Heart of Rockies 03 - More Than a Feeling

by Sara Richardson

  Elsie nodded as though she understood. “If you can’t tell him, then show him who you are now.” She patted her hand. “You are such a beautiful woman, inside and out. Whatever you went through has made you stronger.” The woman’s eyes were so intent on her, like she was doing her best to infuse that into Ruby’s mind, into her heart.

  They were words a mom should’ve uttered to reinforce her daughter’s shaky self-confidence. Words she had never heard directed at her. Before she could wipe away the tears, Elsie’s hand squeezed hers.

  “Spend time with Sawyer. He’ll see the truth soon enough.”

  That was exactly what she was afraid of. “He seems to have made up his mind.” Even though he’d kissed her back so tenderly the night before…

  “The more you avoid him, the more suspicious he’ll become,” Elsie said with that motherly undertone. “You need to show him you have nothing to hide.”

  Except she was hiding. Behind a fake name, a fake persona. Ruby looked away, but Elsie caught her wandering gaze.

  “Let him know you so he can see the truth. So he can see what a good person you are,” she insisted, and Ruby knew the woman was right.

  If she convinced Sawyer she was a good person, he’d move on to the next suspect. No more questions, no more suspicion. And maybe he’d find the person who was really responsible for the thefts so the Walkers wouldn’t get robbed again.

  “Isn’t Sawyer teaching the kids how to swim tonight?” Elsie asked with a subtle arch in her eyebrows.

  “Think so.” She’d made a mistake telling Elsie he’d invited her to go. Now, judging from the way the woman looked her so brightly—like a lightbulb had just turned on above her head—she might regret that. “I’m not going.” How could she? She’d planned on it until he’d stood across from her this morning, looking at her like she was a criminal. It would’ve been nice to learn how to swim. She was twenty-six, after all. If she finally took the plunge, maybe she could take Paige up on that rafting trip she was always offering.

  “Of course you’re going.” Elsie chuckled. “It’s the perfect chance to show him you have nothing to hide, dear.”

  Nerves sparked in her stomach. Yeah, she’d really have nothing to hide behind parading around in front of him in a swimsuit. Which, conveniently, she didn’t even own. “I’ve never bought a suit. Never had a reason to.” And now she was thanking god for that.

  Her sweet, motherly, charitable boss whipped out her cell phone faster than Avery could whip out a credit card. Warp speed. “I’ll call Paige and tell her to bring over an extra.” She held the phone against her ear. “The woman must have twenty bathing suits.”

  Of course she did. “Fabulous,” Ruby said, but Elsie was already busy explaining the situation to Paige.

  Containing an uneasy sigh, she downed the rest of her tea. Between the deep water and Sawyer’s mistrust, she only hoped she wouldn’t drown tonight.

  * * *

  If there was ever a night he didn’t want to be late, this was it.

  Sawyer sped into the rec center’s parking lot, fully aware that he was breaking the law—really breaking the law—but for once he didn’t care.

  The big swimming lesson was supposed to start in ten minutes and he couldn’t let the kids down. It’d been quite the adventure on his shift today. He’d wanted to get off early, but then he’d gotten held up with a report of a shoplifter at the gas station. Once he’d caught up with the suspect, he’d discovered the kid had only pocketed some napkins from the snack bar, which didn’t exactly consist of stealing, seeing as how they were free.

  Try explaining that to an outraged gas station owner.

  He cruised around the front of the building and slowed the SUV. A woman stood by the entrance. He’d know that red hair anywhere. What was Ruby doing just standing there staring at the doors? He didn’t know, but at least she’d come. First thing he’d smiled about all damn day. After the interrogation in the kitchen, he didn’t think he’d see her tonight.

  Not that he deserved to. He’d come on too strong. It killed him the way his suspicions always got the best of him. When he’d looked into her eyes, he knew it wasn’t her, but it was too late. He’d regretted ever bringing it up. Now he had the perfect opportunity to tell her that.

  He swung the Tahoe into a parking spot up front and jogged over to her before she decided to leave.

