He ran his hands down his face. Tonight any guests with eyes in their heads would figure out that Brooks had it bad for Ruby, and he wasn’t about to hold back. No more pretending. No more hiding out. He was ready to make his claim on her. “Come with me for a second?”
“Sure, but where are we going?”
“You’ll see.” He took her hand and tugged her through the festively decorated rooms until they reached the kitchen doorway, out of sight to all but a half-dozen caterers. Her knowing eyes glittered. “Look up.”
Mistletoe again, and this time she understood exactly where she was and what he was about to do.
He brought his mouth to hers. From the moment their lips met he was a goner, lost in the taste and pleasure and sweetness of her. It was too hot, too amazing to let up. He’d waited for her, craved her and now she was in his arms and he didn’t give a good goddamn who saw them or what they thought about it. He was consumed by Ruby. She was his anchor. He’d never had feelings this strong or powerful. The little throaty sounds she was making turned him inside out. She wasn’t immune to him. They worked. And he had to make her see that.
“Ruby,” he murmured near her ear, the desperation coming through clearly in his voice. “I miss you like hell.”
She lifted up on tiptoe and whispered, “If you’re talking about making love, I miss you, too.”
“Oh, yeah, I am,” he said, but he was talking about much more. And he had to bide his time until the end of the evening to show her just how he felt about her. “For starters.”
“Starters? Sounds promising, Galahad.” Her breath fanned over the side of his face, making his nerves go raw. This woman was a tease, but he didn’t mind as long as her teasing was aimed his way. At least she wasn’t refusing him. Had she made up her mind about Trace?
“Come back to the cabin with me. We can leave the party right now.”
Ruby set a hand on his chest and tilted her head to look into his eyes. “No, we can’t. Beau has waited too long to have you here with him.”
She had a penchant for being rational and right, and if Brooks wasn’t so damn head over heels for her, that would have annoyed the life out of him.
“Just enjoy the party, Brooks.”
“As long as you’re by my side, I can do that.” God, the truth in that was powerful.
“That’s where I want to be, too,” she whispered.
Brooks breathed a sigh of relief. He had to be respectful of his father and his new family. Wisely, Ruby had put him in his place. He was glad of it, but it was torture just the same.
Christmas music with a country twang streamed into the house, and it seemed everyone was beginning to make their way to the backyard to listen.
“It’s a local country band,” Ruby offered. “They’re pretty good. Beau’s hired them for the night.”
“Yeah, he told me about them. TLC or something?”
“It stands for Tender Loving Country,” she said.
“There’s a dance floor set up. Will you dance with me?” He offered her his hand.
“Of course.”
And they walked outside hand in hand and danced under the electric warmth of strategically placed heaters. The night was cool, but thankfully devoid of Texas breezes that could make your hair stand on end. Brooks didn’t need the artificial heat blasting from the heaters, though; he was already revved up enough inside just holding Ruby in his arms.
“They are pretty good,” he whispered, nuzzling her hair. She smelled of something tropical and exotic. He brought her as close as he possibly dared. He didn’t want to make her uncomfortable—he’d gotten her message loud and clear—so he’d bide his time until he could get her alone in his cabin.
Where he would lay his heart on the line.
They danced every dance until the band took a break, and then Brooks led her off the dance floor. She began fanning herself. “That was fun, but I’m afraid I’ve got to go...powder my nose.”
Brooks chuckled. Ruby was something. He was about to suggest escorting her, but she was snatched away immediately by Eve and Serena. What was it about women going to the john in groups? He’d never understand that.
Toby walked up and caught him red-handed staring at Ruby’s shapely ass. “So, you’ve got the hots for Ruby, huh?”
Brooks gave his half brother a sideways glance, unsure how to answer that.
“It’s okay. We get it.”
“We?” Brooks turned to face him.
“My brothers and me. We’ve all had a crush on her at one point or another in our lives, but Dad put a halt to any of that. Let’s just say he didn’t nip it in the bud—he slashed it to the ground until it was crushed to a pulp. But that was years ago, when we were teens.”
