“You were the first name I searched, back when we were just learning how to do online research at the firm.” Ruby confessed, her cheeks turning darker.
“Missed me, huh?”
Ruby met his gaze and then nodded, slowly. “Very much.”
He twined his fingers with hers, thrilled when she didn’t pull away. “Well, the coffee hunk is looking like it’ll be my last story.”
“Last story?”
“I just bought an RV.” Jefferson hadn’t even told his children that yet, but then he’d always loved to confide in Ruby. “And I plan to drive all over the country in it. Been dreaming of doing that for fifty years. I turned 70 last birthday. It’s time.”
“Won’t you miss writing? Miss your job?”
“The job—not a bit. Technology has changed it so much that I’m a dinosaur to these kiddos running the newsroom. As for the writing, well, this old T-Rex knows a few tricks. I set myself up a blog. I figure I’ll write about my adventures, snap a few photos to go along with it. Maybe nobody but my kids will read it but…”
“I bet more than a few readers will follow your adventures.”
“I’m finally going to indulge my wanderlust. See the whole country.”
“But you’re a reporter. Didn’t you travel?”
“Business travel.” Jefferson shook his head. “Waking in a random hotel room, not sure what city I was in, just to catch the bus or plane to the next place. I want to really enjoy the sites, soak up the local color, take my time.”
“Sounds adventurous.” Ruby broke a roll and buttered it very precisely.
“What adventures do you have planned for your retirement? Or are you planning to keep on working?”
“I’ve had my fair share of adventure. PJ didn’t love to travel, so Mary would plan a girls’ trip for us every year. We went everywhere, even on an African safari.”
“I’d love to see pictures of that. You and Mary were like Lucy and Ethel. Never knew what hijinks you two would find.” Jefferson pushed away the fantasy of Ruby sitting next to him in his shiny new RV. Despite their deep love for each other, they’d never wanted the same things out of life. Best to just enjoy the moment with an old friend, rather than waste time in silly fantasies of what could never be.
“I have no idea what to do with myself now. I’m not sure I’d want to travel. Maybe it’s time to stay put. I visited my sister over spring break, down in the low country near Charleston.”
Jefferson dredged up a smile for her. “Beautiful country there.”
“Indeed. And Pearl and her husband just seem to want to sit in their rocking chairs and look at it. Sometimes they play golf or cards. They live in a leisure community for active adults. I was only there a week and was bored senseless. All those old people.”
Jefferson laughed. “I can see how a traditional retirement just wouldn’t be for you.”
“I don’t want to end up like old man Henderson—you remember him?”
Jefferson nodded, remembering the florid-faced lawyer well. Mary had banned the man from her coffeeshop after he’d addressed Jefferson with a racial slur.
“Well, he died at his desk. His son came in one morning, just found him there in his chair.”
“I can’t say I’m sorry about that.” Jefferson said, “Though his son was always kind.”
“Well, I don’t want to work so long I end up like that either.” Ruby said. “I just haven’t figured out what my final act should be yet.”
“You will. Never met anyone as determined as you.”
They chatted for a bit, catching up and reminiscing over Ashford Falls. Ruby indulged in a crème brûlée for dessert and offered him a bite. Jefferson smiled, holding up a fork with a bite of strawberry rhubarb pie. She took it, her lips closing over the fork tines, and making Jefferson shift in his chair. Being around Ruby woke things in him that he hadn’t felt in rather a long time.
After he paid the bill, they headed out into the vacant square. Even the coffeeshop sat closed up. It must be later than he thought as the cool night air hit his cheeks. They stepped toward the quiet fountain, not yet running in the early spring, the trees making lacy patterns of shadow and silver across Ruby’s face. She turned back to him with a warm smile.
“Thank you for dinner, Jefferson. I’m glad we had a chance to catch up.” She extended her hand, her bangle bracelets tinkling. Jefferson slid his palm into hers, his skin tingling at the slight touch of her soft hand. He tugged her close into his arms, pressing her warm curves against him, intending to give her a hug. Their gazes met and held before she dropped her velvety gaze to his mouth.
