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A lump formed in Ruby’s throat. “Get a grip,” she muttered, quickly clearing it. There was no time for nostalgia or sentiment. Not today, anyway.
She scooped up Tasha and glanced at her watch, brow furrowed as she turned in a circle, looking for Ryder. He’d promised to meet her in the main square by the clock tower at ten o’clock and take the dog for the day. That was fifteen minutes ago.
“Don’t do this to me, Ry,” she muttered, pulling her cell from her back pocket. He hadn’t called to say he’d be late. Typical.
She had
maybe another fifteen minutes to spare before she had to leave for the golf course. Sighing heavily, she trudged into the coffee shop, deciding a shot of caffeine would make things better. The place was busy with patrons who’d just watched the parade, and by the time Ruby made her way back outside, her fifteen minutes were nearly up.
Her phone pinged, and she grabbed it again, shifting Tasha to her other hip as she answered. It was Chance. She stared at his name and then, feeling silly, hit the button.
“Hey,” Ruby said. She could hear voices in the background.
“You on your way?”
“Yes. Just getting organized,” she replied, a little breathless as she balanced her coffee and Tasha. “Well, in five minutes or so.”
“No worries. I just wanted to touch base since we didn’t see each other last night.” There was no hint of accusation. No subtle knock on the door. And for whatever reason, that made Ruby feel guiltier than she already did.
“I’m sorry. I just…I had such a bad headache.” Truth. “And I worked late.” Lie. “I would have been awful company.” Truth.
There was a pause.
“I’m just glad you’re feeling better today. I saw Sidney a few minutes ago, and she’s wearing bright pink. You won’t be able to miss her.”
A smile crept over Ruby’s face. “She does love pink.”
“I gotta run, but have a good game. Not sure if I’ll see you until after the tournament.”
Wait. What? “I thought we were golfing together?” She spied Ryder on the sidewalk just across from her and waved, nearly dropping Tasha and her phone. She swore, and by the time she had her phone back to her ear and the dog under control, Chance was saying goodbye and telling her he’d see her at dinner.
Click. The end.
Annoyed, she pocketed her cell and glared at Ryder. Dressed casually in faded jean cuttoffs, sandals, and a plain white T-shirt, he looked good. His hair was on the long side, the scruffy beard on his jaw all the rage, and his handsome face always turned heads. It wasn’t until he got closer that the signs of his addiction became more apparent. He was too thin. His classic features too pronounced. And the dark circles under his eyes dulled the vibrant blue. But today, for some reason, shades of his past were present, and he looked better than he had in a long time.
His smile was wide, but it faded as he reached his sister, replaced by a look that pissed her off even more. He was looking at her as if she were the one with the problem.
“You’re late,” she managed to say coolly.
“You’re pissed.” He reached over and scratched Tasha under the chin, eliciting a soft bark in return.
“You could have texted me. I would have met you at the house.”
“My phone was dead.”
Unbelievable. “And you’re how old?”
“Same as you,” he quipped, a hint of a smile touching his face once more. “Only three minutes older.”
“Are you high?”
His smile immediately vanished. “No.” He took a step back and shoved his hands into his front pockets. “Jesus, Ruby lighten up. I was late because Mrs. Davis’s air-conditioning unit stopped working, and it’s gonna be hot as hell. She asked me to look at it.” His eyes narrowed. “Why are you so grouchy anyway?”
“I’m not grouchy.”
“Yeah, you are. Grouchy is actually too a nice word.” He reached for Tasha again, and this time took the dog. “I’m guessing Blackwell has something to do with your mood.”
Ruby handed her brother the leash and took a moment to consider her answer. “Travis Blackwell is old news, Ry. He’s in the past.”