Brooks swallowed hard. “That so?”
“Yeah, she’s just our little sis now.”
“Beau’s plenty protective,” Brooks said, his voice trailing off as he stated the obvious. He felt an ache in the pit of his stomach.
Toby noticed his change in demeanor and must’ve taken pity on him. “Actually, when Dad was out here watching the two of you dancing, he was smiling. Maybe he doesn’t think it’s so bad, you and Ruby. I’d say go for it.”
Clay walked up, looking distracted as his gaze scoured the guests milling about. “Have you guys seen Ruby?”
“Who wants to know?” Toby asked.
“Trace Evans is outside the house. He’s pretty liquored up, and he’s asking to see her.”
Brooks blinked. “He’s crashing the party?”
Clay shrugged. “I suppose. He wasn’t invited.”
Now the back of Brooks’s hair really did stand on end. He didn’t want the guy within fifty feet of Ruby, much less snatching her away from the Christmas party in a drunken state. “I’ll take care of it.”
Toby gave Clay a crooked smile. “He’s a Preston, all right.”
It was a compliment Brooks appreciated. “Tell Ruby I’ll be back soon.” And then he stalked off, ready to face his rival head-on.
* * *
Brooks found Trace leaning against his pickup truck, taking a chug from a bottle of whiskey. Wearing jeans and a chambray shirt, his hat tipped back off his forehead, he wasn’t exactly dressed for the occasion.
“What do you want, Evans?”
Trace shot back a hard glare. “Ruby. I want Ruby.”
Brooks ground his teeth at Trace’s possessive tone. “She’s not coming out here to see you.”
“She’ll see me. I have things to say to her.”
Brooks held his temper in check. “Now’s not the time. She’s enjoying the party.”
Trace’s lips pulled into a twist, and he pointed his index finger straight at Brooks. “You don’t speak for her, Newport.”
“Why don’t you get the hell out of here and sober up. Better yet, I’ll get someone to take you home. You’re in no shape to drive.”
Trace threw his head back in a hearty laugh and gestured with the bottle. The amber liquid inside sloshed back and forth. “What? You mean this? You’re obviously not a Texan. This is nothing. Trust me, greenhorn, I’m not blistered. And I need to see Ruby.”
“Why, so you can lie to her and hurt her again?”
“You don’t know squat about me and Ruby. We had something real special and I made a mistake, is all.”
“You made a lot of mistakes. Like screwing a married woman. Yeah, I know about your mistakes, Evans. You owe thousands from gambling, and you got kicked off the rodeo circuit for banging the rodeo boss’s wife. Now you need Ruby to bail you out.”
Evans came toward Brooks with venom in his eyes. “What are you doing snooping into my private life?”
Brooks stood firm. He could take Trace if it came to a fistfight. “Ruby deserves much better. So yeah, I hired an investigator and found out all your dirty little secrets.”
“You son of a bitch. I was going to tell her all about it. That’s why I needed to see her.”
“It’s too late to confess your sin
s, Evans. Just give up.”
“I have no plans of doing that. Ruby loves me.”
“Yeah, well, she’s been loving me lately.”
Evans’s free hand fisted, and his eyes hardened to stones. “I should knock you to hell and back.”
“I’m shaking in my boots.” Brooks shouldn’t have let the guy get to him. He would’ve never betrayed Ruby’s trust like that otherwise. He wasn’t a kiss-and-tell kind of guy. But hearing Evans say Ruby loved him was like a knife twisting in his gut.
“How much cash would it take for you to leave Ruby alone?” Brooks asked. “I want you out of her life, for good. Twenty-five thousand? It’s enough to cover your gambling debts. I’ll write you a check right now.”
“Asshole. You think everything can be settled with money.”
“Fifty grand?”
Evans’s brows rose in interest. “You bartering for Ruby?”
“I’m trying to protect her.” The man’s pride was keeping him from grabbing the brass ring. Brooks had to press him. “I’ll make it a hundred grand. You want the deal or not?”