He lowered his mouth to hers, a sweet, gentle brush of lips, as innocent as their stolen kisses had been a half-century before. She tasted of a tart-sweet mixture of rhubarb and strawberry. He couldn’t resist dipping his tongue into her mouth to explore further. Ruby moaned, a low sound that stirred his blood, and they shifted closer together, wrapped in each other’s embrace now.
Her tongue tangled with his and now it was Jefferson’s turn to groan, his pulse tripping in his wrists as he slipped his hands down her back to pull her against him. Under the sweet scent of cherry blossoms, he inhaled the spicy scent of her, reminding him of exotic perfumes and forbidden pleasures. Her smooth hand cupped his cheek. At the touch of skin on skin, the passion flared between them, even deeper and hotter than he’d expected. They kissed as though they’d been starved for each other. Maybe they had. Ruby broke the kiss and stared up at him, wide eyed. Gradually, as if in a trance, she unwrapped his arms from her and stepped away.
“Didn’t expect we’d turn that hot so fast.” Jefferson smirked and filled the silence. “I don’t know why not. We were always like that.”
Ruby nodded, chewing on her full bottom lip. He wanted to press his advantage and kiss her again, while she was off-guard and as stunned by their passionate kiss as he was. Instead, he offered her his arm and walked her to her small blue hybrid parked along the street near the coffeeshop.
“Have lunch with me tomorrow, Rhubarb.”
“I’ll have to check my schedule—”
“Rhubarb...” Jefferson said, low and pleading.
She looked at him for a moment and then winked before closing the door and driving off. Jefferson stood pining after her car, long after the taillights had faded in the distance and considering. Could he and Ruby have a second chance after all this time?
True to his word, Jefferson appeared at her office the next day at noon to squire her to lunch. She walked out to the reception area to find Jefferson chatting amiably with their young receptionist. Ruby took the opportunity to watch him. Even at 70, Jefferson stood tall and broad-shouldered. He’d gained a bit of thickness around his waist but it looked good on him, like he’d filled out from the skinny wraith he’d been when she’d first known him. Only the silver hair shot through his dark curls betrayed his real age. She pressed her fingers to her lips, remembering the delicious heat in their embrace last night. At her age, she hadn’t thought to feel this wicked desire again.
And she didn’t know quite what to do about it.
Ruby knew what she wanted to do about it. But, Jefferson’s dreams lay on the open road, traveling all over the country. She didn’t feel that same wanderlust. Once again, their dreams just didn’t match up enough to give them a happily ever after.
So the question then became, should Ruby indulge in a dalliance with Jefferson, knowing that he’d walk out of her life again? Could she survive another broken heart?
How she wished for Mary! They could giggle like girls about it over their tea or coffee. But then again, she knew what Mary would say. Mary loved Jefferson like he was her own little brother. She’d shove Ruby straight into his arms if she was there to do it.
As if getting a celestial shove, a strong sunbeam flowed through the skylight just then, gilding Jefferson as he turned toward her. All right, Mary, you made your point. Ruby strode toward Jefferson, her hands outstretched in greeting.
He clasped her fingers in his own strong hands and pulled her close. She intended to peck Jefferson’s cheek, a chaste greeting, but he caught her mouth. The quick, gentle kiss felt like a brand to Ruby.
And just like that, Ruby made her decision. She’d take her pleasure where she found it, consequences be damned. She turned to the secretary and said, her pulse fluttering in her throat, “Gretchen, I’ll be out for the rest of the afternoon.”
With that, Ruby took Jefferson’s hand and pulled him out into the warmth of the early spring day. Her heart hammered in her chest as she pulled him up the walk, trying to keep from thinking. If she thought this through, she’d talk herself out of it.
And she really didn’t want to talk herself out of this.
“You must be mighty hungry for lunch, Rhubarb. But aren’t the restaurants this way?”
With that, she glanced back at him, a coy smile on her face. “Oh…I am hungry, but not for lunch. My house is this way.”
His hazel eyes widened as he caught her implication and he sped up his pace. They arrived at her house, just two blocks from the law office, a small, gingerbread confection tucked away on a tree lined street, directly across from an adorable story themed park.
