You Rock My World

by Juliana Stone

  “It’s not what you think,” she managed to say.

  “What is it, then?”

  She drummed her fingers along the steering wheel, feeling defeated. “I don’t know, Ry. I spent half the night asking myself that same question.”

  “Blackwell’s always been your kryptonite.” He was silent for a few moments. “You need to be careful with him. He might say he’s changed, but it’s hard to get your shit together when you reach a certain age. Too many battle scars. The idea sounds good, but the reality is different. On the other hand, sometimes a guy doesn’t know what he had until he’s lost it. If he’s smart, that can be motivation enough for someone.”

  She looked up at her brother sharply. “Are you talking about Travis or yourself?”

  “Maybe both.” He sighed. “Look, I’m not normally the guy to give out advice.”

  “Then don’t.”

  Ryder backed away. “Don’t let him in again. Some of us are born to disappoint. It’s in the blood.” With a small wave, her brother disappeared inside the house. Ruby didn’t want to dwell on Ryder’s warning. She wanted to go home and forget about everything.

  Crystal Lake was hopping, which wasn’t surprising considering it was mid-July. It was still early, just past ten o’clock, and Ruby breezed through downtown, passing the coffee shop, which was conveniently located next to Mrs. Avery’s flower shop. The woman in question stood on the sidewalk, a bunch of daisies in one hand and tulips in the other. She was chatting with Mrs. McGrath, whose husband owned the local art gallery, and both of them turned as she drove by. Ruby fought the urge to make a face, and instead offered a small wave. She was pretty sure Mrs. Avery had filled in Mrs. McGrath on the juicy Ruby/Travis gossip. At least, judging from the expression on their faces.

  With a sigh, she sped out of town, heading toward River Road. She’d been gone since early this morning so they could be at the dealership for opening, and was looking forward to kicking back on her deck, with a good book and a bottle of wine.

  She glanced down at her phone. There were no new messages, voice mail or text. And maybe she should have felt some sort of relief, but what she felt was deeper. Darker. And more intense. Why hadn’t he made an effort to contact her? Was he rethinking all the things he’d said to her?

  “Stop it,” she muttered. She wasn’t going to think about it.

  Ruby followed the road as it curved around the large lake and eventually took an exit that led to an exclusive gated development filled with large, expensive homes that overlooked the lake. Hers was the last one, a large ultra-modern design of stone and glass. It featured an impressive wall of windows that brought nature right into her space, a large treed side lot, and a two-tier deck at the back that overlooked Crystal Lake.

  The enclave was much sought after, and when she’d been approved to build, it had meant everything. That Ruby, the cliché born on the wrong side of town, had moved on up in this world. Of course, that feeling had lasted only a few months, and then she’d quickly realized money and prestige didn’t buy happiness.

  “God, stop thinking of that stuff,” she muttered as she pulled into her driveway. Only then did she see a smart silver convertible parked near her door, and a man sitting on her front steps. Travis. He wore a ball cap, an old, worn-looking thing, and he hadn’t shaved, which should make him look unkempt, but instead made him look sexy as hell and incredibly male. Aviators hid his eyes, but she felt his gaze as surely as if his hands were on her. A plain white T-shirt, beige deck shoes, and stone-colored khakis gave him a casual look.

  Ruby felt her cheeks go hot, and the palms of her hands were slick with sweat. She parked and made a show out of gathering up her purse, but in reality, she was wiping her hands across her lap and desperately hoping her complexion faded by the time she managed to get herself out of the car. She caught sight of herself in the rearview mirror and winced. Several nights with hardly any sleep was catching up with her.

  She heard a bark and spied Tasha peering through the side window by the front door. Her tail was wagging like crazy, and she was looking back and forth between Travis and Ruby.

  With a silent prayer, she got out of her car and approached him.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Nice day.” Travis flashed a smile and ignored her question. He got to his feet and shoved his hands into the front pockets of his shorts.

  “How do you know where I live?”

