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“Wh-what do you have in mind?” Ruby’s voice breaks as wicked thoughts of naked bodies tangled together flashes in her mind. It would be a sure-fire way to get to know each other very, very well. Tank stares at her a beat before answering, like he can read her dirty thoughts. Once more that wicked smile breaks across his face.
“I was thinking we could go away for the weekend,” Tank begins. “And before you think I’m just trying to get in your pants, there’ll be no sex. Just two friends getting to know each other on neutral territory. Take in some sights, eat good food, and just relax a few days. What do you say?” Ruby thinks about it. She really shouldn’t, but it would allow her to get away from Jacksonville. Being on the go is what has managed to keep her safe all these years, so it’s not a bad idea to leave town for a few days. A few weeks would be better, but since she’s needed for the fundraiser, a few days will have to do.
“Okay.” Ruby swallows hard, barely believing she’s agreeing to this. “I’ll go with you…Tucker.” His eyeswiden, and she laughs at the look he gives her. Ruby can’t bring herself to call him Tank any longer, not after learning about his “Grammy”.
“Good, we’ll leave as soon as your shift is over. I’ll see you in a few hours, you little imp.” Tank chuckles. “I can see you’re going to keep me grounded when Grammy isn’t around.” Ruby laughs again, unable to contain her delight. She hasn’t felt this carefree in a very long time. The feeling has her acting a bit reckless. She goes up on her toes and kisses his cheek.
“I sure plan to.” Tank’s eyes widen again, but then the happiest expression crosses his handsome face. His hands grip her waist for a moment. Then he nods and heads out of the diner with Straw in tow. Ruby has shocked herself being so bold, but she secretly loves it. The time she’s spent with Tucker over the last couple of weeks has made her feel safe and secure for the first time in a long, long time. She’s allowing herself to be and act like her true self before she had to become a drifter, never able to put down roots. A person on the run from an evil she hates to remember.
The door of the diner jingling brings Ruby back to the reality of her job. Becky is chatting away with an older couple at a table nearby, so Ruby goes to seat the newcomers. Her face beginning to hurt from all the smiling she’s doing, but she isn’t going to complain. She hasn’t felt this happy in more than six years. She’s going to savor it as long as possible.
The rest of the afternoon goes by quickly. Ruby counts it as a blessing. She’s been so busy she hasn’t had time to fret over her impending trip with the sexy beast who’s just walked in the door of the diner fifteen minutes before the end of her shift. He stalks across the diner and takes a seat in the booth where they’ve shared several meals recently. Becky approaches him as Ruby is taking an order at another table. Ruby sees Becky nod and head into the kitchen. She returns with a steaming cup of coffee in hand and places it on the table in front of Tucker.
When Ruby is finished taking her customer’s order, she hurries to drop it off in the kitchen. She gives Becky and Linda a rundown of her remaining customers. Normally she would wait until her tables were empty, but she’s planning on leaving as soon as the last table’s order is delivered.
“What are you in such a hurry about today, Ruby?” Linda asks. Her curiosity clear in her voice. Ruby doesn’t get a chance to answer before Becky pipes up.
“Did you not see that beast of a man who just came in?” Becky asks Linda who shakes her head to the negative. Becky grabs Linda’s upper arm and drags her to the double swinging doors. Cracking the doors slightly, Becky points in Tucker’s direction. Linda sucks in a breath.
“Daaammm!” Linda drawls out. “That’s one hell of a scary beast. Who is he?”
“Tank. He’s Ruby’s man,” Becky states. Linda jerks back from the crack in the doors to look at Becky.
“For real?” Linda asks. “You’re not pulling my leg, are you?”
“Nope!” Becky replies. “Serious as a heart attack. He’s been coming around here for a couple of weeks whenever Ruby’s working. Sometimes he brings her to work, and almost every night, he picks her up.” The two women continue to gawk at Tucker and make comments. Ruby has finally had enough of their antics. Time to break up the gossip fest.
“All right, you two,” Ruby grumps. “That’s enough drooling over Tucker. I’m going to take table ten’s order out as soon as it’s ready, then I’m out. You think you all can handle it?” Becky rolls her eyes dramatically.
