She smiled so wide it felt like her face was cracking. “True. And even if you had read it, you wouldn’t have known it was mine because I use the pen name Ruby Dear, rather than Ruby Deardon.”
When he didn’t reply, she started talking quickly to keep him from leaving. “That was a nickname that Si—uh…someone gave me, and I thought it was cute.”
Stupid, stupid, stupid! Do not mention ex-boyfriends to your new one! That’s the number one rule! She cleared her throat again. “Anyway, I hope you like it.”
“I’m sure I will.” He changed the subject suddenly. “I like your nose ring,” he said, giving her a sideways glance through his thick lashes.
She put a hand up to touch it. Was he making fun of her? She couldn’t tell. Usually she wore an invisible stud in her left nostril, just to keep the hole open, but today she’d chosen a tiny, silver hoop. “Um, thanks?”
“I’m thinking of getting one myself. What do you think?” He turned his nose this way and that in front of her.
“Well,” she said, not wanting to offend him. Then she noticed the twinkle in his eyes and realized he was kidding. “Do it. Put a big ol’ ring right through the middle.”
“That would go perfectly with the battleship tattoo across my chest.”
“You have one too?”
He chuckled. “I’ll have to see that sometime—”
“When?”
“What?”
“When would you like to see it?”
His eyes widened. “I guess…um, you know…that was really just small talk.”
Ruby’s face flamed as he shifted his bottles to his left hand, stuck out his right one for her to shake, and said, “It’s been really nice seeing you again, Ruby.”
He wasn’t going to ask her out! Oh no! “Oh, you too!” she said. casting desperately around for something, anything she could bring up to keep him from leaving. She bit her lip, shifted her weight from side to side, and darted her eyes around. Ask me out! Ask me out! Please ask me out!
“Would you like to go get a cup of coffee?” she blurted out. “We could catch up on old times.” She couldn’t believe she’d done that. She had never asked a man out before in her entire life.
He hesitated. Glanced at his watch, looked at her again and finally smiled. “Sure. I guess I could find the time for that.”
“Great! Let’s go!”
“We should probably pay for these first.”
What was wrong with her? She was acting like a sixth grader. But then again, he was her soulmate, and this might be her only chance to get him to recognize that fact.
While Sean paid for his purchases, Ruby stood behind him in line and realized two important things in quick succession. She had accidentally grabbed two patchouli candles, and she loathed patchouli, and she had left her wallet back at Hilary’s.
She faked a laugh. “You know, I’ve changed my mind. I’ll just go put these back.”
She rushed away. “Wait for me! I’ll be back in a sec!” she called, as she tossed the candles on a random shelf and raced back to Sean. “I’m ready,” she said breathlessly.
He ushered her ahead of him and she couldn’t help herself. “Present for someone?” she said, nodding at his bag. “Your girlfriend…?” She tried for breezy, but rather overshot the mark. Luckily, he seemed oblivious.
“Sister, actually. Her birthday’s tomorrow.”
His sister! She hid her grin.
He didn’t put his arm around her like she wanted, but there was plenty of time for that later. They stepped outside. His car was the only one around. “Where’d you park?” he asked.
She’d forgotten about her damn bike! “Actually,” she said, hoping it wouldn’t be a problem, “I rode my bike here. But if we went somewhere close by…” she looked around, but there were no restaurants or coffee shops on this street. “I might be able to follow you. If you drive slowly.” She blinked back tears knowing he was going to ask for a rain check on their coffee, and that would be that.
He surprised her. “Your bike could probably fit in my trunk. You wanna just ride with me?”
“Yes please,” she said, smiling her huge, foolish smile again.
As she unlocked her bike, he said, “Would you mind if I stopped by my house for a sec before we go? Don’t worry, I don’t live far.”
“Oh. Well…sure!” She didn’t have a lot of casual sex, but this was Sean…Yes. This was definitely okay with her.
