But she knew the reason, didn’t she? With some effort, she pushed all six feet four inches of Travis Blackwell from her mind. “So,” she said brightly, gazing across the table. “What are you having for lunch?”
The two of them enjoyed a spectacular meal. Chance had the beef short rib with avocado salad, while Ruby, a creature of habit, asked for a bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese, ham, and onion sandwich. It was comfort food, but today, she needed it.
They talked about nothing important, the weather (hot and sunny for the week), the latest Hollywood blockbuster (how many superheroes were there?), and local construction (was the damn bridge ever going to be finished?). Ruby had just begun to relax when Chance set aside his plate and tossed his napkin. His gaze settled on Ruby, his eyes holding hers for a long time. Long enough for their waitress to clear the plates and bring coffee. To set down the dessert menu. Long enough for the silence to scream louder than words.
“Should I be worried?” Chance finally asked.
Ruby automatically shook her head. She knew what he was talking about. “No.” Because it was true. Chance didn’t have to worry about a thing. Travis might still get under her skin, but then, he always had. There was nothing more to it than that.
“You sure?”
Ruby sighed and leaned forward. She grabbed his hand and gently squeezed it. “I’m sure. Travis was a part of my life a long time ago, and, yes, there’s history there. Some good. Some bad.” Her throat tightened. “Some really bad. But it’s over.”
She sat back in her chair and brushed away crumbs from her lap. “I feel nothing for him.”
Chance nodded behind her. “He’s headed this way.”
Ruby’s smile faltered, but she quickly recovered. “That’s fine.” She reached for her glass of water and realized it was empty. Her hand was still hovering over the empty glass when Travis stopped by their table. Dressed casually, his handsome dark looks complemented the beige trousers and plain white T-shirt.
A few seconds of awkward silence passed, and then Travis spoke. “This place is amazing, Ruby. The spa, the food. I’ve been to a lot of similar type establishments, and this is right up there with the best. I didn’t want to leave without letting you know that.”
Her gaze was averted, and slowly, she looked up at him. He stood there, hands shoved into the pockets of his pants, his dark eyes sincere, his voice subdued. There was a time when a look like that would have been everything to her. But right now, she didn’t know how to react. So Ruby did what she always did when she was cornered. She reverted to sarcasm.
“Well, thank you, Mr. NHL, for your worldly view on things. I can go on with my day now that I know you think this place is up to your standards.”
Travis didn’t take the bait, which was something he would have done in the past. Something that would have led to an argument. Which, if she was being honest with herself, she enjoyed. She loved fighting almost as much as she liked making up.
He just smiled and nodded to Chance before glancing back to Ruby. “I want to apologize for my behavior the other day. I don’t really have an excuse other than I was surprised to see you two together. It’s none of my business.”
“You’re right about that.” Ruby glared at him, but again, he ignored her.
Travis offered his hand to Chance. “I’ve heard you’re a good guy and well…” He glanced back to Ruby. “She deserves one, so…we good?”
Chance stood and accepted the handshake, which pissed off Ruby, but she managed to hold her tongue this time. What the hell was Travis up to? The two men talked for a few moments, but Ruby didn’t hear a word they said on account of the fact she was seething inside. She didn’t want Travis anywhere near her, and she sure as hell didn’t want Chance chatting him up like they were old buddies. She looked everywhere but at them. The table. The window. Raj, who was gesturing madly, probably wanting to know if she needed help.
After a few more moments, Travis stood back, and with a small nod, he turned, and she watched as he headed for the exit. She noticed every single woman in the Blue Elephant did the same, and her irritation knew no bounds. His pal was there waiting, and she didn’t stop looking until they disappeared from view.
“What was that all about?” she asked as Chance sat back down. She made sure to keep her voice neutral. No need for him to know she was all fired up, because that would lead to questions she didn’t want to answer.
Chance finished his beer and sat back in his chair. “Your ex is sticking around this summer. Did you know that?”
