by Taryn Quinn
“You’d do that?”
“In a heartbeat. They don’t know me.”
Before I could think about it, I leaned into him and pressed a light kiss to his bearded cheek. “Thanks, Thor.”
One of his big hands cupped my jaw. “I hate seeing you so sad. It’s damn near killing me.”
“It’s a selfish sad.” My eyes stung. “I don’t want to face my brother.”
He pressed his forehead to mine. “He’d understand.”
“No. He’d be so hurt.” I shook my head. “I can’t do that to him.” I slid away from Lucky and reached for the bag behind the seat.
With a sigh, he pulled out of the parking lot and did a left turn to the diner half a block down. I stepped out before he could say anything else.
The brisk wind cleared my head a bit before I went inside, bag in hand. Thankfully, the big family-style diners were all the same. I’d be able to get changed without feeling like I was in a school locker. Being tall was a pain in the ass.
I nodded to the waitress at the front door and headed for the back.
“Miss.”
“There’s a big guy coming in after me. He’ll order some food.”
She huffed out an annoyed breath, but then Lucky ducked in through the door and she and the hostess were both distracted. Six-feet-four inches of hot dude would do that.
I was mostly immune.
Okay, barely.
But at this moment, I was very glad for his charming demeanor. I could already hear him flirting with them.
I followed the sign for the bathrooms. “Bingo,” I said and dumped my bag on the counter. I snapped out my handy black dress. It was the one I used for any funeral or business dinner. The damn thing never wrinkled.
I grabbed my heels. Since there were hardly any people in the diner, I didn’t feel bad about ducking into the handicapped stall. Quickly, I did my business—thanks, nerves—then kicked off my boots, socks, shirt, and leggings. I’d worn tights under my leggings so I just had to wiggle into the dress.
It clung to my hips, but it was mostly a column of simple black from neck to ankle. I dropped the shoes to the floor and stepped into the three-inch heels.
Back in the main bathroom, I washed up, pulled my hair into a simple French braid, and put on some lipstick and waterproof mascara so I didn’t look like a ghost. Damn redhead genes.
Within ten minutes, I was back in the diner, bag slung over my shoulder.
Lucky stood at the front counter. He’d swapped his battered jeans for dark-washed ones and a gray button-down. He’d tucked it in, showing off his exceptional assets.
He turned and his gaze tracked along my body before zeroing in on my face. His brows furrowed as if he wasn’t sure what to make of me.
He wasn’t the only one.
“I had them make us some club sandwiches for later.”
“Thanks.” I pulled my wallet out of my bag.
“I got it.”
I gave him a tight smile. There wasn’t enough left in me to argue.
“Thanks, ladies. We really appreciate it.”
“Are you going to the memorial?”
I looked at the floor and nodded.
“Such a waste. He was a nice boy. He and his father were always in here. Jimmy was always such a charmer.”
Charming snake who probably still had money in the bank from the sale of my machine.
I clenched my hands and said nothing.
Lucky slid his palm along my lower back, rubbing lightly. He took the to go bag and steered me out the door.
“Damn, Ruby. You’re almost eye to eye with me in those stilts.”
I stepped into him, grateful for the distraction. “I don’t line up with that many men.” I dropped my gaze to his mouth then lifted it to his sea-green eyes, the flippant flirting between us falling away. “Thanks for doing this.”
“Stop thanking me.” He slid his hand down to catch mine. “Let’s get this done.”
I nodded and let him lead me out of the diner vestibule. The firehouse was packed now so it was easier to drop our stuff off and leave the truck in the diner parking lot.
He kept his hand in mine as we walked across the street.
I meant to drop his hand before I walked in the room, but the guy standing at the podium was waxing poetic about what a wonderful man Jimmy Devine was.
Larger than life photos of him flanked the small stage. Blond and full of smiles, he oozed charisma and his eyes were blue and crinkled at the corners. One picture was of him in his full uniform when he’d first become a firefighter, and in the other, he wore his smoke jumper gear.
