Bourbon Summer (Bourbon Canyon #6)

Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

Tenor

Four fucking men surrounded Ruby. Their laughter, mingled with hers, filled the bar. It had been three hours and she was on her fifth Malibu Coke—not having to turn over a single dime to pay for any.

Allen, the jackass bartender who wouldn’t quit ogling her tits, was known to pour the drinks strong. Not only did too much of a good thing ruin a good drink, but it was expensive as hell. No wonder Scooter couldn’t turn a profit and fix up this place.

Ruby held her phone out and all the idiots crowded around her. She’d been taking pictures of her drinks, of them, of Allen, and gushing about how good they’d look on a Flatlanders Prohibited poster.

Allen, the fucker, got her to send him the images—and her phone number in the process. Slick bastard.

I was scowling at the group when a pair of jean-clad hips blocked my view. The hem of those shorts didn’t cover much leg.

Cassie Horner and her sister, Andi, had arrived shortly after me. I’d thought they’d leave me alone, but I wasn’t so lucky tonight. I wrapped my hands around my beer bottle. It was the only way I knew I’d get a measured amount of alcohol. I was lucky to get served at all. Pure nosy confusion was the only reason Allen had come to my booth.

“Hey, Tenor,” she purred.

Cassie had always let me know she’d be interested in something. It hadn’t mattered if she was seeing someone or not, she hit on me and Teller whenever our paths crossed.

“Evening, Cassie.”

She slid into the other side of the booth.

Alarmed, I looked around for Andi. Surely she wouldn’t ditch her sister. I had to keep an eye on Ruby.

Ruby was fine. More than fine. Which was my problem.

Andi was headed toward the hallway the bathroom was in, but then she stopped to talk to the table of guys who ran the implement store. Shit. She could be a while. I’d been hung up once for an hour when I’d encountered one of them at the gas station.

Ruby laughed and kicked her feet at something the guy on her right said. He’d been several years behind me in school. Still older than her.

Cocksucker.

“Whatcha doing later?” Cassie asked.

I shrugged, my gaze on the group at the bar, and she leaned closer.

A whoop went up and Ruby cheered with each of the men. Allen set another glass in front of her. Was this drink six?

She was laughing and taking a pull when she turned and saw me. Her gaze narrowed on Cassie and she knocked back half the glass. I’d been trying to act like I wasn’t spying on her, but this time I waited for her gaze to clash with mine.

She arched a brow. I kept my gaze steady, promising. What I promised was yet to be determined.

Ruby ran her tongue along her teeth and flipped her hair as she turned back to the first man who’d bought her a drink.

Cassie glanced over her shoulder. “You know her?”

“She’s an employee.”

Cassie looked again, then back at me. “Is she why you’re here?”

Yes. “I’m just watching out for her.”

“Uh-huh.” She braced her elbows on the top of the table. “You watch all your employees that closely?”

If I told Cassie we were dating, this little setup would look weird as hell, like some sort of torture kink I didn’t have. But then if she heard Ruby and I were dating later, it’d look messed up. The only thing seeing Ruby surrounded by horny men did to me was flip the switch on my caveman brain. I wanted to toss her over my shoulder and haul her away. Then gouge out every man’s eyes who saw her ripe, round ass in the air.

I forced my stare off Ruby. Cassie waited for an answer.

The only thing Cassie was guilty of was being optimistically forward. I would give her an answer of sorts. “We were on a date, and I got tired of her thinking she’s not desirable. So I told her to sit at the bar and see how many guys approached her.”

Cassie ruefully shook her head. “You brought her to the right place. Andi and I weren’t even going to come here because we wanted to talk and have a drink and be left alone. But the price is right, and I get a little pick-me-up from Allen staring at my boobs.”

A low growl rumbled out of me. Allen stared at Ruby’s tits like he could see through her top.

Cassie reclined in her seat and folded her arms, grin in place. “You’re really dating her?”

I nodded, hating the lie but knowing this was exactly what we needed—word to get around without becoming a spectacle. “It’s a new thing.”

