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“What the hell?” A woman sat on the edge, half dressed with a cigarette dangling from the corner of her mouth. Dark, tangled hair snaked down her bare back, and she looked over her shoulder at Ruby. Her makeup was smudged badly, her mouth exaggerated and her raccoon eyes hollow. She was thin, her shoulder blades sharp, but then again, weren’t all addicts?
“Oh, it’s you.” The voice was rough, hoarse from cigarettes, and the tone dismissive. More than just annoyed, Ruby moved an inch closer, eyes now fully adjusted to the dim lighting, and frowned. Fiona Winters.
Ruby’s gaze moved to the other side of the bed, where the top of her brother’s head poked out from underneath the covers. Jesus. Some things never changed. Ruby cleared her throat, eyebrows raised. “I’m guessing Dan is away?” Fiona’s husband was a good guy. Too bad he was married to an addict and—again her eyes rested on her brother—an adulteress.
Fiona shrugged, though there was a wary look in the recesses of those dark, racoon eyes. “I don’t know.” She took another puff from her cigarette and slowly blew it out. “I haven’t been home in a few days.” She reached for her cell phone and held it in her hand. “He stopped calling me yesterday morning.” Her voice now hushed, a slight tremble rode beneath her words.
Before Ruby could respond, Fiona yanked up her dress and shimmied until it settled properly over her hips. She scooped up her purse, smokes, and a jacket from off the floor, and, with a pair of fire-engine-red, four-inch spikes in her free hand, walked past Ruby.
“He’s probably out cold for at least a couple of hours. We tied one on last night.” Fiona disappeared down the hall, and a few moments later, Ruby heard the front door slam shut.
She wasn’t sure how long she stood there in the dim light, eyes on the sleeping form of her brother. But it was long enough for those old emotions to take hold. The ones that clawed at her. Kept her up at night. Would her brother ever defeat the demons that haunted him? Would he ever be healthy again?
Throat tight, Ruby quietly left the room and shut his door. She walked back to the kitchen and stared at the mess before her. It was midafternoon, and she had a ton of work waiting for her back at the spa. Reports to go over, emails to return, and a conference call at four. She glanced down at her expensive shoes, at the cream Gucci skirt wrapped around her hips. The sleeveless pink blouse she’d never worn before. Her manicured nails a matching shade.
It was a study in contrast, to be dressed like this, standing in this kitchen. She glanced at her watch once more and, after a slight hesitation, kicked off her shoes. The cupboard by the front closet still held her old slippers, and Stella’s cleaning products were stored neatly on the shelf. She carried a bucket, mop, and all the other stuff she needed back to the kitchen, then tied her hair up into a loose knot.
Ruby tucked away all those feelings that clogged her chest and made it hard to breathe. She tucked them away fiercely, because there was no time to dwell on things that couldn’t be changed.
She grabbed a pair of rubber gloves and got to work.
Chapter 3
“So, what’s your plan?”
It was Sunday, and the first rays of sunlight had just broken open the night sky. Outside, the birds greeted the coming morning with an enthusiastic burst of song, and, with a yawn, Travis reached into the cupboard for a coffee mug. He looked back at his brother with a frown.
“Christ, Hudson, it’s not even six yet. What the hell are you doing here?” His brother’s loud knocking had dragged him out of bed less than ten minutes earlier.
“Couldn’t sleep and didn’t want to wake Becca or the baby.”
Travis held up a second mug and, at Hudson’s nod, poured two black coffees. The men didn’t say a word and headed outside to the dock. Travis grabbed a small towel on the way out, and once he dried off the Muskoka chairs, they settled in to watch the sunrise.
Travis glanced at his brother. “How’s the kid?”
“Hank’s doing great.”
Travis paused, mug halfway to his mouth. “I thought his name is Jameson?”
Hudson nodded. “It is.”
“But you call him Hank.”
“Yep.”
Travis took a sip of coffee. He wasn’t going to ask.
Silence fell between the two of them, and Travis’s thoughts moved to Ruby. No matter what he did, he couldn’t seem to shake them. Hell, he’d even dreamt about her the night before. He’d woken up hot and sweaty and horny as hell. And she was the number one reason for his current grumpy mood. Though Hudson was coming up a close second.
“Travis!”
Startled, he glanced at his brother. “What was that?”
Hudson set down his mug. “I was wondering what your plans were. Would you consider sticking around Crystal Lake for the summer? I could use a hand out here. Someone to keep an eye on things, at least for a month or so until Rebecca’s back on her feet. With all the construction, we’ve decided to stay in
town.”
The resort was in the midst of a major renovation. Travis had been lucky enough to score one of the newly updated cottages, but there were still several in various stages of work. He sat up a little straighter, eyes once more on the water. He forgot how much he missed this place. This lake. This resort. How many summers had he spent here with his family? Too many to count. Back then, things had been good. Back then, his mother had still been alive, and his father hadn’t been eaten up by bitterness and guilt.