A loud gasp came from behind them, and his stomach clenched in dread as he pivoted around. Ruby stood just five feet away, her arms tight around her middle and her eyes spitting red-hot fire. The burn seared through him like a scorching poker. “Ruby, how long have you been out here?”
“Long enough to hear you both acting like jerks.”
“Hey, he was the one trying to buy me off,” Evans shouted.
“And you were about to accept my offer.”
“Don’t listen to him, Ruby.” Evans took a step toward her.
She put up a halting hand that said, Don’t you dare come close. Unfortunately, the gesture was meant for Brooks, too. “I. Am. Not. Going. To. Listen. To. This. I’m done with both of you. You can go straight to hell.” With that, she spun on her heel and marched away, her shoulders ramrod stiff but the rest of her body trembling.
Brooks watched helplessly as she walked away. Her words cut deep, but nothing hurt as much as seeing the disappointment and accusation on her face.
“Looks like you blew it, Newport.”
“Screw you, Evans.”
Brooks took off after her, following her to the steps of the house. “Ruby, wait!”
She spun around instantly. The big, fat tears welling in her eyes stopped him in his tracks. “Leave me alone, Brooks.”
Serena and Eve stepped out of the house just then and, noting Ruby’s upset state, immediately ushered her into the house, flanking her like a human fortress. With a turn of their heads, the two women shot him glares that could have downed an F-16.
He ran his hands over his face, pulling the skin taut. Then he punched the air out of frustration. He should’ve known Ruby was enough of her own woman not to need his interference. Had he learned nothing from the past?
Now she was hurt and furious.
It was the last thing he wanted.
And yet somehow, he ended up being the bad guy in all of this.
* * *
In black spandex and her comfy Horses Are a Woman’s Best Friend sweatshirt, Ruby sat on her sofa, going over the events from last night in her head. Her emotions had been on a high after spending the better part of the evening with Brooks, but when she walked outside and found him in a bidding war over her with Trace, she couldn’t believe her ears. Brooks had been trying to pay her ex off to stop pursuing her, as if Ruby couldn’t make that decision on her own. As if he had the right to decide for her. The worst of it was facing the fact that she really didn’t know Brooks Newport at all. Was he the ruthless manipulator that she’d read and heard about? Was he trying to control her? Or had he really believed he was protecting her?
Her phone buzzed and she glanced at the text. It was Brooks again. He’d called and texted her last night until after midnight, apologizing in every way imaginable. She’d refused to answer any of his messages, but in each he’d called himself an imbecile, a jerk or a fool for hurting her, and that had put a smile on her face. The lofty, self-confident man was trying. She had to give him that.
But today’s text was different. Today he wrote,
I’m going to Chicago today to make all things right in my life. And then I’m coming back...for you.
A warm shiver ran up and down her body. “Oh, Galahad.”
Her doorbell chimed and she rose, checking the peephole before opening the door. Eve had called earlier to check up on her and invited herself over. Ruby was grateful she had. She needed a good friend today, and Eve was quickly becoming that. “Good morning.”
Eve’s warm smile immediately faded. “Oh, Ruby. You look exhausted. I bet you didn’t get a wink of sleep.”
“Maybe an hour or two. Come in.”
“Are you sure? I can come back later if you want to rest.”
“Heavens, no. Moping around isn’t my thing. I could use the company.”
Eve entered and wrapped her arms around Ruby, pulling her in tight. The hug was exactly what she needed at the moment. “I’m sorry you’re upset.”
“I’m...yeah. I guess upset is the right word. My emotions are all over the place.”
“I’m here if you want to talk,” Eve said.
Spilling her heart out wasn’t easy, but Eve was a thoughtful listener and someone Ruby knew she could trust. They entered the living room and took seats on the sofa next to each other.
Ruby faced Eve and didn’t hold back. She told Eve everything about Trace, how she’d fallen for him and waited for him like a fool all those months. She explained how he’d returned to Cool Springs and laid his heart on the line, trying his best to make up with her, offering her everything she’d wanted from him, a life...a future. None of the things Brooks had ever hinted at. She explained about meeting Brooks for the first time at the C’mon Inn and how they’d hit it off from the start. How surprised she’d been the next day to find out that he was one of Beau’s long lost sons.