Murmurs filled the room. Polite laughter came from people who knew him and loved him.
Once upon a time, I’d been in that list. I’d been fooled too.
At at once, my knees dissolved.
Lucky gripped my hand harder and hauled me against him. I rested my palm against his warm chest. That clean, fresh scent filled my nose and cleared out the little black spots that had been forming at the edges of my vision.
The spell broken, I glanced into the crowd. My gaze landed on a man with a scooter near the wall.
Cohen.
Mottled green bruises covered his jaw, the last ugly reminder of what had happened. They looked as if they were on the way to healing. His leg was in a cast up to the knee. He was using the scooter to stand.
Lucky followed my gaze and gently shuffled me forward.
Ezra was leaning against the wall behind Cohen, his usual dark-rimmed glasses perched on his sharp nose. He wore a suit that had been obviously made for his lanky body. He spotted me and waved me over, a frown forming on his face as he caught sight of the man beside me.
My dad and Rhett were two peas in a pod as always. I finally slipped my hand from Lucky’s and went right to my dad. The tears I’d been holding onto tracked down my cheeks.
He caught me tight. Jeff Burns might have been the elder statesman of this crazy crew, but he was still a solid wall of muscle. He smelled of Tom Ford with a hint of motor oil. The old black leather jacket he wore was as familiar as his scent.
I stepped back and dashed at my eyes. I gave Rhett a quick hug. He was the dapper one of all of us in a modern suit and smelled like something expensive. I moved onto Ezra.
He crushed me close and murmured, “Who’s the tree?”
“A friend.”
He arched a brow, but thankfully, it wasn’t the time for questions. I knew I’d have to answer them eventually.
That was a problem for another day.
Cohen was staring straight ahead, his eyes flat and emotionless.
“Co,” I said softly.
He shook his head, not meeting my gaze.
The tears hit again. I tipped my head back to stop the flow. Then I felt Lucky at my back, his big hand coming to rest on my hip. All that warm sturdiness was like another blow when I felt so damn wobbly.
Cohen finally looked at me. Desolation filled his gray green eyes. They were rimmed with red, but as dry as ash. His jaw flexed and he swallowed hard.
I stepped closer to him, but he shook his head.
I dropped my arms. “Co.” My voice broke. “I’m so sorry.”
“It should have been me,” he whispered.
“No.” I didn’t care right then what he wanted. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders. They were usually so sturdy and strong. He’d always been whip lean, but all muscle. Now I only felt bones.
He didn’t hug me back.
I held on anyway.
Whomever was talking finished and the attendees begun clapping. They called someone else up to talk about Jimmy. The woman spoke about how amazing he was. How much he helped others. How generous he was with his time.
Each piece of the eulogy lashed at me.
When I could take no more, I stepped back. Cohen wouldn’t look at me. He’d gone back to staring at nothing. Maybe at some memory we would never share.
Lucky took my arm and tried to lead me over t
o the wall by my dad, but I couldn’t stay.
“Please get me out of here.” My voice was shaky and foreign.
The whole room was too hot, too much.
People were everywhere, and it felt like I was standing in molasses.
Lucky laced our fingers and dragged me out into the sunshine. Into the brisk October breeze. I shivered, hugging myself as he urged me forward. Down a walkway scattered with leaves and then my heels were sinking into grass.
I stumbled into him, and he wrapped those huge arms around me.
“I just need a minute,” I said against his soft gray shirt. I buried my face in his chest and just held on. “Just a minute.”
“As long as you need, Ruby.”
Eleven
I wasn’t sure what to do with a trembling Tish Burns in my arms. She was usually all crackle and movement. In a rush to be somewhere else as if her body was too tuned up to stay stationary.
For the first time, she felt small and fragile.
Part of me wanted to roar and slash at anyone coming at her and then there was the other half of me who wanted to run. To scrape off the feelings clinging to me like mud off a boot.
