Page 103 of Heart & Hope

“I like happy on you, Ruby baby.”

“Me too,” she whispers.

I take her face in my hands and kiss her mouth. And when she melts for me, I can’t help but press my body into hers. She opens, and I sweep in, tasting her. The blood that was racing through my veins a moment ago with the arrival of our first guest sinks south fast.

The wind picks up, sending a hiss through the trees by the house as gravel crunches again. I break from Ruby reluctantly to find two vehicles creeping along the driveway. I dot a kiss to her forehead. “Showtime, baby.”

“Let’s do this, Reed.”

I wink at her as we push off the fence and walk toward the approaching guests.

The absurd amount of fairy lights currently twinkling all over the ranch and specifically arched over the double doors to the barn could be mistaken for a small city from space. But the absolute wonder that fills the face of every guest that pours out of their trucks was worth the effort.

They love it.

And it was the right choice. Fairy lights are always the right choice. Harry and Louisa’s silver Chevy rolls in, parking over by the house. Soft country music plays on the speaker system that we installed in each corner of the barn. The long tables inside are filling up fast. And with the catering from Lewistown that we booked months ago, this night is turning out to be stellar.

Harry and Ma walk over, arm in arm. Harry’s gaze runs over the building, inspecting our hours of last-minute prepping, andwhen those grey-blue eyes meet mine, he smiles. And it’s a sight to behold.

“Harry,” Ruby says as he folds her in a one-armed hug, squeezing her tight. All cologne and clean-faced. He’s handsome for an old man.

“Well, you have outdone yourself here, Ruby, darlin’. The place is looking damn fine.”

Ma pulls me into a hug as I stand a little stunned. The fragrant smell of what must be her new perfume from the shopping trip in Great Falls Ruby and her made shrouds me in the embrace. “Y’all have done a wonderful job. We are so darn proud of you both.”

When she releases me, she scrunches her face, as if trying to quell the silver now lining her eyes. She cups my cheek with her hand briefly and leads Harry inside. Their gasps are audible from where we stand. I fold Ruby into my chest a heartbeat later. “I think the old man is impressed, baby.”

She huffs a laugh. “Seems that way. Everyone find a table okay?”

“Yep, got Tim and Denise squared away. They are practically begging for the dancing to start. But first, we need to stab a big, fat bird and make this thing official.”

“You mean slice the turkey. Let the catering do it so people don’t have to eat hacked-up white meat, Reedsy.”

“I miss that.”

“What?”

“Reedsy.”

“Ah, but that was my friend zone name for you. Not entirely appropriate anymore.”

“So, what do you want to call me?—”

A hand slaps my shoulder. Hudson messes up my hair with one hand, leaning over to kiss Ruby’s cheek as he does. “Nice work, Robbins. You sure have pulled off a stunning event.”

“You haven’t been inside yet,” she says brightly.

“Oh, we are about to. This old man needs a whiskey.”

Addy walks up behind him. “You ain’t old, Huddy. Just tired. Let’s find some gasoline and a chair.”

“My lord, Adds really is one of us now.” I shake my head with a laugh. “You seen Mack yet?”

“No, actually. You?” Huddo says.

“Nope. Guess he’ll turn up.”

I crook my arm like I have so many times and tilt my head. It took Ruby twenty minutes to pick my clothes, saying everything had to be perfect. I’m dressed in a crisp light blue shirt, sleeves rolled up as always, the top button left open, white t-shirt, and dark Wranglers that hug my ass. My caramel leather jacket, the only semi-city piece of clothing I own. Cowboy boots under the jeans like the ones Ruby wears right now that I bought her months ago. My once neat hair is now slightly mussed, and by the sparkle in Ruby’s eyes, she loves it. She smells divine, sending the blood straight to my cock every time she moves closer. Her brown eyes bore into me. “Beautiful?”

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