Page 59 of Heart & Hope

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 mouthsthank 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.

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