“Don’t get your knickers in a wad,” Becky replies in a poor British accent. “We can ‘andle it.” Ruby laughs. Becky has been watching a new series on Netflix, well at least it’s new to Becky. She’s taken to speaking in a British accent from time to time. The poor girl is obsessed with the show and has aspirations to go to London and find her a ‘sexy Brit’ to shag. Linda chimes in.
“Ruby, you didn’t say why you’re in such a hurry?” Linda quirks a brow. “Going somewhere special?” Ruby chokes on her soda she’s sipping while waiting for ten’s order. Becky is all too happy to answer for her.
“She’s going to shag that big beast, you daft idiot.” Becky still speaking in her accented voice. “I doubt she’ll be able to walk come Monday.” Becky laughs like a loon.
“Oh my God!” Ruby exclaims. “I’m not “shagging” him. You two need to get your minds out of the gutter. Especially you, Becky. You’re too young to be talking about shagging men.” Becky’s mouth falls open.
“I am not!” Becky replies heatedly. “I’ve been shagging since I was sixteen years old.” Suddenly it’s Ruby’s turn to be shocked. She knew girls in her high school had talked about having sex, but Ruby had assumed they were just trying to sound experienced. She hadn’t believed them at the time, but she’s learning she’s likely the exception and not the rule. Her mother had been so strict with her not wanting her to have sex before she was married, not that Mary hadn’t just because of her mother’s wishes but more because she’s never had the opportunity with someone she wanted to have sex with. However, Tucker is someone she more than wants to have sex with. Since they’ve been seeing each other, she’s had some very vivid dreams about amorous activities between them. Ruby huffs out a breath just as she hears Jose calling to her.
“Order up, Ruby, table ten,” Jose calls across the divide between the kitchen and the counter out front. Ruby turns and loads up her tray.
“Okay, that’s enough discussing my non-existent sex life,” Ruby tells the women. “I’m out of here when this tray is empty.” She flashes them a smile and hurries out to table ten. She drops off the table’s food and then grabs her jacket from the back. After placing her apron in the laundry, she waves goodbye to Becky, Linda, and Jose. Tucker rises from his seat throwing money down on the table before coming to meet her.
“Ready to go?” Tucker asks her. Ruby’s belly is a mess of butterflies in a wind storm, but she’s more than ready to go wherever Tucker wants to take her.
“Yes, I’m ready,” Ruby replies. Tucker places his hand at the small of her back, leading her out to his truck. He helps her into the passenger seat and makes sure she’s buckled in before walking around to driver’s side. He takes his seat, buckles his belt, and starts the truck pulling out of the parking lot, heading for the interstate.
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going? Ruby asks after they have driven for a few minutes. Tucker glances over at her, giving her one of his panty-melting smiles.
“Savannah, Georgia,” Tucker says. “I’ve rented a small house for the weekend. Do you need to go pick up clothes?” Ruby’s heart clinches. She doesn’t have much in the way of clothes. Other than her uniforms for the diner, she only has about three changes of clothes, just what she can carry in her back pack. She shakes her head and lifts her pack.
“I’ve got everything right here.” She tries to sound cheery, but she can’t help feel embarrassed about her situation. Turning her head toward the window, she stares out into the dark. The lights flashing back at her as they drive. She really shouldn’t be letting him in her life, but he makes her feel safe. For the first time in over six years, she isn’t in constant fear of being found, of worrying about being dragged back into a marriage she never wanted.
* * *
Mary Catherine is being drivento meet with her future husband and his family once again. Her father and Russo, Sr. have planned an engagement party for the couple. Mary feels sick. She is still in shock this is happening. This morning, two days after she was forced to meet Giovanni, the night her father struck her, she was informed of the party, which would be taking place tonight. Her father gave her a new dress to wear. He told her it’s a gift from her fiancé. Mary looks down at red, glittering, and very revealing dress. The dress has a deep V-neck which shows off too much of her cleavage and a split on one side that reaches her upper thigh.
The car rolls to a stop. Mary is again wedged between her father and brother. She is helped from the car by her brother and led into the restaurant. Many of the same people are here tonight, but there are a lot of Mary’s family and friends also. She looks around dismayed. How have they managed to arrange a party like this so quickly.