She barked out a laugh. “I’ll say. Here I was thinking Katrina was right about you.”

I bristled. Who knew what she had said. I gripped my beer bottle. “She probably was, but Ruby’s not like her.”

“Definitely not.” Cassie sighed wistfully and ran her hand over her pale tresses. “I also assumed tall blonds were your thing. I even thought maybe you and Katrina were getting back together.”

That got my attention off Ruby. “What?” Why the hell would she think that? Hadn’t my ex spewed enough dirt about me to turn everyone off? You’re nothing but an overgrown man-child, Tenor! You catfished me.

The beer bottle I gripped held firm against my ever-tightening grip.

“She was in town at Christmas. I ran across her at Broken Oar, and she asked if I’d seen you lately.”

My stomach dropped. Broken Oar was another downtown bar. Katrina was asking about me? A good way to ruin my day was to see her. To know I hadn’t changed, and she was still right about me. All of them had been right—every woman I had dated and that dickwad from school. “Her grandparents still live in town. She’s not here for me.”

The grandparents, I didn’t mind. They still called me a nice boy when I ran across them in the grocery store. Even Katrina’s mom had been nice enough. Her dad though... It was a toss-up who sucked the most. Bobby from school, Katrina, or her dad.

“She still wants you,” Cassie said.

I grunted. “Doubt it.” My gaze strayed to Ruby. Her face didn’t just turn red from embarrassment. The spirits had given her a solid blush. How far down did it go? A question that had repeated in my brain far too many times tonight.

Cassie followed my gaze. “Katrina’s out of luck,” she muttered. She leaned over the table again. “I’m confused. You were obviously right about men tripping over themselves for a taste of Little Miss Snow White. Why are you still sitting here, letting her get hit on?”

Why was I?

Because she could have anyone. Not some workaholic who had lived with his mother until he was almost thirty and spent all his time helping his family. And when he wasn’t, he had “hobbies to be ashamed of,” according to Katrina. Hobbies that had made her embarrassed of and for me.

“She gets to choose who she’s with,” I said.

Cassie’s eyes flared. “You’d let her go home with one of them?”

Ruby was a bundle of energy. She swayed in her seat and laughed, but she was also beyond tipsy. “No. She’s drunk. But she’s having fun.”

Cassie tipped her head. “That girl might be enjoying herself, but she’s also a ninja. She’s not having the fun you think.”

I eyed Ruby again. She spun one way, took a selfie, then another.

“Every time someone gets handsy, she moves,” Cassie clarified.

Frowning, I kept studying the Ruby show. She had told me how much she loved her job, so I assumed the photo shoots were a part of it. She had free rein to take pics and pose with people who didn’t mind being in the shot. Hell, maybe she had personal accounts to post on. I would be the last to know. I used my phone for communication, checking the weather, and tracking market prices for the ranch.

A guy with a wedding ring would crowd too close from behind and she’d jerk around to laugh loudly at another guy’s joke. Then when fingertips touched her leg, she was twisting the other way.

Shit. “I’ve gotta go.”

Cassie’s laugh followed me out of the booth. I stormed across the bar and pushed through the two men crowding behind her. “Time to go.”

A chorus of male dismay rang out.

Ruby clutched at me. “Tenor. Oh my god—I think... I think you might be right.”

I helped her off the stool and she wobbled. “Of course I’m right.”

Allen was pouring what might have been her seventh drink and ogled her ass. I wedged myself between Ruby and all the guys.

Someone tapped me on the shoulder. “Dude, the lady doesn’t want to?—”

I glared at the first man to approach her. “You really want to tell me what the lady wants, Travis? Or do you want me to tell your fiancée how you spent your night?”

Ruby’s scandalized gasp rang behind me. “You’re engaged?”

All the guys went silent.

