Page 63 of Heart & Hope

“Oh wow. Tell her thanks. Actually, never mind, I’ll text her in the morning.”

He sinks onto the couch beside me. With a sip from his tumbler, he stares into the fire. “You two get along well.”

The flames dance, their proximity tangling around one another. Like lovers in a never-ending waltz that mesmerizes. “I guess we do. She’s different to my own mother. Much warmer.”

“I know she loves having you here.”

I push a small smile over my lips before tasting the red. It’s floral and warm and delicious. I close my eyes and lay my head back on the sofa. I take a second to breathe through the warmth that lingers in my core, not a hundred percent sure it’s the wine.

“I’ve never had a woman like Lou in my life. Not Olive, not my mother.”

Reed moves closer and puts his tumbler down on the small coffee table between us and the fireplace. His palms are on my face, my eyes directed up to his. “That, Ruby Robbins, is a crying shame. You deserve that.”

I huff a laugh, breaking the eye contact. “Thanks, but I’m used to it.”

He is shaking his head, eyes pulled tight. “Nope, that’s not acceptable. I officially give you Ma, for whatever you need.”

Now I chuckle and wrap my hands around his and then slip them from my face. “Has anyone ever told you you’re the most thoughtful, sweetest guy on this earth?”

“Not lately.” He winks.

I roll my eyes at him and rub a thumb over his jaw. His gaze drops to my lips. The oxygen in the room is suddenly too thin. “Reed.”

He stays where he is. His jaw feathers for a moment before he rises from the sofa and pads to the kitchen. Returning, he brings a tray of chopped vegetables and cheese. It’s perfect.

“You think of everything.”

He sits down, putting the food in between us. “I told you, Rubes. I like taking care of you.”

“You’re going to make an amazing holiday ranch host, Reed.”

He forces a smile. I jump to my feet and dash upstairs, grabbing my laptop. Back downstairs, I sit on my spot on the sofa and flip it open. “So, I have made a website and embedded the booking system. It needs some finishing touches and your approval.”

He moves the tray and slides over, our knees touching. Shoulders rubbing, I show him the site. “Of course, if you’re not happy, with color scheme, theme, anything, I can change it. Here is where people come when they first click onto it.”

His hand brushes my hair from my cheek, tucking it behind my ear. “Sorry, can’t see,” he rasps.

Hand frozen on the trackpad, I swallow down the stone that rose with his touch.

“What else do you want to show me, baby?”

“I—” I swallow. “The gallery and the accommodations page, which are still empty by the way. What did you decide about the cabins?”

He leans back on the couch. “Yeah, we’ll be building those ourselves. I have to ask Huddo, but it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Excellent, what time frame do you think? Will we make the fall opening as planned?”

“Listen to you, getting all event planner, business manager on me. Yes, Ruby, we will meet your deadline. Thanksgiving weekend.”

“They’reyourdeadlines, Rawlins.”

He laughs, nodding. “Yes, they are.”

When his gaze lands on me, it melts from humor to something deeper, something I’ve never seen in him. But when the air shrinks from my lungs and my gut flips, I have to rub a hand over my face to reset my heart back to something viable for life. Not the rapid flinging rhythm it’s taken up.

“I should...” I drag my focus back to the screen. “I should finish this before bed.”

He smiles and nods, plucking a carrot from the board, snapping it between his teeth. Carrot and whiskey. I huff a laugh at this amazing man and settle in to work.

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