  She watched him approach, her face expressionless.

  “You came.” He let genuine happiness breeze through the words. He hadn’t even realized how much he wanted her there until he’d seen her. As bad an idea as it was, he wanted to spend time with her. He wanted to know her. And tonight he was willing to screw practicality.

  Ruby looked around as though noncommittal. “I’m actually still trying to make up my mind.”

  “Would it help if I apologized?” He owed her that. She might be secretive, but she hadn’t done anything to him. Or the Walkers. He wanted to trust her, despite her secrets. He wanted to believe everything she said, that she was as good as she looked, but he’d been lied to before, and that made it hard.

  Ruby eyed him. “You don’t owe me an apology. I know you’re only looking out for the Walkers.”

  He stepped closer to her, gazing into her eyes until his pulse kicked up. “No.” He wasn’t about to let her excuse his bad behavior. “I shouldn’t have confronted you like that. I’m sorry.” He sensed a fearful vulnerability in her, and he’d been too harsh. Interrogating her wouldn’t help him scale her walls. “Sometimes I let my past color the way I see things,” he admitted so she’d know it wasn’t about her.

  Her lips parted and she looked up at him, letting her gaze rest directly in his for maybe the first time. “That I can understand,” she murmured.

  “So you’ll come in and help me teach the kids how to swim?” he asked, wanting her to hear the hope in his voice.

  Her lips quirked. “I’m not sure how much help I’ll—”

  “Sawyer?”

  The voice he’d once known so well turned his shoulders to lead. Not now. Please not now.

  But sure enough, Kaylee paraded through the rec center’s glass doors clad in black workout pants so tight they had to be cutting off her circulation and a hot pink sports bra. Jace followed right behind her.

  Of all the nights. Of all the moments. Of course he’d run into her now. When she could properly humiliate him in front of the only woman he’d had any interest in since the one standing in front of him made him look like a fool.

  “Hi there!” Kaylee chirped like nothing had ever happened between them. Like they hadn’t lost anything. Like the ugliness of lies and angry words didn’t fill the space between them. She’d always been much better at pretending than him.

  Jace at least had the decency to look awkward. He hung closer to the parking lot like he wanted to avoid a conversation. Not surprising, seeing as how the last time they’d talked, Sawyer had ended up throwing him out of the house in his underwear.

  “I didn’t realize you were still in town,” Kaylee said to him before glancing at Ruby.

  Ruby’s head tilted slightly, like she was figuring everything out. No introductions necessary, he was sure. She had to have heard all about Kaylee from Avery and Paige.

  He shifted his gym bag to the other shoulder. “Haven’t left yet. Still have a month left at work.” And if he’d needed a reminder of why he should leave town, here it was. At least in Denver he wouldn’t run into Kaylee and his old friend, who was now her lover. Humiliation simmered beneath his skin.

  Not taking the hint that he didn’t exactly feel like chatting, Kaylee started to babble about how quickly the house had sold.

  “It was such a great house. I knew we’d have multiple offers,” she bubbled. “I told you those upgrades would help. You were so against them, but…”

  He almost laughed. Leave it to Kaylee to make small talk. Like they’d never known each other intimately. Like all the years they’d invested in their relationship meant
nothing to her. He almost wished he could feel the same way. But like it or not, that history was a part of him.

  “I can’t wait until the check is in my bank account,” Kaylee went on. “I think I’ll book a vacation to Mexico…”

  Before he could answer that he was glad their divorce would benefit her so much, Ruby’s soft, strong hand rested on his forearm.

  He glanced at her, captivated by the way she smiled up at him, like the two of them had a secret. It might have been the first real smile he’d seen on her face, full of both compassion and understanding.

  “We should get going. Don’t you think?” she asked in that lovable way she had. “The kids are waiting.”

  Kaylee’s chin lifted as she sized up Ruby. She’d never liked being interrupted. “I’m sorry. I don’t think we’ve met.” Her smile bordered on a sneer.