She didn’t speak. She just shook her head as that seething pit of anger expanded to the point she could barely breathe.
“Apparently ,his brother needs him,” Chance replied. “He was asking about the tournament this weekend.”
Her eyebrows shot up as alarm bells rang in her head. “Tournament?”
Chance was watching her closely, and she got the feeling that maybe he was testing her. That was something she didn’t like, but considering the way she’d been acting, she kind of got it. He needed some reassurance.
“The Fourth of July charity golf tournament at the club. It’s this Saturday. His brother Wyatt and some other NASCAR drivers are playing. We’ve got Cain Black and his bandmates as well. A top-tier NHL goalie and some of his friends would only add to the draw, don’t you think? Especially since he’s a hometown boy.”
“You asked him to play in the tournament?” How she got the words out without sounding like a complete shrew, Ruby had no idea.
Chance waited a beat. “I haven’t yet, but I’m thinking about it. How would you feel if I did?”
Oh yeah. This was a test.
Ruby smiled. It was a practiced smile. One she’d perfected over many years of pretending she didn’t care. Like when she was a kid and the only one in her class with no lunch. Or when she was six and had no clean underwear to wear to school and a hole in the crotch of her lime-green pants. Like when she was teased endlessly about a mother who’d taken off with another man.
It was Travis who’d stopped that particular piece of nastiness. He’d punched Liam McGregor, a kid two grades ahead with about thirty pounds on him, in the face and broke his nose. He’d been sent to the principal’s office over it and hadn’t been allowed out to recess for an entire month.
Liam never teased Ruby again, and at the tender age of eleven, she’d fallen in love with Travis Blackwell.
“Ruby?” Chance prompted.
She slowly exhaled. “I think Travis playing in the charity tournament would make a lot of folks happy. If he’s willing to do it, it’s a win-win.”
Chance leaned back in his chair and smiled. “Okay. Good. I think so too.”
Ruby’s face felt like the oldest, thinnest china on the planet. It felt as if she would break into a million pieces if she didn’t do or say something. She pasted that damn smile on her face again and said brightly, “Did you decide on dessert?”
Chapter 5
“Your ex is hot.”
Travis glanced at his buddy Zach and frowned. His fellow Redwing and one of his closest friends sat on the edge of the dock, long legs dangling in the cool water, a wide grin on his face. Zach’s dirty-blond hair was on the long side, and he hadn’t shaved in days—he looked more surfer dude than hockey player. But it was off-season and the guy was in relax mode.
“Like seriously hot.”
And he was a pain in the ass half the time.
“Yeah. I know.”
Travis continued to clean his fishing gear while Zach watched him. The big defenseman had decided to head to Crystal Lake when Travis pulled out of the fishing trip. Said he couldn’t handle the crew without Travis and that some much needed R&R was more what he was looking for.
Travis chuckled at that. The truth was, the guy was chomping at the bit to do something, and hanging here on the dock all day wasn’t gonna cut it.
“So what happened?”
Travis set down his pole and stretched. The new reel worke
d like a charm and was pretty much ready to go the next morning. The plan was to head out early and catch as much as they could before the heat rolled in. He got to his feet, looked down at his friend, and saw the curiosity there. He knew Zach well enough to know he wouldn’t give up until he had some sort of answer—they’d never talked about Travis’s past or his short-lived marriage. In fact, Zach hadn’t known about Ruby until a few days earlier when he’d shown up.
“It’s a long story.” Travis gathered up his gear.
“The good ones always are.”
“Yeah, well. This isn’t a good story. I was an asshole, and she deserved better. That’s pretty much it.”
Zach got to his feet and joined Travis as he headed back to the small cottage.
“You still got a thing for her?” he asked.
“Nope.”
“Really?”
Irritated, he shot a look to Zach as he stowed his gear inside the deck box. “Why do you sound so surprised? Ruby and I haven’t been a thing for years. Besides, even if I thought I stood a chance in hell with her, she’s with someone else now.”