  “Supposed to be low eighties.”

  She swore under her breath and glared at him. “Travis. Why are you here?” she asked again.

  “Thought it was a good day for a drive,” he said, stepping aside as she joined him on the steps.

  “Really.”

  “Yeah.” He rubbed at the whiskers on his chin. “You going to grab that dog or what?”

  Ruby looked at her fur baby, but the little dog was staring up at Travis, head cocked to

  the side inquisitively. “Why would I grab the dog?”

  Travis nodded. “I’ve got plans for us, and I’m guessing you don’t come solo.”

  She looked at the convertible, a top-of-the-line Mercedes. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “You don’t like convertibles?”

  “I like convertibles just fine. It’s the driver I have a problem with.”

  “You want to know what I think?”

  “Not particularly.”

  “I think you don’t want to spend the day with me because you’re afraid.”

  “What am I afraid of?”

  “That’s the big question, isn’t it?” He was challenging her. Getting under her skin. “Come with me, Ruby.”

  “Why should I?”

  “What else have you got to do?” He took a step down and waited.

  Tasha barked and jumped at the window. “Are we really going to do this? Pretend that we’re friends? That everything is perfectly fine between us?”

  “Yeah,” he answered after a few seconds. “We are.”

  She was tired, and it just seemed easier to give in. At least, that was what she told herself when she found herself actually considering the idea. She thought ahead to the afternoon she’d planned. Hours of alone time with no company but her dog. It had sounded like heaven, but now…

  “What do I need?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Seriously?” She looked up. He’d taken off his aviators, and when her eyes slammed into his, she felt the pull from the top of her head to the bottoms of her toes. It left a trail of warmth that burned in her gut and made her feel jittery.

  “Seriously,” he murmured, a slow grin touching his face. “I’ve got everything covered. Just get the damn dog.”

  This was the moment when Ruby could have put a stop to this nonsense. That would have been the smart thing to do. Instead, she grabbed her dog and followed Travis to the car.

  A few hours later, they cruised into Port Hagan, a beautiful town on the shores of Lake Michigan. Travis pulled into a marina and cut the engine. He got out of the car, walked around to the passenger side, and deftly lifted Tasha from her lap. The dog was way too eager to jump into Travis’s arms, and she watched them as he walked to the back of the car and grabbed a large bag.

  “You can change here.”

  “Change?” Surprised, she looked at him, but he only nodded and smiled. It was a killer smile, and he knew it. He’d always been so damn confident.

  “Come on.” He stood back and waited while she got out of the car. They walked side by side until Travis stopped in front a large cabin cruiser. The boat was big and expensive, and she looked at him questioningly. “It belongs to a friend.”

  Ruby didn’t ask, and Travis didn’t volunteer information, though the name of the boat was telling. Black Note. She figured it belonged to Crystal Lake’s resident rocker, Cain Black. Though what his boat was doing docked in Port Hagan was anyone’s guess. His own place in Crystal Lake was on the water and not far from where Ruby lived.

  They jumped
aboard, and she headed for the cabin. “I’ll just…go inside and change.”

  “I’ll be waiting.” He winked. “You might need this.”

  She headed below with the bag he’d handed her and took a few moments to appreciate the luxurious furnishings. A guitar hung over the bar along with signed photos of Cain with various celebrities, including a few Oscar winners and the late Johnny Cash. She peered a bit closer at that one, noting how young Cain looked, and she concluded it had to have been taken when he’d first left Crystal Lake to live his dream.

  She yanked open the bag, her hand brushing the contents as she slowly sank back onto the sofa and looked inside.

  Carefully, she pulled out a white dress and held it up. The fabric was soft, the design simple—a halter with an A line that fell in soft ripples to just below the knee. There was also a sky-blue bikini, a pair of white flip-flops with the cutest applique, white sunglasses, and a floppy sun hat.

  He’d thought of everything.

  Ruby sat on the sofa for all of ten seconds, staring at the clothing until her eyes blurred. Was she making the biggest mistake of her life? Could she handle an entire day with her ex-husband?