He lifted her bike into his trunk, but one wheel stuck out and the lid wouldn’t close. He pushed the trunk down, and it popped back up. He shrugged. “Good thing we aren’t going far.”
Did he have any condoms? But actually, she knew for a fact that she wasn’t ovulating right now, and… “I just need to drop Chloe off,” he said, as a large, shaggy white dog sat up in the back seat and yawned. “I don’t like leaving her in the car for any length of time.”
“Of course,” she said, glad he didn’t seem to realize what she’d been thinking.
He unlocked her door for her, and when she stooped to get in, his hand touched the small of her back to guide her, and she couldn’t be more aware of him.
Chloe climbed all over Sean, tail wagging furiously. Ruby grimaced in distaste as the dog licked him on the lips, but she mentally checked off “Likes animals,” on the list in her head, as they drove away. She couldn’t wait to see where he lived.
He turned on the radio to the classic rock station, and they drove in silence listening to the end of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The streets were familiar, and her heart sank when they pulled to a stop. They were at his parent’s house. She’d known he spent a lot of time here, but he couldn’t actually live here, could he?
She just stopped herself from asking why he lived with his parents. What explanation could she possibly have for knowing where his parents lived? She knew a lot of stuff about him that a casual acquaintance from almost a decade ago wouldn’t know. She needed to play dumb.
“Nice house,” she said.
“Thanks.” He quickly put Chloe inside the fence and walked back to the car. As they drove away again, she decided that over coffee, she’d find out why he was living with his parents when he was almost thirty. Maybe they were sick? Of course! That would explain the seven cases of toilet paper. His mom had to be either sick or senile.
She added, “Takes care of sick parents. A devoted, loving son,” to her mental checklist. Man, he was too good to be true. She leaned her head back against the headrest and closed her eyes. She couldn’t believe she was finally here. In his car. With him. Alone.
She was so lucky.
CHAPTER 11
At the coffee shop, Ruby ordered a medium cappuccino before she remembered that she didn’t have her wallet.
She broke out in a full body sweat as she frantically patted down her hips for money and pockets that she knew weren’t there. Finally, she looked down and mumbled to the girl behind the counter, “I’m sorry. Cancel that. I forgot my wallet.” She couldn’t look at Sean. She had invited him out for coffee, and she didn’t have any money.
Sean stepped up and said to the cashier, “Don’t cancel that. These are together.” He ordered a double espresso and a chocolate doughnut, then turned and said, “Would you like a donut or a muffin too?”
“No, thank you,” she said, eyes shining. When he handed the barista his ATM card, Ruby almost burst into tears. He was her knight in shining armor.
They carried their drinks over to a tall, round table by the front window, and Ruby knocked her stool over as they sat. She sat it back up, hands shaking, and excused herself to go calm down.
When she saw her reflection in the bathroom mirror, she almost died. Her hair was plastered to her head in the shape of her bike helmet, her shirt was soaked with sweat, she was covered in white dog hair, and…was that horrible odor coming from her?
She sniffed her underarms. Crap! The perfect man was waiting for her, and she was totally disgusting! She glanced around frantically. W
hy didn’t this bathroom have a vending machine for deodorant? Why just tampons? And who made those kinds of decisions?
She pulled her shirt up, wet some paper towels and scrubbed under her arms until she smelled better. She washed her hands and face, finger-combed her hair into place, checked her teeth, and rubbed the hickey on her neck. It was very faint by now, but if Sean noticed it, they were finished before they’d even started. No way he’d ask out some hickey girl. There was nothing she could do. Her shirt wouldn’t cover it, and she hadn’t worn her scarf. If he glanced at it, or mentioned it, she’d claim a bike accident.
She took a deep breath and went back out. She was the only one there in bike shorts.
Sean didn’t see her approaching. He’d already eaten his doughnut, and he was trying to balance the saltshaker on its edge on the table, but it kept falling over.
“There’s a secret to that you know,” she said, rejoining him.
