“Oh, shit! I forgot my groucho glasses at home.” A singledimple appears in her left cheek as she tries and fails to hide her amusement. “I’ve lived here all my life. I’m not afraid of being recognized.”
She stabs another forkful of pumpkin pie, and I don’t look away when she takes the tines between her luscious pink lips, leaving behind a smear of whipped cream. Before I can think better of it, my thumb swipes along her bottom lip. I bring it to my mouth and suck.
Desire pulses through my veins as her blue eyes track the movement. I let the flavor linger on my tongue, imagining what it would be like if I had my mouth on Ruby instead.
Rosie stands behind the counter with her hands on her hips and a knowing smile on her face, waiting to take my order. “You just gonna stand there gawking, or did you want to order somethin’?”
Rosie Sullivan, the diner’s owner and namesake, is a seventy-something grandmother with grey hair pulled back in a ponytail and a permanent gleam in her mischievous blue eyes. She’s known around Oak Ridge as the town gossip. You’d do well to filter yourself within these walls.
I clear my throat and tear my eyes away from Ruby long enough to order my usual—a club sandwich with fries to go—and take a seat on the stool to wait.
Ruby sighs. “Before you ask… yes, the rumors are true.” There’s exhaustion in her voice, as if she’s been asked the question a million times and she keeps the answer tucked into her back pocket like one of those punch cards. If she answers one more time, she gets a free lobotomy.
Not wanting to be another intrusive asshole, I respond sarcastically. “So, youaresecretly into hobby horsing?”
“Actually, I’m retiring from the circuit. Something about intimidating the competition.”
“What a shame.”
Ruby snorts and eats more of her pie, a comfortablesilence settling between us. Time hasn’t dulled the attraction. Every goddamn billboard and news article with her face plastered on it has ramped my desire up to a thousand. I’ve tried not to notice, tried to keep my distance, but it’s impossible when she’s so intoxicating. She was hard to resist back then, and it’s a hell of a lot harder now.
Rosie returns with my lunch, glancing between me and Ruby.
I shake my head, shutting down the line of questioning before she can even utter a word. “Just a heads up, a reporter from Chicago came by the bar asking to get directions to the ranch. I told him to fuck off, of course, but you might want to be careful.”
Ruby throws her head back and groans. “What’s a girl gotta do to get a little peace and quiet around here?”
“Try not being the hottest chick in country music,” Rosie says with a laugh. “I’ll get the word out. He won’t get far in this town if I have anything to do with it.”
“Or Miles.”
Rosie shakes her head and sighs. “What’d that boy do this time?”
“Just sent the guy on a bit of a wild goose chase. Or rooster chase, as the case may be.”
Ruby laughs, full-throated and melodic. I could play it on a loop and never tire of it, like a song written just for me. “I appreciate the heads up.”
I nod and gesture toward the door. “I should get back to the bar.”
Ruby stands and wraps her arms around my waist.
Caught off guard by the gesture, I freeze.
“This is called a hug, Grumpy.” Her teasing tone sobers me enough to return the embrace. The simple touch feels monumental. “It’s good to see you,”
I pull back and palm her shoulders, resisting the urge to linger. “See you around?”
“Yeah.”
Rosie waggles her fingers suggestively, wearing a mischievous smile. With a shake of my head, I snatch my takeout box off the counter and make the trek back to the bar with my mind still replaying the feel of Ruby in my arms. It’s not the first time we’ve hugged, but something is different.Sheis different, and I can’t put my finger on what’s changed.
When I arrive home later that night, Ivy is hanging out on my couch with a book spread on her lap. She glances up and smiles when she sees me. “Aiden’s in his room. Can we talk for a minute?”
“Sure. Is everything ok?”
She sets the novel in her canvas tote and turns to face me. “Apparently, Aiden had a rough day at school. Some kids were bullying him. He wouldn’t tell me anything specific, but he seems pretty upset.”
My jaw ticks. Anger, unlike anything I’ve felt since the day Breanna dropped him off on my doorstep, rises to the surface.