  “I guess there’s only one way to find out,” she whispered, gathering up the clothes. She quickly changed and took a few extra moments to freshen up in the bathroom. Toiletries were on hand as well as sunscreen, and once she brushed her hair and let it fall in long waves down her back, she was ready to go. She dabbed some gloss on her lips and headed for the stairs.

  The July heat felt amazing, though the humidity was high. There was a breeze coming off the water, and for that, she was grateful as she made her way over to Travis. He was chatting with a couple of guys near another boat, and he looked ridiculous holding Tasha in his arms, her glistening white fur offset by her pink rhinestone collar and two bow ties near her ears. A guy like Travis should have a shepherd or retriever, not some dainty little fur ball with dewy eyes and an excited bark that never stopped.

  Travis turned her way. “There she is.”

  The tallest of the two whistled, running his hands over his shiny bald head. He was powerfully built with wide shoulders and legs that looked like tree trunks. The guy could have been Tiny’s brother.

  “Ruby, this is Dalton”—he pointed to the big bald guy—“and Tim.” The second man took off his sunglasses and slowly looked her up and down. He was smaller, with a full head of perfectly coifed hair and delicate features—eyes soft and brown, pillow-perfect lips. His clothes were expensive and expertly tailored, his teeth whiter than anyone she’d ever met, and his smile disarming. She instantly liked him.

  “Why, aren’t you a pretty thing?” Tim drawled with a wink. “I love that dress, and the shoes are divine.” He frowned as he studied her feet. “Ferragamo? Versace?”

  “No,” she replied with a laugh. “Target, I think.”

  He chuckled. “Well, fry me in a skillet, but those are the best knock-offs I’ve ever seen.”

  “You’re from the South,” she said warmly.

  “What gave me away? My accent and eccentric way of speaking? Or my obvious love of clothes and design.”

  “Definitely the accent.”

  “Well, darlin’, you are correct. I’m from the state of Louisiana. I love mint julep and my mama—in that order, if you want to know the truth. I despise shrimp, and I absolutely abhor grits. They are hands down the worst food invention in the history of food inventions.” He shot a look at Dalton. “Who in the hell invented grits anyway?”

  “That I don’t know. I can always google it, if in fact you really give a turd about who invented grits.”

  “Never mind,” Tim replied, throwing his hands in the air dramatically. “I really don’t care.”

  Dalton chuckled. “That’s what I thought.”

  Ruby took Tasha off Travis’s hands. “I don’t think you need to worry about grits this far north. What brings you to Michigan?”

  “He does.” Tim gave Dalton a look that was hot enough to make Ruby blush. Now why couldn’t her sweet Raj meet someone like Tim? “Dalton is from these parts, and he’s been telling me about this raft picnic business for days and days. I finally just said, let’s get on up to your neck of the woods and have a look see.”

  “Raft float?” Ruby felt Travis’s eyes on her.

  The River Float had been their first official date. Port Hagan was a coastal town located on the shores of Lake Michigan, but like a lot of small towns in the area, a tributary had long ago cut through the earth and carved its way down from the Huron Mountains until it reached the lake. Every summer, Port Hagan hosted a River Float, and couples, families, and all sorts of folk spent the day floating along the river that ran through town, picnicking, lounging, and having fun.

  Just then, a shuttle pulled up. It would take them all to the starting point of the River Raft Floats, some eight or so miles away. Tim and Dalton started toward forward.

  “Remember our first River Float?” Travis whispered, his warm breath sending small butterflies skittering across her skin and making her shiver.

  “Vaguely,” she managed to say.

  “You two lovebirds coming or what?” Tim shouted from the shuttle. “I might need more than big D here to rescue my cute little butt if I wind up falling overboard.”

  Ruby looked at Travis. The river in question was less than four feet deep, so Tim should be fine. Ruby should know. She’d fallen in the last time they’d floated down it, and all she’d needed was Travis.

