Page 95 of Saving Grace

I pull in by the house and kill Blue’s engine. Reed and Ruby are on the front porch swing. Reed’s arm is wrapped around Ruby’s shoulders and his head is buried in her hair. A low rumble comes from his chest as I walk toward the house. Ruby’s laughter as she throws her head back echoes through the trees. Heavens above, these two are something else.

“You two look cozy.” I step up onto the front porch.

“Hey, Gracie. How’s that brother of mine?” Reed asks, his green eyes shining with love and happiness.

“Mack is good. Ready for ranch work like yesterday.”

“I know. I don’t want him to overdo it too early, you know.”

“Yeah, I know. But he’s working his butt off to get back what he had.”

“I have no doubt.” He stands, dotting a kiss to Ruby’s forehead as he does. “You two girls have fun. I have horses to feed up.”

He slips his hat on and tips it to us as he walks out the yard, heading for the stables. Ruby’s gaze doesn’t leave him until he’s out of sight.Oh my gosh, my heart.

“Right!” she says, startling me. She chuckles. “Follow me, Miss Gracie.”

“Sure.”

Moments later, we are pushing through the front door of the first cabin. The red door and crisp white paint are such a wonderful contrast. I love everything about this place. Ruby stops and stands in the middle of the front room. “You notice something missing in this tiny house?” She waves her hands about.

I scan the space, trying to catch her drift. “Um, sorry, I’m not great at interior design.”

She steps to where I stand and rests a hand on my shoulder. “Imagine this,” she says, her other hand moving through theair like she’s waving at a billboard. “Original artwork, by local painter, of the very mountains that people spend evenings staring at mesmerized in this very cabin, on that very front deck.”

“They would pop against the white. I could send you the contact list from the gallery for local artists to paint them.”

She drops her hand from my shoulder and shakes her head. “No, Grace. We wantyouto paint them. You’re our artist, babes.”

I open my mouth, but nothing comes. “I, ah?—”

“Before you decide already and turn me down. I’m sure, after a little research I did, you can sell a medium-size original for a nice sum. Also, we don’t require commission.”

“Ruby, I couldn’t . . .”

“Don’t make me bring out the Harry, Grace.”

“The what?”

“I ain’t askin’, darlin’.” Ruby raises an eyebrow, pulling a ridiculous face.

I laugh at her. “Fine, I’ll do something up for you to take a look at.”

“The Harry always works.” She beams at me. “Now, let’s grab some wine.”

Not too keen on the wine but ready for another turn in my favor, I follow. We head to the house and into the kitchen where she pours a glass of white for me then red for herself. Footsteps trudge up the steps outside, and she grabs out a tumbler and drops a nip of whiskey into it.

“Stayin’ for a little while?” Reed asks, pushing through the door, plucking the hat from his head and toeing off his boots.

“Sure, how’s the horses?” I ask.

“Fed and happy. How’s the first day?”

“Amazing.” I smile at him.

He takes his whiskey from Ruby with a peck to her cheek. The affection between them is constant. Swoonworthy, even. It makes me miss Mack with a sudden fierceness. I swallow down the wine and hand Ruby the glass. “Actually, I should head home and start supper.”

“You sure? Mack can wait a beat.” Reed grins.

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