But they were here to stay.
There was no doubt in my mind that her initials were carved into my chest like an old oak. I could say with complete certainty no one had ever been important enough to scratch the surface let alone scoop out bone. Especially a persnickety female who would probably skin me alive for these hugs when she got herself straight.
For now, I’d enjoy her cinnamon and coffee scent. I also appreciated that I didn’t have to bend myself in half to hug her, a true pleasure for a man nearly six and a half feet tall in work boots. But my Valkyrie, with braid included today, was perfect for me. I could barely tuck her under my chin.
Before she could get prickly on me, I took her hand again and drew her back toward the road so we could get the hell out of here. I glanced back to make sure she was with me. The silvery tracks of her tears through her makeup shredded me in ways I couldn’t fathom right now.
“I’m wearing heels, pal.”
I slowed a bit, but we still hurried across the street to the diner. I bustled her into the truck and slammed the door, then ran around to my side.
She gave me that almost smile. “When I said get me out of here, I didn’t really mean Avengers-style, Thor.”
I flushed. “Yeah, well, I don’t do well with female tears.”
She rolled her eyes. “It was a memorial.”
“For a dude you hated.”
Maybe. Jury was on the fence on that one.
She scrunched down in her seat and crossed her arms. “I don’t hate my brother.”
I chirped the wheels as I bounced over the curb to head off the traffic that was starting to come out of the firehouse. She might not hate her brother, but I’d witnessed the quick slice of pain from his indifference. I knew there was more to the story.
Guilt and sorrow what been stacked as high as my Viking princess in that room.
At least the tears had faded. I was much more comfortable with the surprise lighting her features as she grabbed her seatbelt and clipped it in place.
I gunned the engine to get out of the city traffic, turning off one of the back roads. I’d looked at maps on my phone while she got ready. It had been awhile since I’d been in Connecticut, but I’d hoped to lure her into taking a nice drive after the memorial.
Now it looked like we were going for a full-fledged escape. And I was here for it.
“Where are you taking me?”
“A little spot I know.”
“We’re in the middle of Connecticut.”
“Remember that whole roadie thing?”
She sighed. “Is that going to be a name drop all the time now?”
“I’ll ignore the catty comments since you’re having a bad day.”
“Big of you.” She rolled her eyes. “Yes, I remember your time with the famous Flynn Sheppard.”
I shook my head. “Well, he didn’t like to be boxed in. We knew where to find open spaces in damn near every state.”
She grabbed her sweater out of the backseat. “I don’t care where you take me, just as long as it’s far from here.” She bunched up her sweater and shoved it against the window as a pillow then turned away from me.
That damn dress was going to end me. It stretched across her bitable ass and clung to her hips. She kicked off her shoes and curled her knees up under the skirt of the dress. A soft black cocoon created for her to totally withdraw into herself.
I’d hoped to have a little longer before she shut down, but I’d just have to rely on the views from the road.
I headed toward the water and left the music on low. Sure enough, she hadn’t been lying on the soundless sleep. I kept looking over to see if she was awake or not.
But the steady rise of her shoulders told me she was sleeping off the heavy day. I couldn’t blame her. The blank look in her brother’s eyes had cut at me, and I didn’t even know him.
The other men in her life had stared me down like I was a tick on their beloved dog. The older man with the gray hair who looked like he led a motorcycle gang scared me the most. Second only to the brother who bore the same features and temperament. The one in the suit, Rhett, was the only one who hadn’t made me feel immediately unwelcome.
I didn’t have all the details on her family situation, but there had definitely been shock on their faces to see me with Ruby. Was it because I was a lumberjack-looking dude or because I was simply a male? Maybe she was as solitary as she seemed.
As I drove, my gaze returned to her again and again.
I should’ve encouraged her to check in with them, make sure they knew she was okay, but letting her rest seemed more important than giving her family the 411 on her whereabouts.