  “No. You’re right. We haven’t,” Ruby said in her sweet melody. Then she turned and tugged him through the rec center’s glass doors.

  It was so unexpected that he laughed. Once they’d cleared the doors, he stopped and faced her. Searching her eyes, he saw more there than he’d bothered to see before.

  “She didn’t deserve you,” Ruby said simply.

  It was the nicest thing—the most genuine thing—anyone had said to him since the divorce.

  “I’ll go change. Meet you in the pool area?” she asked.

  He could only nod. She amazed him. In one moment she’d managed to do what no one else could’ve.

  Every time he saw Kaylee he remembered what he’d lost. But Ruby’s touch had reached out and pulled him from the past. And now he remembered he still had a future to gain.

  Chapter Eleven

  Wasn’t hard to pick out the group from the Walker Mountain Ranch. Sawyer heard the kids talking and laughing and squealing all the way inside the locker room. He followed the noise out to the pool area, where eight kids were bouncing next to the water like they had springs on their feet. They were about as diverse as any group he’d ever seen, covering every genre of the typical junior high scene—preppy, Goth, punk, jock, and maybe even one drama queen with perfect hair and makeup.

  They seemed normal enough, except for one thing. Each one of them was separated from their parents, and not by choice, either. Bryce had mentioned there were a variety of circumstances. Neglect, drugs, prison…things he never would’ve considered as possibilities for his parents growing up. Things he couldn’t understand even now. He’d give anything to have his son with him. Their parents had their kids, and yet they weren’t fighting for them…

  “Hey, thanks for being here, man.” Bryce walked over and whacked him on the back.

  “Wouldn’t miss it.” He’d actually been looking forward to this more than he realized. “Can’t wait to meet ’em.” He knew it’d take time for them to trust him, and they had to work on it right away. The rest of the week’s activities would require trust.

  Avery trotted over with Lily, who was snuggled in some sort of contraption that was strapped to her shoulders. “Hey, Sawyer.” A sly grin raised her eyebrows. “Is Ruby coming?”

  “Think so.” He glanced toward the entrance to the women’s locker room. He thought she was. She hadn’t changed her mind, had she? “I ran into her out front. Maybe you should go check on her.” He’d love to do that himself, but that might frowned upon.

  “I’m on my way home anyway. I’ll go through the locker room and send her right out,” Avery offered a little too happily as she hurried away.

  “Come on.” Bryce waved him over to kids. “I’ll introduce you.”

  Everyone quieted as they approached.

  “Hey, guys, this is my cousin Sawyer. He’ll be helping out in the water today,” Bryce said.

  One of the boys, short but stocky with a pretty sweet afro, looked at him warily. “Aren’t you a cop?”

  Sawyer laughed. “Off duty today,” he said, but the kid eyed him like he was a Catholic headmistress. Great. Being a cop wasn’t going to help his cause with the trust thing.

  Bryce cupped a hand onto the kid’s shoulder. “This is Javon.”

  Javon raised his hand in a cool-guy wave.

  “And this is Neveah.” Bryce moved to the blond girl who wore more makeup than a drag queen, despite the fact that she was about to jump into a swimming pool.

  Her head tipped in a nod, but her eyes wouldn’t meet his.

  “Brooklyn.” He pointed out a younger girl with curly black hair and dark skin. She was the only one who smiled at him, and it was impossible not to smile back. Though her dark eyes were too serious for her age, something about the hope in her expression made him want to prove to her that world really could be a good place.

  “And this is Wyatt.” Bryce moved to stand behind a kid who wore dark eyeliner and had more piercings than Aunt Elsie’s pincushion.

  “They’ll be in your group,” Bryce went on. “I’ll be teaching Denny, Mikey, Char, and Samantha in the deep end.” He pointed out another group of kids who were already bobbing up and down in the water.

  “Great to meet you guys.” Sawyer walked down the line, slapping each of the kids a high five, which all of them returned somewhat unenthusiastically. Except for Javon. He didn’t bother. “You all ready to learn how to swim?”

