Page 21 of Big Bad Wolf

Callie grabbed her and yanked her into their booth before she could do either of those things.

“Who the hell is that?” she asked.

“Tourist, I guess.”

Callie rolled her eyes. “You know that’s not who I’m talking about.”

“Yeah,” Lena said with a laugh. “She’s obviously talking about the giant lumberjack that just rescued you from that dick.”

Ruby glanced back over her shoulder to where Rafe was sitting. He was currently glowering at his hands. They were curled up into fists on the table. She was a little afraid he was picturing them around Blaine’s neck.

Ruby turned back to the girls. “Would we call it rescuing? I had it under control.”

“You are focusing on the wrong thing here! Who is that big broody man and where the hell did he come from?” Lena asked, her cheeks rosy from drinking and laughing.

These were excellent questions of course and ones Ruby wished she had more answers to, but other than knowing that Rafe was from the County but newish to Maple Hollow and that he liked his hamburgers rare, Ruby didn’t know much about him at all.

Oh, and other than the fact that he made the little hairs on her arms stand up when he watched her and that she’d been having nonstop highly inappropriate daydreams about him since they met.

Her friend and sister were waiting expectantly, but she wasn’t going to tell them any of that.

“That is Rafe. He’s making new tables for the bar, so he’s been in a few times, and he is a raging feminist. That guy crossed the line, and Rafe just couldn’t stand for it.”

“So, it was his feminist principles that made him look like he wanted to murder that dude?” Callie asked incredulously.

“Exactly.”

Lena laughed so hard, she snorted. “How strange because I would have sworn it’s because he so clearly wants to get in your pants!”

Ruby’s face flushed hot, but she would not give in to these two and their teasing. Her sister was officially cut off.

She shook her head. “Nope. That wasn’t it at all.”

“Good to know you’re still a terrible liar,” Callie said, pointing a French fry at Ruby.

“You’re the one walking around in some dude’s flannel shirt,” Ruby countered. “What’s that all about?”

Callie popped the fry in her mouth. “I never lied about this shirt. You never asked.”

“You were being all cryptic!”

“I was not being cryptic.”

“I know whose shirt it is,” Lena whispered so loud half the bar could hear her.

Ruby glanced over her shoulder again. Rafe was still there, but she didn’t know how much longer he would stay.

“I don’t have time to discuss your secrets right now. Some of us are trying to work.”

The smile slipped from Lena’s face and Ruby regretted her words.

“I didn’t mean it like that, Lena.”

“I know. It’s fine.” She forced her lips into a weak smile, but Ruby knew it wasn’t fine. Her sister was out tonight and that was great, but this was the first time in weeks she felt well enough to leave the house, or at least brave enough. Since getting fired, she was constantly worried about having an episode in public. Judging by the way Callie patted her hand on the table, Lena must have told her the story.

“You’ll be feeling better soon,” Callie said, and Ruby was so relieved to have her friend back, to have someone else who cared about Lena nearly as much as she did. “And in the meantime, I have you to thank for this cozy hat.” Callie pulled the lopsided beanie that Lena had crocheted down over her ears. She looked absurd and Ruby had never loved her friend more.

Lena smiled. “It does look good on you.”