“That’s never stopped you before.” The not so subtle dig brought a scowl to Travis’s face. Was he ever going to live down Clarisse Hall? Hell, he hadn’t known the woman was married (he thought maybe a boyfriend) until her husband showed up and surprised them in bed. That had to count for something.
“Yeah, well. This time, there’s no chance of that happening. She can barely look my way without wanting to throat punch the hell out of me.”
Zach followed him inside the cottage. “Then why are you here?” At Travis’s scowl, he laughed. “Hey, not that I’m complaining or anything. But seriously, the fishing trip was your idea.”
“It was Dave’s.”
“No, it was yours and he ran with it.”
“Whatever,” Travis muttered. “My brother needed me to look after this place, and I told him I would. There’s nothing stopping you from joining the guys.”
Zach grabbed a towel from the cabinet and headed to the shower. “Nah. I think I’m going to have more fun around here.” His grin was wicked. “Just sayin’.”
Zach disappeared before Travis could respond, which was fine, because his pal was absolutely full of crap. Travis didn’t have a thing for Ruby; he just wanted to make things right. Hell, it was normal for a man to feel a little jealousy over the new guy. He looked at his reflection in the window above the kitchen sink.
Totally normal. Right?
An hour later, they rolled in to the Coach House. He spied his brother Wyatt and some pals sitting in the far corner but took a moment to look around before heading over. The place was hopping, filled to near capacity, and a country/blues band had just taken the stage. So many memories here. So many good people he’d left behind.
“Regan let you out of the house tonight?” Travis said with a chuckle as he approached the table. He slapped his brother on the shoulder.
Wyatt grinned. “Hey, I’d rather be home with Regan than sitting here with these ugly mutts, but she’s out of town for a conference.” He held up an empty beer mug. “You buying?”
“It’s worth the trip to the bar, my friend.” Adam Thorne grinned. “The new waitress is damn easy on the eyes.”
“Yeah?” Travis raised an eyebrow. “And how does Violet feel about that?”
Adam chuckled. “My wife would probably agree.”
“Mine too.” The big man beside Wyatt smiled and shook Travis’s hand.
Travis took the hand, but moved closer and gave him a hug. “How’s Patrick?” His words were quiet as he studied Brad Bergen. He’d met his son the previous year when he’d come back to Crystal Lake. Little Patrick was sick. Damn sick, and his throat tightened as he studied the father.
“He’s a fighter. Doing better than anyone expected.” Brad took a moment. “We take each day as it comes, and thank the Lord we’re still together at the end of it.”
“That sounds good,” Travis replied with a small smile. He knew the outlook was grim for the boy. “I’ll grab that round.”
Zach slid onto one of the stools, and after introductions were made, Travis headed for the bar to grab a couple of jugs of whatever was on tap. He spied Tiny and veered to the left, deciding he’d rather check out the new bartender than deal with Grizzly Adams. The band was good, the bar area three deep, and by the time he said hello to all the people he knew, which was a lot, and talked hockey to those who cared—it took some time for him to sidle up to the bar.
Adam was right. The new bartender was a looker—a tattooed, edgy woman with a killer smile. She looked at home in torn jeans and white midriff top that did nothing to hide taut abs and—he angled his head for a look—another tattoo that snaked around her right side. Long dark hair was pulled up into a loose bun, with tendrils that fell to her shoulders, and the lady had guns. Her arms were solid.
She must work out more than I do, he thought, clearing his throat and glancing up into dark eyes that regarded him silently.
“What can I get you?” He couldn’t place the accent, but Travis was thinking she was from the South. Maybe.
“A couple jugs of the honey blond.”
“Are you being funny?” Her eyebrow shot up so fast, he was surprised it was still attached to her head. He wasn’t sure what the hell had just happened, so Travis smiled and shook his head.
“No?” She frowned. “Is that the right answer?”
She said nothing, but grabbed two jugs from under the counter and then moved to the taps.
“You’re new in town.” Travis wasn’t used to being shut down so quick, and thought he’d try again.
