Page 135 of Heart & Hope

Her face breaks, and she presses the back of her hand to her mouth. I jump the sofa and close the distance, and she’s on my hips a moment later. Her hands are on my face, her lips smashed to mine. The scent of strawberries is everywhere. She opens her mouth for me, and I claim her with my tongue. Fingers crawling through my hair, her grip tightens, and she moves my head backward. “Sweet Jesus, I missed you, baby.”

I chuckle, heart so tight it could burst. But I take to studying her face before I say, “You sure this is what you want, Rubes?”

She nods. Her thumbs wander over my jaw. “I went back to the city, and it all felt so foreign. Every single rule I’d made and lived by doesn’t even fit anymore. And then I found something, well, a reminder of it, that is, and I realized I already had the one thing I want.”

“And what was that?”

“When I was ten, my dream was to have a home that I felt like I belonged in, and people who love me unconditionally. I know it soun?—”

“Nope, it sounds perfect.”

Her face lights up and she bites down hard on her bottom lip. The last of the blood supplying my brain floods south, my cock stretching my jeans.

“What are we doin’ here, baby?” I rasp.

“Well, I was making lunch for the love of my life.” She smiles, and it’s the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

I claw back the sob that is fighting its way up.

“I’m so sorry I left you,” Ruby whispers.

“Don’t apologize for taking care of yourself, Rubes. Ever.”

“As long as you do the same, okay?”

“Deal. You hungry?”

“A little, but . . .”

“But what, baby?”

“Reed, I don’t wanna fake it anymore.”

Stunned, I stare up at her, wide-eyed. I search her gorgeous brown eyes for any hint of mirth, for some sign that she is playing. But her face is dead serious.

And I find none.

Chapter 34

RUBY

Iwait outside the Heritage Inn, pacing the sidewalk like a woman possessed. The family lawyer told me to leave it alone. But I can’t do that. Too much is at stake to let this play out and go whichever way a judge decides on any given day. And having enemies in a small town doesn’t sit well with me.

The fact that they are two women tugs at my soul. We may come from very different backgrounds, but we should have each other’s backs, not be fighting like street cats over stupid shit—and especially not over the opposite sex. So I am going to fix this. The Ruby way. I guess you could say I’m getting into the Christmas spirit a little early this year.

The door swings open, and two women spill out into the midday sunshine. By the way they are chatting and shouldering their bags, I’m guessing it’s their lunch break. I stride up to where they stop, checking their phones. My heart hammers, nerves lit up like lightning through a rod.

“Ladies?” I say, pulling my best smile and wringing my own phone through my hands.

Starr glances up from her screen. “Say what? Where’s your fake husband, Robbins? Or is it really Rawlins?”

“No, it’s not. But I’m not here to cause trouble. I want to apologize.”

Skye slides her phone into her bag and folds her arms, raising an eyebrow. “I’m listenin’.”

“No way, she only wants out of the lawsuit, don’t give her an inch, babes.”

“This isn’t about the suit, I promise. It’s about Reed.”

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