He glanced up and looked so happy to see her that a warm feeling of well-being infused her whole body. “Tell me! I must know the secret!”
She took it from him and almost jumped when their hands touched. She shook a few grains of salt onto the table and balanced the edge of the shaker on top of the salt. “Ta-da! You only need a few grains of salt for the trick to work.”
“Wow. You’re obviously a multi-talented girl.”
He didn’t know the half of it. She smiled demurely and took a sip of her coffee. She watched Sean making little towers on the table out of the sugar packets. He was almost done with his coffee; she’d have to make hers last. He was totally involved in his work—he made his towers straight and even, and all Ruby could think of was raking everything off the table and having her way with him.
“That’s an odd little smile you have on your face,” he said. “Penny for your thoughts?”
Ruby wanted to tell him. Instead, she said, “I think you were engaged the last time we talked…was that really five or six years ago? Anyway, did you ever get married?”
Sean looked sad as he shredded an empty sugar packet. “Yeah. I was married for almost four years, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out. We separated almost a year ago, and our divorce became final last month.”
She waited for him to elaborate, and when he didn’t, she said, “Do you have any kids?”
His eyes lit up. “We have one son. Danny. He’s three and he’s brilliant! He’s a great kid, and I wish I saw more of him. I’d love it if he could live with me full time again.”
Ruby stirred the coffee in her half empty cup. She’s seen his “great kid,” and she’d classify him more as a spoiled brat. “I’m sure it’s hard. Divorce can bring out the worst in people.”
“Yeah, but our custody agreement works out well for both of us. Millie…well, we do the best we can.”
He looked at his watch again. “In fact, I need to get going soon. I pick up Danny at five, and it’s almost four now. Are you ready?”
Ruby drained her cup and stood. She was desperate. This had been a nice meeting, but way too short, and they had no future dates arranged—he didn’t even have her phone number.
She followed him out to his car reluctantly. As soon as they stepped outside, the wind blew through her sweat soaked clothes, and she was suddenly freezing. She rubbed her arms, relieved that her bike hadn’t been stolen from his trunk. She would never have left her bike unlocked in San Francisco. Luckily, there was very little crime in Kamata.
“I forgot about your bike,” he said. “Would you like a ride home?”
She grinned. “Yes, please. I’m freezing.”
He seemed to notice her shivering for the first time. He unlocked her door quickly, reached into the back, and grabbed a red jacket off the seat. He offered it to her. “It’s got dog hair on it, but you’re welcome to it if you want.”
She snatched it and put it on. It belonged to him and she was wearing it! “Thanks!” It was gloriously warm, and enormous on her, but it made her feel petite and protected. She hoped he’d forget to ask for it back when he dropped her off.
He waited until they were both belted in before he asked, “Where to?”
“Shiloh Hill,” she said, watching him grimace unconsciously. She knew he didn’t want to drive her that far because he had to pick up his son, but she also knew that he wouldn’t take his offer back. And she wasn’t giving him an out because she wanted to savor every precious minute with him.
“That’s a hell of a bike ride,” he finally said as they started off. “It must be close to fifteen miles. Thirty miles round trip. You must be in tip top shape.” She saw him glance at her body, and she smiled.
“I wish,” she said. “Actually, I don’t live that far up on Shiloh Hill—I think it’s closer to about eight miles each way. Maybe less. But still, it’s very hilly, and I was way out of my league. Thank you so much for the ride.”
“No problem. Did you actually ride all the way to town just to look at candles?”
“What? Er…no. I was just exercising, but I saw Magenta’s, and my friend Hilary sells candles, so I’m always checking out the competition—Oh! And I wanted a new one for my bathroom. I thought I’d take a long bath later. It’s Saturday, and I don’t have a boyfriend, so I’ll be alone tonight.”
“Oh.”
They lapsed into silence. A minute later, she realized they were halfway to her house already. Another five minutes and she’d be home. She needed to make her move right now. She cleared her throat, smiled, and touched his arm. “Hey, I had a great time with you today. We should do this again sometime soon.” She repeated “Seize the day,” to herself like a mantra.