“Yep.” She didn’t bother looking up.
“I’m Travis.”
“I know who you are.”
Okay. Now they were making progress. He grinned as she set aside the first jug. “Hockey fan.”
“Not at all.” The way she said those three little words, you’d think hockey was the devil’s sport. Huh. He didn’t feel he had to try so hard anymore.
“You got a name?”
“Don’t we all?” She pushed both jugs his way and met his gaze full-on. There was a challenge there, though for the life of him, Travis couldn’t decide for what. And something else. Something that didn’t belong in this place of beer and wings.
“Yeah. I was nice enough to introduce myself, which is what we do here in Crystal Lake, so…”
She was silent for a few seconds, and a strange feeling washed over Travis. He tossed a twenty on the bar and reached for the jugs. He didn’t have time to play games with some strange woman in a bar.
“Honey, you got an order of wings you waiting for?” Nash walked up behind her, and she visibly jerked. She motioned to Travis’s left. The guy who sat there was leaning half off his stool. “He’s cut off.” She grabbed the wings from Nash, and both men watched her head to the other end of the bar.
“Not that I give a damn, but what’s her name?”
“Honey.”
“What?”
Nash shrugged. “Her name is Honey.”
“What kind of person names a kid Honey?”
At the look on Travis’s face, he chuckled. “Hell if I know. I asked her the same thing, and she nearly bit my head off. Told me she was from the South, like that should explain it.”
“Where’d you find her?” Travis asked, curious to know where she’d come from.
“She just showed up last week.”
“She’s not exactly a people person.”
“No.” Nash shook his head. “She’s not.”
“Then why’d you hire her?”
Nash frowned and shook his head. “I have no idea.”
“Well, good luck with that.” Travis took a step back and swore as his hip butted the edge of a barstool. “Hey, sorry,” he said, turning to the guy sitting there. It took a moment for his brain to catch up to his eyes, and when they did, he wasn’t sure how to feel. Holy. Hell.
“Ryder?”
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The man looked up from his empty glass, eyes glassy, a scowl touching his handsome face. The glass indicated he’d been drinking, but there was something else there, and Travis remembered all too well Ryder Montgomery’s dark side—his need to dance with the devil. From the looks of it, it seemed Ruby’s brother was on the wrong side of this particular dance. Again.
“So, it’s true, then.” Ryder pushed back his glass and got to his feet. He stumbled a bit, and Travis nearly lost one of the jugs of beer he held. “You’re back.”
Travis nodded but kept silent. He and Ryder had been close once, but blood is blood, and the last time they’d seen each other, the two of them had gotten into it and things hadn’t ended well. Both of them had taken a trip to the ER, and that was pretty much it for Ruby and Travis.
“Sorry, Ry.” Nash grabbed the empty glass. “But the lady says your cut off.”
Ryder didn’t acknowledge Nash. He shoved past Travis and headed for the exit. “Should we…” Travis cleared his throat. “How’s he getting home?”
Nash shrugged. “I can’t babysit every drunk in the place. Ryder Montgomery can figure it out. I’ve got his keys, and he won’t be getting behind the wheel. That’s all I’m concerned about.”
Travis headed back to table, but by the time he got there, he knew what he was going to do. It just didn’t seem right letting Ruby’s brother head off on his own. Hell, depending which way he went home, he could lose his balance and end up in the damn lake. He set down the jugs and told the guys to start without him. At Wyatt’s raised eyebrow, he shrugged and said, “Ryder needs a lift home.”
His brother nodded—he got it—and Zach was already occupied chatting up a pretty girl at the next table. He scooped his keys out of his pocket and headed for the parking lot. Ryder was already on the main road and didn’t stop or look his way when Travis pulled up alongside. Rain was just starting to fall, the drops light and probably refreshing. But the dark clouds over the lake coupled with the high humidity meant something mean was rolling in.
You Rock My World (The Blackwells of Crystal Lake Book 3) Page 4
