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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.”