  No answer. So Bryce had given him the group who weren’t exactly thrilled about getting in the water. Actually he preferred that. Give him one hour with them and he’d change all their minds. Including Ruby’s, if she’d ever get out here. Yet again, he glanced toward the women’s locker room. What was taking her so long?

  “Let me know if you need anything,” Bryce said, then dove into the pool to join the other group.

  “Will you really teach us how to swim?” Brooklyn asked.

  He turned his attention to her. She looked to be maybe about eight or nine, and even though her eyes were round and afraid, they had a spark, too, like she wanted to believe she could learn.

  Sawyer knelt to her level. “Yes. I’m going to teach you how to be safe in the water.” He grinned at her. “By the time I’m done you’ll probably be able to beat me in a race.”

  Her unsure smile tugged at his heart.

  Before any of them could chicken out, he eased himself into the water. “Next one in gets an ice-cream treat after the lesson,” he tempted.

  There was a burst of chaos as all four of them pushed and shoved their way down the steps and into the pool.

  “Guess that means everyone wins,” he said, and they all cheered. While he had their attention, he quickly talked through what they would be learning—how to hold their breath, front floating, back floating, all the things that would help them be more comfortable in the water. Then he showed them how to do the warm-up bobs he’d always loved when he’d done swimming lessons as a kid. They picked it up right away, plugging their noses and plunging beneath the surface, then bursting up and gasping in a breath.

  “Is this where I’m supposed to be?”

  The sound of Ruby’s voice jarred him. He raised his head, caught sight of her standing a few feet away from the pool, clutching a massive beach towel around her body like there was a blizzard inside the pool room.

  “Yep. Sure is.” He pulled himself out of the pool, keeping a close eye on the kids, who were well on their way to becoming professional bobbers.

  “Everything okay?” he asked, because a half hour had to have passed since their little run in with Kaylee.

  “Sure. Yeah.” But she hugged her towel tighter. “Just not a big fan of water. Or swimming suits. That’s all.”

  “Neither are any of them.” He gestured to the pool, where the kids had stopped bobbing and were now holding on to the wall, looking up at him expectantly.

  “So it’ll be perfect,” he insisted, resting his hand on her arm the way she’d done for him. “I’ve already pulled you out once. Wouldn’t mind doing it again.” He’d gladly rescue her every day if it meant he could pull that soft body of hers against his…

&nbs
p; “This is boring. What d’we do next?” Neveah demanded, rolling her eyes.

  Holy shit, he was gonna have his hands full this week.

  “Hold on. My assistant and I are coming.” He grinned at Ruby. “You in?”

  She gave him a sideways glance, then trudged to a chair and unraveled the towel from her body.

  Holy smokes. Sawyer cranked his jaw tight so it wouldn’t hit the ground, because damn…the woman could pose for the centerfold of any magazine she chose. The bikini she wore was far from skimpy—looked like one of those athletic suits Paige wore on the river—but on Ruby it looked downright provocative. He let his gaze sweep over her body. None of those hard angles and bony features that plague skinny girls, but rounded curves that looked like they’d fit his hands perfectly.

  Ruby walked back to him, her arms tight at her sides like she’d never been more uncomfortable.

  “Like the suit,” he said casually, as though complimenting a winter coat.

  She looked down at herself and crossed her arms self-consciously. “I had to borrow it from Paige. I don’t even own a swimming suit.”

  “After today, you’ll want your own suit.” Sawyer turned away and led her to the pool so the sight of her body wouldn’t derail him again. “Trust me. You’ll love swimming.” If he had anything to say about it, that was.

  “I wouldn’t get your hopes up,” she answered drily.

  “All right, gang.” Sawyer pretended he hadn’t heard and lowered himself into the pool. “You know Ruby, right? She’ll be my assistant today.”

  Their faces lit up, even Wyatt’s, whose lined eyes usually held a flat expression to tell the world he’d rather be anywhere else.

  “Ruby!” Brooklyn splashed over to the stairs, bouncing up and down with excitement.