“How ’bout you, Kenny?” I asked one of the men trying to paw her from behind. “You didn’t even bother to take your ring off?” The anger inside me was rising to alarming levels, pushing against my temples. The other guys were single as far as I knew. Allen was a good target. I’d been so determined to let Ruby have what she wanted I’d been willfully ignorant of what had been going on. “So help me, Allen, if you keep leering at women, they’re not going to find your body.” Allen paled. I had the right type of land to lose a whole-ass person in and he knew it. “I might just dump you off the nearest overpass for pouring her drinks so strong tonight.”

Fucker had done it on purpose.

I prompted Ruby to head toward the door, but she wobbled again. I picked her up, slipping my arm behind her back and my other under her knees.

Her breath hitched. “You’re so strong.” Rum-scented breath wafted across my nose. “Just like the drinks,” she hissed before dissolving into giggles.

A slow clap preceded me out the door. More applause broke in.

Ruby tried to crane her neck to look over her shoulder and the move only made her breasts rub against my chest. “Who was that?”

“Probably Cassie and her sister.”

“Oh.” That plump lower lip was out with a pout. “The one you were talking to?”

“She’s just a friend.”

“Friend with benefits ?”

“No. She hits on both me and Teller and neither of us is interested. She wouldn’t be either if I actually dated her.”

She tipped her head back. A groan left her. “The stars are beautiful, but I’m dizzy. You can put me down, you know. I can walk.” She kicked a leg up to show her short heels. “I’ve just been sitting for so long.”

“I know.” She was also drunk.

“I think those guys were flirting with me,” she whispered. “I didn’t know Travis was engaged . Asshole.”

“Yep.” I was close to the pickup and wishing I’d parked another half mile away to keep holding her. Carefully I set her on her feet and opened the passenger door.

I hovered while she climbed in, albeit a little unsteadily.

Before I shut the door, I leaned in. “Why the hell do you doubt they were flirting with you?” I’d known exactly what had been in each one of those guys’ heads. I wanted to do the same things to her.

She blinked those big, innocent eyes. “I was the only choice.”

“No, you weren’t.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Does Allen know where a woman’s eyes are?”

A small laugh gusted out of me. “No. I don’t think so, Goldilocks.”

I closed the door and got in behind the wheel.

She sank into the seat and gazed out the window. “The stars really are beautiful tonight. The only chance I really get to see them is from the parking lot at Copper Summit.” She twisted in her seat until she was facing me. “Thanks for rescuing me.”

“I should’ve done it earlier.”

A sigh left her. “I enjoyed the attention, but it was also stressful. Are men usually so handsy?”

“Yes.”

“Not you.”

Around her I was.

She curled her legs under her and was quiet the rest of the way home. In the dash lights, I made out her closed eyes. Dark lashes rested on her cheeks and her mouth puffed slightly open.

I parked in the garage, hoping she’d stay asleep. She did.

I loaded her in my arms again and carried her into the house.

“You’re so strong,” she repeated against my chest and wrapped an arm around my neck.

Good thing I was close to the guest room, or I’d be doing this with a hard-on.

I entered the room and was instantly surrounded by the limoncello smell of her. There was no way I could move all my shit back into this room and spend any time in it without thinking of her.

I placed her on the bed. She whimpered and reached for me. I grasped her hands in mine. They were warm and soft. I kissed her fingertips and released her. “Get some rest, Ruby.”

“Mmm.” She rolled over. The back of her skirt hitched up. I ripped my eyes off her and stumbled for the door.

I was not going to leer at her like Allen when she was sleeping. Instead, I went to my room, shut the door, and toed off my boots. Then I turned my bedside lamp on, yanked my shirt over my head and tossed it in the laundry basket by my closet.

The bathroom door squeaked open. I paused, making sure she wasn’t retching or didn’t need help.

After a few moments, the sink turned on. Good. I took off my belt and shoved my pants down. I folded them neatly and draped them over a pile of cases that I had stacked by the closet until I could put them back into the guest room.

I ripped my blankets back just as my bedroom door opened. I froze as Ruby entered, yawning and rubbing her eyes.

Panic coalesced in my chest. Shit, shit, shit. “Ruby.”

