Page 7 of Redemption

"Sure did." She holds the can out toward me.

When I wrap my fingers around the cold aluminum, we touch. It's one of the first times since the night we were on our back porch, when we gave in to feelings that are always there between us. No matter what's been going on in our lives, we've never had an issue with wanting one another. "Thanks," I lean in, kissing her on the cheek.

"You're welcome."

She turns to go back around to the passenger side of the Jeep. I follow her, holding the door open, and helping her in. Reaching over her lap, I buckle her in. "We've only got an hour and a half left." I'm not sure I can handle it, but I feel like I need to tell herandmyself. That way we both know exactly how long we're going to have to keep our hands off each other.

With a squeeze of her thigh, I close the door, and head back around to the driver's side.

It's beenan hour and a half of hell by the time we pull into the driveway of the rental cabin. I booked this place online, and I was worried it wouldn't be everything it appeared to be, but it's super nice. The wrap-around porch is everything I hoped it would be, and all I can pray is that the inside is as good as the outside is.

We don't say anything as we get out, and I walk around the back to grab both our bags.

Ruby comes over to where I am, and stops right in front of me. "Is this supposed to be so awkward?" She asks, her cheeks pink, lips red from her licking them so much. "We've been married for years, and it shouldn't be this awkward, right?"

Reaching out, I grab her hand in mine. "It shouldn't be, but we've let a lot come between us, Ruby. It's grown and festered, because we've let it. It's time we stop, we take a moment and remember who we are. I'm aware that I've been the cause of a lot of it."

Ruby reaches up, putting her finger over my lips. "We're here now. Let's stop blaming, even ourselves. The moment we step on that porch, the healing starts. I promise, if you do." She moves her finger down for me to answer.

"I promise."

Together we grab our stuff, close up the Jeep, and head to the cabin. We get to the steps, and come to a stop. Before I lift my foot up, she puts her hand in mine, and together we go up the stairs. Opening the front door is like opening a new chapter of our lives.

CHAPTER SEVEN

RUBY

The cabin Calebhas picked out is gorgeous with its big windows, wrap-around porch, and the complete silence other than the sounds of nature that surrounds us. It's different than the silence I've been living in at home.

"After you." He motions for me to move forward with a hand out in that direction.

His eyes are on my ass. I can feel his gaze like a laser, as it burns into the denim covering my backside. "Did you pick this out yourself? Really?" I turn around in a circle, admiring the open floor plan, and the kitchen off to the side.

"Yeah, Molly looked with me," he shrugs. "But I ultimately picked it out."

"Molly knows I love a big kitchen."

He tucks his hands into his jean pockets, the muscles of his arms bulging as he does. "That she does. Are you hungry?" He asks, rocking back on his heels.

For him? One thousand percent. For food? Slightly. "Yeah, I could make something. Do we have groceries?"

"I made sure we did, but I wasn't asking you to cook me something, Ruby. I was asking if we could do it together."

My breath catches. We used to do that all the time when we first got married. The one thing we looked forward to, when we were home together, was cooking. Somehow, like a lot of what resonated with us in the early days of our marriage, we got away from it. "You want to make a meal together?"

"Yeah." He grins, coming over to where I'm standing close to the island. "We can put our stuff away, and then make something if that's good with you?"

"Sure. Why don't you take my bag in there? I don't even know what's in it, so it's not going to make a difference if it's put away or not. I'm going to see what we have to work with."

He nods, but doesn't say anything. Turning, he heads over to where our bags are, and bends at the waist, picking them up. I take the moment to get my bearings. If there's one thing about Caleb Harrison, he can put me off my game with just a smirk. Quickly, I toe off my shoes, and go over to the fridge. Opening it, I'm surprised at everything inside. He wasn't kidding when he said he made sure we had food to eat.

"Do they have everything we need?"

His deep voice sends shivers up and down my spine and goosebumps raise on my arms. I've not had this kind of reaction to him for a while. Maybe the girls are right? Stella told me at one of our margarita nights that Caleb and I had gotten too comfortable with one another. We'd quit trying to date each other, and I'd laughed her off. Right now, I feel like she wasn't too far away from the truth. "Yeah." I clear my throat. "It's got all our favorites. Did you make a list?" He hasn't taken control of the grocery list and shopping in years. That's been my job since the kids were small.

"I did. Molly helped," he smiles. "Don't think I realized how much of a helper she is, until I called her about helping me for you."

"She's been really good lately," I tell him as I look around to see what we've got to make dinner. "A couple of times she's even gone grocery shopping by herself. Your dad picks her up, and they make a day of it. I didn't know big, bad, Menace would enjoy his afternoons with a tween like he does."

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