If I wasn’t ovulating before, I sure am now. Having kids isn’t on my radar anytime soon, but these two could easily convince me.
Mrs. Barnes, my fourth-grade teacher, strides over. “If it isn’t my favorite student! Welcome home, Ruby. What brings you to our school this morning?”
“I’m just dropping off my buddy Aiden here,” I say, ruffling his curls.
“Hi, Mrs. B,” he says, with a polite wave.
She waves back, shaking a massive keychain full of keys with a lanyard hanging off the end. “Ok, kiddos. Let’s get you inside.”
Aiden waves to his dad, then to me, before following Mrs. Barnes and Rylin through the massive double doors thathaven’t changed a bit in the years since I attended Oak Ridge Elementary.
“How are you feeling this morning?” Ivy asks, smirking.
“What do you mean?”
“Girl, I saw that hunk of a man carry you into his house like he was bringing his bride over the threshold last night.”
“Oh shit. You were there?”
“Mhm. I was babysitting Aiden. You were three sheets to the wind, so I don’t expect you to remember much.”
“Yeah, not gonna lie. I don’t remember anything after he tossed me in the truck. Please tell me I didn’t say anything stupid.”
Her eyes dart to the truck, and she doesn’t answer.
“Ivy…”
She pinches her lips together and scrunches up her nose. “You… might’ve tried to kiss him,” she says slowly.
“I didwhat?”
“Don’t worry. It was kind of cute.”
I groan, and my face flushes. “You know what? I think it might be time to simply perish. RIP Ruby Lynn Hayes.”
Ivy rolls her eyes, shoulders shaking with silent laughter. “I’m heading home. You need a ride back to the ranch?”
“I’m good. Liam’s taking me by the bar to pick up my truck.”
She gives me a knowing smirk. “Alright. I’ll see you Sunday at family dinner then. If I don’t see you before that.”
Ivy pulls me in for a quick hug and waves over my shoulder at Liam.
When I step into the truck, Liam asks, “What were you and Ivy talking about?”
I shrug. “Nothing.”
He studies me for a second before pulling away from the curb. “Didn’t look like nothing,” he says, his fingers flexing on the steering wheel.
What I wouldn't give to have one of those hands wrapped around my…
“Must’ve beensomeconversation for you to be blushing like that,” he adds.
“It’s hot outside.”
“It’s notthathot.”
I snort. “Says the man who’s like two percent body fat. I’malwayshot.”