She blinked, her eyes going wide. Her gaze touched on my chest, and she drew her fingers across her collarbone. Her attention traveled lower and she mouthed wow .

I scrambled for a shirt, but I had none near me. The closet was behind her.

She cocked her head, studying me. Then she closed the distance between us.

I backed up until the backs of my legs hit the end table. “Ruby...”

She traced the faint silvery lines at my shoulders. I had hoped my old stretch marks would go away as I got older, but no such luck. They’d faded but were still visible. I jerked like her fingertips were pure voltage.

I gulped. I wanted her touch, but I also wanted her to forget seeing a thing. Not many people had ever seen me shirtless.

“You have such a nice body,” she murmured and danced her fingers over my pecs.

My dick had taken note of her presence in my bedroom. The oxygen being supplied to my brain was getting dangerously low. Soon all I’d have was that caveman that wanted to throw her on the bed and flip her skirt up. “You need to go back to your bed.”

Those ripe lips puffed out. She snatched her hand back. “I knew you were only taking pity on me.”

I grabbed her hand and held it. “I’d be between your legs right now if you weren’t drunk.”

That was supposed to have been a threat, but it came out as a confession.

“I am not dru—” A giggle left her. “I might be a little. Those drinks were really strong.” She hitched my hand closer and inspected it. “You’re big everywhere.” She gave my crotch a pointed look. “Like, really big. Am I dreaming?”

She sucked in a breath and looked to the stacks of bins around me. Interest filled her eyes and a smile lit her face.

Fuck. She wasn’t dreaming, but this was my nightmare. The taunting was coming.

“What’s all this?” She bent over to peer inside the display case. “Are those figurines?”

“They’re models.”

“Of what?”

Here we go . “It’s, uh . . . Warhammer.”

She squinted harder. “Warhammer?”

“Tabletop gaming,” I mumbled.

She turned to peer at me. “Come again?” She bent over the stacked black bins to look at a clear display case behind them. “Are they, like, orcs?”

“Yeah, actually, those are actually Orks.” I scratched behind my neck, put my hands on my hips, then shoved my fingers through my hair. How much of this would she remember when she was sober?

“What do you do with them?”

Her curious tone helped unknot some anxiety. “I buy the models, then I paint them?—”

She rose with a gasp and swayed. I caught her elbow.

“You painted these?” She held on to me as she bent back over. She traced the plexiglass, leaving a smudge behind. “So many small parts.”

“That’s part of the appeal.”

She rose again and used the same finger to follow my old stretch marks. “You’re a real artist. What else do you do with them?”

My mind fogged with lust. What had she asked?

Right. Exactly what I had never wanted to explain to another woman again. “I get together with others—mostly guys—and we... play.”

She blinked. “Oh. That sounds fun.”

I blew out a gusty breath, surprised. “Really?”

“I mean, you could have a giant blow-up doll collection. Porn. Guns.”

“I have guns, but I don’t paint those.”

She giggled and spun around. When she bent over to look at another case, I bit back a groan and aimed my gaze at the ceiling. Too late. My heartbeat slammed through my dick.

“I bet you give really good orgasms,” she said.

Desire rammed into me. The war I’d been losing over my erection was done. I had to have heard wrong. “What’d you say?”

She straightened, then bypassed me and crawled between my sheets.

Dear god, she was in my bed. Her limoncello scent would be on my sheets. “Ruby?—”

“All that patience?” She scooted to the other end. Then she curled onto her side facing me and pulled the covers to her chin. “All those tiny details? The reverent way you have everything stored? A guy that pays that much attention to models can probably find a woman’s clit.” She snorted. “I don’t think Brock knew what a clit’s function was.”

How did I respond? Why was she in my bed? “It’s been a long time, but yeah. I know exactly what a clit is for.”

“So you don’t date and you don’t fuck?”

“I can control myself.” Tonight suggested perhaps not.