  Chapter 15

  The River Float lasted about three hours. And it was perfect. The sun was shining, but the breeze was enough to take the edge off the heat. When Ruby stripped down to her bikini, Travis barely managed to keep his shit together long enough to slap some suntan lotion on her back. He’d arranged for a deluxe raft rental at the starting point, as well as a picnic basket full of Ruby’s favorites, grapes (green), kielbasa, old cheese (the kind that smelled, but hey, she liked it), and the pita biscuits she used to eat like nobody’s business. Cold wine and beer, as well as water and iced tea were also in the mix, and Travis made a mental note to thank Regan, Wyatt’s lady, who’d helped him get it all organized.

  As in past years, there were literally hundreds of rafts clogging the river, including Dalton and Tim’s, and by the time they reached the downtown area where the float ended, they’d become friendly with several couples.

  Kate and Marcus were new to the area and considering a permanent move to start their family.

  Blake and Shayla were locals, celebrating their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.

  Kimmy and Johnny were teenagers who could barely keep their hands off each other long enough to contribute to the conversation.

  And of course, Dalton and Tim proved to be as entertaining as Travis’s first impression suggested.

  It was early afternoon by the time their rafts approached the end of the float. Tasha had pretty much slept the entire way and was full of spunk. She shook with the effort it took to keep still, and could hardly contain herself as their raft pulled up alongside the bank. Travis hopped overboard and reached for Tasha, trying not to let his gaze linger on Ruby as she shimmied back into her dress.

  “Your little dog is an absolute cutie pie.” Tim scratched the animal under her chin, and Tasha happily angled her head so the man could keep going and find that elusive sweet spot. “So tell me,” Tim said once they were on solid land. “What’s your story?” He nodded to Ruby, who was laughing at something Dalton was saying to the teenagers.

  Her hair was still loose, hanging down her back, and he ached to sink his hands into it. The dress fit her like a glove, the soft material caressing curves he knew by heart. It had been so long. Years. And she still had the power to make him weak.

  “We were married,” he said. “And now we’re not.”

  “Well, isn’t that the most scandalous thing I’ve heard today.” Tim’s eyes were wide. “Details, please.”

  Travis looked down at Tim.
He couldn’t believe he was sharing this stuff with someone who was a virtual stranger. Hell, he hadn’t even told Zach where he was headed today or with whom. The only thing he’d told his current roommate was that he might not to be home for a few days. Zach hadn’t asked any questions. He shrugged, told him he was going to chill for a while longer if that was okay, and that they’d hook up when Travis got back to town. God, men were easy. It was the women who complicated things.

  “It’s a long story,” Travis said.

  Tim was nodding. “The good ones usually are.”

  “And kind of complicated.”

  “Ah-ha. Sounds about right.”

  They both turned toward the water. Dalton must have said something funny, because Ruby erupted in the kind of laughter that made people look her way. It was unbridled. Honest. Full bodied and real. Travis couldn’t help but smile watching her. He was saved from his conversation when Dalton and Ruby made their way over. The two men were meeting Dalton’s family for happy hour and said their goodbyes.

  “What’s on the schedule now?” Ruby asked when they were alone.

  “Art in the park?”

  Her face lit up. “They still have it?”

  “That’s what I hear.”

  They walked up from the river and followed the path until it opened up into a large area filled with vendors of all kinds. Food. Art. Crafts. Junk. It wasn’t his usual thing, but it was Ruby’s and therefore, today, his.

  They meandered through the crowds and eventually stopped at a tent filled with hand-sketched, framed artwork. He took the dog and let Ruby wander the aisles, content to just watch her. He loved how her eyes moved over the displays. How her fingers gently caressed the frames and she cocked her head to the side to study them.

  Travis stood there patiently, holding on to a dog with a pink collar and bows in its hair and not giving a crap that people were staring. It wasn’t until a small boy approached him that he realized maybe it wasn’t the dog garnering the attention. Maybe it was Travis himself.