Page 87 of Heart & Hope

Nobody drives my truck, not even my brothers, but Ruby? She gets everything she needs. Even my damn F-250. Because she fucking deserves it. Sacrifices are made. That sweet ride used to be my greatest love. Now?

I shake my head to dislodge the thought.

Trying my hardest to not let it sink in.

I just can’t.

The cabins are coming along well. Huddo has done an awesome fucking job. Mack, too. Even Harry has been here from dawn ’til dusk, working on the builds. Ruby has ordered a bunch of furniture and soft furnishings for each one. They’re going to be nice when they’re finished. Which, if all goes to plan, will be the week after the roundup. So, in two weeks’ time, this is going to be very real.

But there is still a ways to go. We have to complete the finishing touches on the cabins, the barn, and have the trails all marked out by next week. The last one I can safely say can be checked off the list.

Ruby has already started the marketing. With the grand opening being on Thanksgiving weekend, families can do dinner here or come and stay. I would be lying if I said I’m not nervous about this. Is anyone going to want to spend their holiday out here?

We have to pull off the roundup before the R & R’s debut, and Huddo has us all on the roster for that, as we are every year. Addy is riding along again. But Ruby is going back to the city for the fortnight after she sees Magnet and me off to catch up in the office, since I will be stuck up the mountains somewhere.

Sweet Jesus, that’ll be the longest two weeks of my entire fucking life, I swear. The truck is still gone when I lope up to the barn. I swing down from the saddle and walk the gelding to the wash down bay. When he’s cooled off and clean, I let him out into his field and put the tack away.

Tires on gravel fade in, and I can’t help the smile that tugs up on my lips.

Ruby’s home.

Two words.

One big emotion that goes with them.

I pluck my hat from my head and run a hand through my hair as I walk from the tack room and out of the barn. She jumps out of the driver’s side of my truck, all dressed in her designer jeans and her favorite boatneck top. Her heels are black and shiny. Her hair is curled and bouncing over her shoulders as she pulls bags from the back seat of the dual cab.

“You’re home early, baby,” I rasp into her ear as I wrap myself around her from behind. She drops the bags and spins in my hold.

“No point wasting time. There’s so much to do before I leave.”

“Ugh, Rubes. Way to spoil the moment with all this leavin’ talk.”

I sink my head onto her chest. The soft chuckle that slips through her lips sends me hard fucking instantly.

“Your brothers around today?”

“Nope, no way. Told them to stay away. Plus, I’ll be stuck with Mack and Huddo for a week straight. Gotta pace myself, you know.”

Now she laughs. “I like your brothers. They’re sweet, even Hudson.”

“Do not tell Huddo that. He likes being a chip off the old block, I swear.”

“Promise. Anyway, help me bring this stuff in, will you? Then we can go over the remaining details for the opening night dinner, okay?”

“Sure thing, beautiful.”

But the last thing I wanna do right now is stare at a screen. Not when I can be lovin’ on the only woman in the world my heart has ever needed. I take the bags from her hands and follow her inside. The sway of her hips, her ass in those tight jeans, produces a groan. Which I promptly tamper down.

Ruby wants her jobs done before she leaves. I get that. I do. We have been nothing but hustling since this idea of the holiday ranch was set in motion. It’s so incredible to finally have a direction that I am excited about.

An hour later, we are staring at the computer screen. My mouth hangs open, and Ruby is doing some sort of squealing dance around the kitchen table. The opening weekend over Thanksgiving is sold out. Every cabin is booked. All the tables for the evening dinner-slash-soiree event are full. And there is awaitlist!

This woman is a fucking genius. Ruby Robbins is too good at her job. The sinking feeling that this is very real tightens between my lungs. I force myself to look at Rubes, her happy face lit up with emotion and excitement. We can do this. I can do this.

I will not let her down.

Period.

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