Last night, after dancing with Brooks, she’d finally come to realize she wasn’t in love with Trace anymore. And that was before she’d heard about his indiscretions. That was before she’d learned he was trying to use her to bail him out of a financial jam.
“As painful as it is, Ruby, at least you know the truth about Trace Evans,” Eve said. “You can cross him off your list. I’m sorry he hurt you, but you dodged a bullet. And don’t be mad at me for saying this—Brooks did you a service by exposing him.”
Ruby lowered her head and rubbed at her temples. “My brain knows you’re right, Eve. But my heart...isn’t so sure.”
“According to Graham, Brooks is crazy about you. Believe me when I say this. He wouldn’t have gone to this extreme with Trace unless he was all in with you. Brooks has his flaws when it comes to confronting adversaries, but he’s passionate in what he believes and a really good guy.”
“Do good guys take off at the first sign of trouble?” She searched Eve’s earnest face, hoping to gain better perspective.
Eve took hold of her hand, and her warmth seeped into all of Ruby’s cold places. “He went to Chicago for all the right reasons, Ruby. He’s making his peace with the past. Graham and I believe it’s so he can come to you with an open heart, as cliché as that sounds.”
“No, that sounds...pretty good. If I can believe it. He hasn’t stopped messaging me.”
“Maybe you can cut the guy some slack?”
Ruby smiled. “Maybe.”
Eve took both of her hands now, holding her gently at the wrists, and adjusted her position on the sofa to face her full-on. “I have something for you, Ruby. I hope I haven’t overstepped a line here, but...” She released her wrists to dig into her handbag and came up holding a pink rectangular box. “Being in your shoes a few months ago, I kind of recognize the signs,” she said, softening her voice.
Ruby’s eyes widened. She wasn’t ready for this. But maybe it was time to stop procrastinating. It wasn’t like Ruby Lopez not to face life head-on. She took the box fro
m Eve and, seeing the concern on her face, gave her a smile. “Do you always walk around with an extra pregnancy test in your purse?”
Eve chuckled. “Oh, Ruby, I was worried how you would take it. You might think us city people are too pushy.”
Ruby shook her head. “Yeah, well, city folk are more upfront, I will say that. Country folk tend to gossip behind your back. It all washes out the same.”
“It’s okay, then?”
“Of course. I should’ve done this myself. I think I needed the nudge.”
“You think you might be?” Eve’s voice escalated to a squeak, and a twinkle of hope sparkled in her eyes.
Ruby shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m eating like the world is ending tomorrow, and lately I get supertired. Emotionally, I’m a wreck. But that just might be Brooks’s doing. I guess... I’ll find out soon. Thank you, Eve.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll get going now and let you rest.” Eve stood up and Ruby didn’t try to stop her, although resting was the last thing on her mind. Her grip on the pregnancy test tightened. She had some major thinking to do, no matter what she found out.
She walked Eve to the front door, and they hugged. “Call me if you need to talk again,” Eve whispered.
“I will. And thanks again.” Ruby closed the door behind her and leaned against it. Sighing, she glanced at the pink box with light purple lettering in her hand. To think, peeing on a stick could change her life forever. Ruby placed her hand on her belly, and tears misted her eyes as she made a heartfelt wish.
Something she hadn’t done since before her daddy passed away.
Ten
Brooks stood on the threshold of Sutton Winchester’s master bedroom as one of his nurses laid a plaid wool blanket on his lap and turned his wheelchair around. Brooks came face-to-face with his adversary. With a man he’d hated so powerfully, he’d wanted to destroy him. Now, his emotions raw, he hoped to God that Winchester would hear him out, because he was also the man who had loved his mother dearly and had fathered his younger brother, Carson.
“He’s having a good day today, Mr. Newport,” the nurse said.
“I’m glad to hear it,” Brooks responded as he and Winchester exchanged glances. “Good afternoon, Mr. Winchester.”
The Texan's One-Night Standoff Page 14