“Hi there, Miz Ruby!” Her neighbor, Amy Lane, called and waved from beside the swings where she pushed her boyfriend’s daughter, Livvy. Ruby waved back and tugged Jefferson up the flagstone walk to her house. She loved Amy and Livvy, but if she stopped to talk she’d lose her nerve. She opened the glass front door and pulled Jefferson through. He looked around, studying the entryway, but Ruby simply tugged his hand and started up the staircase. He climbed up behind her, glancing around at her home, seemingly taking in every detail. She yanked him into her bedroom and stopped, dropping his hand.
She glanced around at the room, seeing it with new eyes. The sunshine-yellow walls and white furnishings made the room homey and welcoming. The brightly colored quilt—a birthday gift from Mary last year—covered a white wrought iron bed. Sheer curtains did little to stop the midday sunshine pouring through. Why hadn’t she’d thought to find a place to seduce Jefferson where he couldn’t see the scars of age and time on her body, like the back of her closet on a moonless night?
He’d last seen her naked over fifty years ago, when her body had been supple and limber and nubile. Now, things sagged considerably lower than they used to and middle age spread further than she’d like. She swallowed hard and shut her eyes just as he rested his large hands on her shoulders, warm even through the suit jacket she wore.
“Rhubarb?” Jefferson bent to brush kisses along the back of her neck, sending ripples of awareness and an aching, yearning longing to once again belong to this man, who had claimed her heart so long ago. He nipped at her ear, slipping the jacket from her shoulders and tossing it aside. His long fingers made quick work of the buttons on her prim blouse and then, at last, his fingers slipped over her bare skin, thrilling her. He cupped her full breasts, still encased in her lacy bra, and she arched back into him with a moan.
She rested her head on his shoulder, squirming around to look into his face. His hazel eyes were hot with desire and hungry need as they rocked against each other. The evidence of his desire for her pressed against the small of her back. Suddenly, her shyness dropped away as his hands slipped around her waist, making her feel beautiful, cherished, and desperately wanted.
Ruby turned in his arms. They sat onto her wide bed, entwined together as desperate for each other as they’d been fifty years ago, when he’d been the first to teach her the erotic pleasure they could create between them. She pulled his lips to hers and gave herself up to the inferno that blazed between them.
After it was over, Ruby lay in Jefferson’s arms, cuddled under the bright quilt, drowsing in the sunshine and feeling quite content. Jefferson continued to run his hands over her, stroking and caressing her as she luxuriated under his attention. She put her head on his chest, over his heart, and let the drumbeat lull her.
“Rhubarb?” Jefferson finally interrupted their afterglow to whisper. “There’s room for two in my RV.”
Her heart slammed into her chest as Ruby shot up and looked at him. Once before, he’d asked her to run away with him, to Seattle, and start a new life. She’d turned him down then, not wanting to sacrifice her own dreams for his. Now that she’d achieved her dreams, did she want to walk away from it all to take the second chance he offered her?
“Will you come with me, Ruby?”
Not ready to answer, Ruby pulled his hands to her breasts and straddled him, grateful for all the yoga she’d done to keep herself so limber over the years. “Show me the rest of those moves you’ve acquired over the years.”
Chapter Six
The next morning, Ruby woke when Jefferson brushed a kiss over her forehead, in the half-light of early dawn. She stretched, still reveling in the afterglow of their lovemaking. “I’ve got to go to work. Today’s my retirement party. All those kiddos will be wondering why I’ve got such a spring in my step.”
He tucked the covers around Ruby and brushed his fingers over her cheek. She whispered, glancing at the pre-dawn gloaming. “I should get up too. Go for my power walk.”
“Indulge yourself and sleep in.”
“Oh, I’d say I already indulged myself plenty yesterday.” Ruby grinned impishly at him before slipping her arms around his neck and pulling his mouth to hers. They kissed, almost lazily, and it quickly turned heated as she arched against him. Slowly, he wrapped his arms around her, slipping his hands down her skin, thrilling her. Ruby wanted nothing more than to pull Jefferson back into the wide bed with her but he broke away, gently unwinding her arms from his neck.