She rolled her eyes back and moaned. “Control and patience. Tenor, you’re like the hero in my fanfic. So tightly wound that when he blows...” She turned her sultry smile on me, her gaze traveling down my body.

“I’m not a hero in anyone’s story.”

“You saved my pride.” She patted the other side of the bed. “Come on. Get in. Can you shut the light off?”

I almost did as she asked without question. “You should go to your room.”

“You’re warmer. And you won’t touch me.” Her eyelids drifted shut. “I’ll have to make myself come again thinking about how you kissed me.”

“Jesus, Ruby.”

She cracked an eye open. “I said your name when I did too.”

A drunk Ruby was a painfully honest Ruby. My erection was growing painful. “Christ.”

“Nope. Your name.” The blankets shifted. “I remembered what it was like to have you towering over me with that big body of yours,” she groaned. “So nice.”

The covers jostled again. She was moving her legs apart. “Ruby.” Her name came out alarmed. Terrified. Excited.

If she got herself off in my bed, I’d never get another peaceful night’s sleep. I’d have blue balls and memories and nothing else.

“God, Tenor. Your muscles are so hard.” She rolled to her back, her knees creating little mounds under the covers.

“You can’t do this. You’re drunk.”

“Just a little.” She smiled at me, all sleepy and sexy. “I’ve built up a decent tolerance, trying all the Copper Summit lines.” Another moan. “That tongue of yours...”

If I kept standing here, I’d dive right under the sheets and bury my head between her legs. “I’ll sleep in your bed.”

“Don’t leave,” she whimpered. “I’ve liked you for so long.”

I froze. “How long?”

“When Brock dumped me, I didn’t feel guilty anymore noticing you. Then I got obsessed,” she hissed and arched up. The blankets pressed against her hand and I could see it move. She was working herself like I wanted to.

She might be under the influence, but she also wasn’t stopping and she was exploding soon. If I left and she remembered this in the morning, would she blame herself? If I stayed, she could blame me instead of being humiliated. I couldn’t let Ruby feel bad about herself.

I flipped the light off and climbed between the sheets. I stretched out next to her. I wouldn’t participate, but I’d be right here with her. “How wet are you?”

“So wet,” she whispered.

The room was bathed in darkness, but I drank in as much of her profile as I could. “Put a finger inside.”

She paused. In the dark, the weight of her gaze rested on me. Then the covers rustled as she did what I asked.

“In and out, Goldilocks. I want it to be just right for you.”

“It’d be better if it was you.”

I could imagine her little pout. “I know.”

I’d told her I’d show her what she was missing, and from the sound of it, her ex had missed her clit a lot.

“What would you do to me if it was you?” She was talking in a whisper, but pure, unadulterated desire laced her tone.

I’d face any regret later. Right now, I’d indulge her because when it came down to it, that was all I really wanted to do. “I’d spread those pretty thighs of yours wide open.” I was rewarded with a groan. “Then I’d look my fill. I bet your pussy matches your name. Ruby red and just right.”

“Tenor,” she gasped.

“That ignored clit of yours would get lots of attention.”

“Yes.”

“From my tongue. From my fingers.”

“Tenor.” The bed rocked as she ground against her hand.

“Is that finger still in your tight pussy, Ruby?”

“Yes.”

My dick throbbed like she was fisting it. “Add another.” Her breathing stuttered again, but her hips quit pumping as she did it. “I bet you’re nice and full now.”

Her hair rustled against the pillow when she nodded.

“Now ride your hand and pretend your thumb is my tongue, licking your clit in tight circles.”

Her moan dragged out. “I don’t want to come yet.”

“You’re going to.” I could only suffer for so long. I didn’t want to jack off next to her and miss anything.

“I love it when you’re bossy.” She arched high. “Oh god.”

“Say my name.”

“Tenor.” She let out a cry. “ Tenor .”

The bed shook with her orgasm. “That’s it, Ruby. Let it go. I’m right here.”

Another cry. “I wish it was you.” Then she went lax, panting next to me. “That was the strongest orgasm I’ve ever had, and you didn’t even touch me.”

