gaze, running my bottom lip through my teeth.

“So let me get this straight.” She steps closer. “You are a Rawlins”—she waves at Reed, then turns back to me—“and you are Ruby Robbins?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Reed nods.

“Why did you lie to me, Ruby?”

“You wanted a married woman working on your event. And I?—”

“You’re not.” She shakes her head.

“No. I’m sorry I lied, Mary-Sue. But I saw how much you wanted this to work out. And, it sounds pretentious, but I knew I could make your events so much more than any other planner you’d find out here. It’s literally my life’s work. And?—”

The older woman holds a hand up. “I’m not happy you lied and even less happy you and Skye had an... incident. But what hurts me most is that you thought it was okay to rope this young man into your schemes.”

Suddenly, the air in the inn’s enormous foyer evaporates. I force air through my nose and into my lungs, each too short and burning, pressing the back of my hand to my mouth.

“I will be emailing your boss, Olive, in the morning. Good night, Ruby Robbins. Reed.” She turns back, disappearing through the doors.

“Rub—” Reed reaches for me. I back away, stalking for the front doors.

I need air.

Like, now.

Crisp, cold air rushes my face and fills my lungs as the sliding doors snap closed behind me.

“Vehicle, Mrs. Robbins?” the valet asks.

“Yes, please.” I steel myself against the will to let every last horrible thought and emotion out. And when the rumble of Reed’s truck rolls around the corner and stops in front of me, I thank the young guy and slide into the driver’s seat. Hands gripping the wheel with white knuckles, I drop my forehead onto it.

The passenger door opens, and Reed climbs in. “Where we off to, baby?”

“I don’t know. Anywhere but here.”

“You wanna go home? I can go and grab our bags.”

I shove the stick in drive and roll into the street. Reed was right, the rumble is comforting.

“I can drive, Rubes,” Reed offers.

“No,” I breathe.

I let the truck idle at the last set of lights of Great Falls, and when that round glass goes green, I sink my foot onto the accelerator. Tears roll down my face as we pick up speed, busting through the small-town limits until we’re flanked by snow-covered fields.

Northbound and no clue where this leads, I choke through each sob. Reed grips the door handle with one hand, the other a fist on the seat beside him. I have ruined everything with stupid, stupid lies. The holiday ranch could be affected by my thoughtlessness. A fucking fake marriage? Who is idiotic enough to think that would have panned out?

This is all my fault.

“Beautiful, slow down.” Reed’s face is stone, eyes on me.

Reed reaches over, turning the headlights on.

Fuck, I can’t even remember the basics.

“Rubes, it will blow over, baby. Please slow down.”

“No, it won’t Reed. I’ve screwed everything up. I?—”

“Deer!”

“Fuck!”

I slam a foot on the brake as the deer ambles onto the road, dazed by the headlights bouncing off the snowy road. My heel slips from my foot with the pressure. The deer stops in the path of the truck. I wrench the wheel to the right.

“No! Don’t swer—” Reed lunges for the wheel.

The animal slams into the front corner of the truck, the headlight burying into its side. Its limp body disappears underneath the truck as the vehicle spins to the right, clipping the culvert railing. The snowy road too slick, the truck leaves the ground, careening into the air, rolling.

Weightlessness grips me as we are tossed in our seats.

I can’t breathe.

Reed’s eyes burn, frozen, panicked. He reaches for me. The tips of our fingers brush.

White bursts from the dash, engulfing the cab of the truck.

Airbags.

I cover my face with my arms as the hiss of white power fills the space between Reed and me.

“RUBY!” Terror floods his voice.

The ringing in my ears drowns out the thunderous crash when the truck hits the ground and rolls. Glass shatters, raining inward through the gaps between the airbags like chaotic wind chimes. We jerk to a stop. Instantly, the steering wheel flies up and cracks into my head.

Hissing.

Then the nothingness of quiet.

Darkness creeps in from every angle.