“I’ll be back later on today.” Jefferson assured her, pressing a kiss to her neck before standing.
“I thought your story was done.”
“That story wasn’t my only interest in Ashford Falls.” Jefferson checked his wristwatch. “I’ll be back to see you.”
Ruby flushed and then slid the quilt down, revealing just the tops of her breasts. “Never mind work. Come see me now.”
Jefferson’s hazel eyes blazed with lust and he swallowed hard. He backed slowly away from the bed, shaking his head. “If I get back in that bed, we’re not getting out all day. See you later, Rhubarb. Will you meet me at the coffeeshop about six?”
She laughed, joy coursing through her, and nodded. Ruby took her time getting dressed, enjoying the comfortable home she’d created for herself over the years. Cardinals, robins, and blue jays danced around the yard as she sat on the back porch, sipping her coffee.
So Jefferson asked her to travel the country with him in his RV. Last night, she’d pushed the thought away, enjoying indulging in more earthy delights. Despite the intensity of their lovemaking, she and Jefferson barely knew each other anymore. He’d only walked back into her life two days before and here she was thinking of running away with him.
Ruby closed her eyes, knowing her impulsive best friend would be inside packing her suitcase if she were still alive. But Ruby had never had even a fraction of Mary’s courage and daring. No closer to a decision, she tied on her walking shoes and headed out. Maybe a walk would clear her head.
By the time she got to the coffeeshop, full dawn had broken over the small town of Ashford Falls, gilding it with ruby, gold, and peach. It was going to be a glorious day. Ruby glanced around. Ashford Falls was home and always would be. But maybe, just maybe, it was time to take the road less traveled.
If only she could find the courage.
Instead of going into the coffeeshop, she headed home to change in to her business suit, the sharp armor she’d worn for so long, even though her thoughts remained on the RV, an open road, and the handsome man she still loved, a half century after he’d stolen her heart.
That evening, Ruby made it to the coffeeshop at six on the dot to find Jefferson already inside. Behind the counter, Patrick held up a tablet, while Zooey and Joe on either side of him gazed intently. Ru
by smiled at the picture they made, clustered together in the coffeeshop they worked so hard to revive from their grandmother’s legacy. Though they hadn’t turned a profit yet, they were beginning to knit back together as a family unit. Somewhere, Mary Love Lockhart must be smiling down to see her family back together again in Ashford Falls. Where they all began and where they would all always belong.
“Your article?” Ruby asked Jefferson who turned to her with a bright smile, wrapping his arm around her waist to pull her in for a hug.
“An early copy. It should run next week.” Jefferson nodded.
“It’s brilliant.” Patrick proclaimed, beaming at Jefferson.
“We’re going to have people pouring in the door after this!” Zooey crowed.
“And to the truck too.” Joe agreed.
Patrick handed the tablet to Ruby, who flipped through the pictures set to accompany the article. “Your grandmother would have loved it. Especially the baby pictures on the last page.”
“Look, Auntie Ruby.” Zooey pointed to a set of framed photos hanging on the wall. Mary and PJ’s wedding picture sat at the center, the baby photos Ruby gave Patrick clustered around it. But off to the side, a photo of a young, very in love couple under a cherry tree drew her eye.
“Oh my, Rhubarb, that’s us.” Jefferson smiled at the picture, rubbing a hand over his chin.
“Well, you’re part of the family too.”
Ruby’s eyes misted over as she exchanged a glance with Jefferson. “I guess we have always been a part of this place.”
He leaned close to her, cupping her cheek, and said, “You’ve always been a part of me. Come outside for a minute. I want to show you something. You kids come too.”
Agreeably, they trailed Jefferson out to the side parking lot. Across the lot, a large RV sat, gilded rose in the sunset. Jefferson showed them all around, pointing out the hidden features and showing off the buttons and gizmos. Ruby stayed outside, next to the RV, saddened. She hadn’t realized Jefferson intended to leave so soon. She just wasn’t ready to accompany him yet. Once again, Jefferson would leave her, heading off into his next adventure.
Cupid's Coffeeshop Set One: Boxed Set: Books 1-4 Page 17