I couldn’t move. If the blankets brushed against me, I’d come as fast and hard as a rocket. Then I’d have a mess to clean up and I didn’t want to leave this little cove we’d made.

“Goodnight, Tenor,” she said in a soft, sated voice.

“Night, Goldilocks.”

Her breathing evened out. I listened to her until my erection got less excruciating and I could finally rest. In the morning, I’d find out if she hated me for this.

Ruby

I woke to a dull thud behind my temples. I cracked my eyes open. Rows of books faced me.

I squinted at the spines. My headache sharpened. The spines all had different names, but one of the books was propped up and faced out. Warhammer 40,000 .

Warhammer.

When did I get all these books?

Clarity snapped into place. With a gasp, I sat up. I was in Tenor’s bed.

Heat flooded my cheeks. I’d walked into the wrong room and I’d stayed.

He’d been shirtless.

He’d been pantless.

He’d been so hot. A column of muscle with fine silver lines at his shoulders and just above the waistband of his underwear around his hips. Tenor was a boxer briefs man.

The other side of the bed was empty, but I was surrounded by his scent, soap with a hint of pine.

Memories cascaded in. His hot words in my ear. My climax. I was still in his bed.

Oh. My. God. I’d gotten myself off right next to him. I’d started before he was even in bed!

I pressed my hands against my sweltering cheeks.

But he hadn’t left. I hadn’t scared him away.

I couldn’t believe I’d done that.

I smacked my tongue against the top of my dry mouth. A water bottle was on the nightstand, along with a bottle of pain reliever.

My hangover wasn’t awful, but I needed the water, or it’d get worse.

Why had I drunk so much?

Right. The nerves from having so much attention from men. The heavy-on-the-Malibu and Cokes. My boobs felt dirty from Allen’s attention.

But I’d had fun taking selfies and photos of the drinks. My creator brain didn’t often get to run wild with people, but those fellas had been up for a lot. Amazing what guys would do to get into a girl’s pants.

Except for Tenor.

He’d stalked right in and literally picked me up.

My stomach fluttered. A lurch followed.

Water. Then food.

I chugged the bottle. Before I went searching for food, I swung into the guest room and gathered fresh clothing. I took a quick shower and towel-dried my hair. Dressed in navy linen shorts and a gray shirt that said nothing but Bookish , I trudged to the kitchen. A pan covered with aluminum foil in the fridge had a note on it with heating instructions.

I lifted the foil and my stomach rumbled. Breakfast burritos. Had he made them?

I heated up two. I didn’t overindulge with alcohol often, but I got ravenous when I did.

When I was halfway done with the second one, Tenor walked in.

He drew himself up and stuck close to the door when he saw me.

My mouth was full but I gave him a lopsided smile that was probably more like a grimace. Time to face the reckoning.

I swallowed. “So last night . . .”

He slouched against the door. “Yeah... about that?—”

“I’m really sorry if I made you uncomfortable,” I rushed on.

He cocked his head like he hadn’t heard me. “Made me uncomfortable?”

“I don’t usually act like that. I invaded your space and then I...” My words caught in my throat. How embarrassing. “I was just inappropriate.”

He crossed the distance between us in seconds, planted his hands on the table, and leaned in close, his face inches from mine. “If you think having a beautiful woman get herself off to the thought of me in my bed makes me uncomfortable, you didn’t see or feel the erection I’ve had ever since.” He tilted my chin up with his rough fingertips. His brown eyes were bright behind his lenses. “That was the hottest night of my life.”

I scoffed. What he said refused to register. He’d been out of my league even before I’d seen him with his shirt off.

He didn’t take his fingers off my face. “Do you know how badly I wanted to taste you?”

But he hadn’t.

He took my hand and prompted me to stand. “You’re sober now.”

I was. “The water was really thoughtful. Thank you.”

He gripped my hips and lifted me. My ass was planted on the top of the table and he wedged himself between my legs. “You’re welcome.” He took his glasses off and set them beside me. Then he planted his mouth on mine.