Sean took his eyes off the road and glanced at her, and she didn’t like the look on his face. “I had a good time too. But I’m sort of…seeing someone right now.”
Ruby balled her hands into fists and clenched her teeth together to keep from screaming. Then what the heck was this date all about? Why had he led her on like this? Why couldn’t she ever catch a break?
She was surprised at how calm her voice sounded when she said, “Only sort of seeing someone?”
He turned on the radio and flipped rapidly through all three stations before turning it off again. “We’ve only been dating for a couple weeks, but I want to give it a fair chance.”
A couple weeks. So, if, say, she’d found him when she’d first moved back here, they’d be going back to her house to make love. Instead, he was picking up his son he had with another woman, and probably spending his Saturday night with some new slut. She would not be a day late and a dollar short again. “Are you guys serious?”
He hesitated. “…Not yet. But I’d like to pursue it; see where it goes.”
She felt hopeful. “Does that mean that neither of you dates other people?”
He looked surprised. “It’s not even come up. We’ve only gone out a few times—but I like her.”
He wasn’t getting it! “If you only just started dating, then she’s probably not exclusive to you yet. Right?”
He turned the radio on again and left it on a commercial. “Tara’s a special woman, and I’ve no idea if she’s exclusively dating me.” He sounded a bit anxious about it. “I just assumed she was…maybe I shouldn’t have.”
“What does she look like?” Ruby said, crossing her arms. She hated the whine in her voice, and she could see that Sean was growing uncomfortable with all her questions, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself.
“Um, she’s very pretty. She’s about your height, maybe a little heavier, and she’s got long blonde hair. Why?”
Another blondie. “What does she do?”
“Why?”
She made her eyes wide. “Just curious.”
“She’s a pediatric physical therapist over at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Calua.”
She might vomit.
They were almost to her house. She felt her eyes fill with tears as they passed a vacant house with a bunch of balloons attached to the mailbox announcing an upcoming op
en house. She blinked rapidly and said, “Take a left at the bright blue mailbox.” She cleared her throat and went for it. What did she have to lose? “Look, I think we have the potential to become great friends…or more. I’d like to keep in touch.”
“Of course. It has been nice seeing you again. It’s brought back lots of great memories.” They pulled into her driveway, and he stopped the car. Jeremy’s car was gone. Thank God. He and Sean didn’t need to have a reunion right here in her driveway.
They got out of the car and stood awkwardly beside it.
“So…” If she could get him inside, she could make him forget all about Saint Tara. “What’s your phone number?”
He hesitated, glanced at his watch again, and said, “Do you have your phone?”
“Where would I hide it in this outfit?” Her jacket was open, and his gaze roamed appreciatively over her trim thighs and hips and up to her breasts, where it lingered. Sean eventually met her eyes. He blushed, and she snuggled her cheek into the collar of his jacket to block her hickey from his view in case he hadn’t noticed it yet.
“Give me your number anyway,” she said. “I have a great memory.”
He looked away, cleared his throat, and recited his parent’s home number to her. She felt crushing disappointment. He didn’t trust her enough to give her his cell phone number. But on the bright side, she’d already memorized his parent’s number, which made things easier. She recited it back to him, and he raised an eyebrow.
“Wow. You do have a great memory. I don’t.” He opened the car door and pulled out an older iPhone with a black case. “Gimme your number.”
“I’ll give you my cell,” she said, hoping he’d then give her his as well. It didn’t work. She watched him punch it in, and then his face turned red. “And your name is…Ruby Dear, um Dear—ing? No, uh, Dear—dren. Right?”
Her mouth fell open. He didn’t even know her last name! She’d just made a fool of herself, and they both knew it. She blinked rapidly and turned away from him. “Close,” she said softly, “My name’s Ruby Deardon.”
Drawn To You: A Psychological thriller Page 10
