Page 79 of Big Bad Wolf

“And what is she to me?” he asked, his voice a dangerous rasp.

She cackled. “Oh, you poor bastard.”

“Gert—”

“Just go get your girl,” she said with a shake of her head as she wandered back into the kitchen, her laughter trailing behind her.

Fucking nymphs, he thought as he stormed across the street to pick up Ruby. They meddle and they gossip and they lie. Wasn’t that why his father hated them? He didn’t need to worry about what Gert said.

He shoved open the door to the bar, letting a burst of cold air in with him.

“Close the door!” Tom shouted from his usual booth, and Rafe kicked it shut behind him.

“Thank you!” half a dozen locals called.

Rafe raised a hand in greeting.

“Hi, Rafe!” they shouted back. Gil and Kev were here, of course. Sierra at the bar next to Sal. A few guys were hanging around the dartboard in the back. It struck Rafe how familiar this place had become to him over the past few weeks.

How long it had been since any place felt familiar.

He found Ruby immediately through the dwindling crowd. Her scent reached him even through the funk of spilled beers and fried food. She smelled like warmth and spice and home. Any rational thoughts he had about keeping his distance fled his mind as soon as he walked in the door and found her leaning over the edge of the bar, her short skirt skimming the backs of her thighs. He was an idiot to think he could ever stay away. He knew that now, standing here, watching her laugh with Macy, noticing the way wisps of hair curled around her face. She was beautiful and fearless and sexy as hell.

What was Ruby to him?

Why did she haunt him like this?

He pushed off the wall and stalked toward her. She turned, eyes wide in the dim bar.

“Ready?” he asked and her lips tipped down into a frown. Still angry with him. Angry was good. Angry was safe.

“If she’s not ready, I am.” Sierra winked at him.

“Ready,” Ruby nearly growled and Sierra cackled.

“Message received!” she said with a smile. “That’s okay. There’s a cute hiker near the dartboard I’ve been meaning to talk to.” She took her drink and hopped down from her seat, landing surprisingly gracefully considering the height of her heels.

“Thanks for closing.” Ruby waved to Macy as she grabbed her things from the bar. “Head home soon, Sal,” she said, giving the man’s arm a squeeze. He sat here most nights just for the company. Which was basically what Rafe did too when he wasn’t hiding at the diner or hanging out at the laundromat with Dolores.

Which gave him an idea.

“Dolores might need some help getting all her laundry home,” Rafe suggested, and Sal’s face lit up.

“Good thinking, big guy,” he said, hopping down from his stool with a new spring in his step.

“Have fun,” Ruby said, sending Rafe a small grateful smile for his kindness. She cared about the old man even though he drove her crazy. He felt like a lot of relationships in Ruby’s life were like that.

By the time they were in his truck, the smile was gone.

He blew out a ragged sigh. “I’m sorry.”

“Oh, yeah?”

He glanced at her from the corner of his eye and she was smirking at him. That fucking mouth.

“Yes.”

“For…”