Since she’d passed out so thoroughly, I opted for a place a bit closer to Crescent Cove. If I pushed it, I could probably get us back home, but I was pretty sure she needed the quiet time. Knowing my Ruby, she’d disappear into her workshop instead of letting herself mend. And I was pretty sure the healing view was worth it.
We were driving into the sun, my belly reminding me I hadn’t had lunch. I’d already raided the club sandwiches I’d ordered from the diner. Ruby barely moved.
Then again, she probably hadn’t slept well last night after that phone call with her brother.
Twice in two days, I’d seen behind the curtain. Her tough girl side was definitely her default setting. It was sexy as hell—especially when she was grouchy—but the clawing pain in those doe eyes had about done me in.
Rest and more rest was on the menu tonight, whether she liked it or not.
I rolled down the window as I sailed through the mouth of the park. It was the off-season, but there were enough people around to take in the seasonal changes that I had to check in for a campsite.
I asked for one off the beaten path. It was too late to hike up into the area with waterfall views, but we’d be able to hear the water from where we were parked.
Driving over the uneven roads should have jostled her awake, but she was seriously deep under.
I parked in the middle of an open field. Trees surrounded us in red, gold, and perpetual pine green. Leaves dusted the grass, attesting to the lateness of the season. The air had the tang of fall laced with the nearby waterfall. An achingly blue sky was already starting to darken in deference to the shorter days.
Shrugging out of my dress shirt, I tossed it into the backseat before I got out and leaped into the truck bed. I always kept my camping gear stashed in my truck. I never knew when I’d have the urge to disappear for a few days. With Caleb becoming more and more unavailable, there wasn’t much to keep me around unless I was working.
I pulled out my gear from my waterproof locker. I was a big guy, so I’d had to special order an air mattress that could handle me. I rolled it out, but held off on blowing it up since that would definitely wake up Ruby.
I sk
ipped the tent cap. A clear night was in the forecast, and the subzero sleeping bags would keep us cozy. Maybe we’d even get to share a little body heat if I was lucky.
The real star of the show would be sleeping under the stars, and maybe, just maybe, it would help get her out of her thoughts.
I glanced through the back window and saw her head suddenly pop up.
She looked out the front then the window on her side of the truck before turning around. Sleep creases marred her smooth skin, her makeup had smudged under her eyes, and her braid was coming loose.
My Ruby was too goddamn beautiful for words.
She stumbled out of the cab of the truck with a litany of suggestive ways to fuck someone sideways. I was willing to volunteer to help her out there. I wasn’t sure what it said about me that I got turned on by her surly nature.
She slammed the door and gave me a menacing look.
I opened the sliding window and fished the air mattress pump cord through. “Hey, can you plug that in?”
She put her hands on her hips. “Where the hell are we?” She frowned at the line of trees before whipping her gaze back to me. “Did you bring me out here to murder me? It feels very murdery out here.”
I laughed. “At a campsite?”
“Hello, Crystal Lake was a sleepover camp. Didn’t stop those kids from getting killed.”
“So, we aren’t going to watch scary movies while we camp out?”
“Do I look like the kind of girl who camps out?”
“You look like the kind of girl who can handle anything.”
Her jaw dropped for a moment, and no words seemed to form. Her dark eyes flashed confusion, frustration, and then back to anger. “Ugh.” She stomped back to the cab of the truck and climbed in. She yanked the cord, looked around, then found my charger.
She backed out and whirled around. “Is there a bathroom?”
I reached into the locker and came up with biodegradable wipes. “Wherever you want, Ruby.”
“Dear God.” She huffed out a half laugh. “Where are the other campers?”
“I figured you’d want some privacy. We’re all alone out here.”
“Murdery,” she reiterated.
“Nah. If I wanted to murder you, I could have done it while you were sleeping.” I pressed my hands against my cheek and closed my eyes. “Sleeping so soundly.”