I curled my arms around his neck and greedily returned the kiss. He hadn’t kissed me last night, but he hadn’t let me make a spectacle of myself alone.

If you think having a beautiful woman get herself off to the thought of me in my bed makes me uncomfortable, you didn’t see or feel the erection I’ve had ever since.

He’d been into it?

He pulled back, keeping his forehead against mine. “I wasn’t going to take advantage of you, Ruby. But don’t think that means I wasn’t interested.”

I hated that I needed constant reassurance. He was hot and cold, sometimes flashing back and forth in an instant. The man was so carefully restrained.

Memories from last night crystallized. The shock on his face when I walked in had morphed into self-consciousness. The rigid way he’d stood when I gave his body attention. It was the same when I had spotted all the belongings haphazardly stashed around his bed and dresser.

“I’m just a man, Goldilocks. Just because I’ve sworn off relationships doesn’t mean I don’t react to having a sexy woman in my house.”

Well. That was a splash of cold reality on the heat his words had caused. He wanted to fuck me, but he didn’t want to be with me otherwise.

I wasn’t completely let down. He was affected by me, and I’d soak that up while I could.

His eyes were a warm brown, always putting me at ease, but in their depths, the intensity simmered. Was I the only one to see it? Why did he hide the real him? “Were those bookshelves in your bedroom originally in the dining room?”

He worked his jaw, but he didn’t pull out of my reach. “Yes.”

“Why did you move them?”

He propped his hands on the tabletop on either side of me.

I traced my fingers along his forehead and down the sides of his face. So many facets to this man and I found each one fascinating.

“After high school, I didn’t go to college. I didn’t need to. I had a job waiting for me, so I just took classes that would help me with my position at the distillery. I didn’t even build or move out right away.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that.”

His laugh was cynical. “Women don’t really find that attractive.” He nodded toward my empty plate. “Mama made those.”

“They were really good.”

“And she gave me the meatball dish. If you check the freezer, you’ll find a lot more meals. Ready to heat.”

“I wish my freezer was full of your mama’s food.”

He shook his head. “I hardly have to cook, Ruby. I got my job—both of them—because of my last name. I don’t have a degree, and my mom still cooks for me. If a woman gets beyond that, it’s my gaming. My toys .”

“They’re not toys.” At his militant look, I shrugged. “I guess they are. But, Tenor, you work hard. You work all the time. Your mom loves to spoil you. If she didn’t give you food, would you stomp around and complain?”

“I know how to feed myself.”

I poked him in the shoulder. “That’s the difference.” I flung my hand toward the bedroom. “Those figures are pure art. I don’t know much about tabletop gaming, but does it hurt anyone? Is it inherently selfish when you play? No. I bet it’s not. My stepdad used to leave Mom for weeks at a time to go on snowmobile trips. He did it one winter when she broke her ankle and was hobbling around on crutches. He went gambling in Vegas when I was home with mono and Mom couldn’t find a sitter. Context is everything, Warhammer.”

His forehead crinkled. “Did you just call me?—”

“Yes, and I’m going to keep doing it. You work hard. Everyone knows it. So you have a hobby some people don’t understand? Fuck ’em.” I ran a finger down his chest. “Next week, when I stay here, we’re going on a day date when it won’t be some big reveal. Then you’re going to show me how you paint those Orks.”

“Space marines.” His gaze skated away. “I have a new unit to paint.”

“I know of books with naughty space marines. I’ll buy one to read while you paint them.”

His eyes lifted to mine. Disbelief lit their depths. “You’re really something, you know that?”

He made me feel like it. “When we go to Crock’s wedding, we’re going to show up as a united front. They’re going to be so jealous about how comfortable we are with each other.” The idea was more appealing as I thought about it. I hadn’t noticed how anxious I’d been around Brock, just waiting for a comment about something he didn’t find attractive. One weekend at a time, Tenor was wiping away that toxic residue.

He was stroking my lower lip again. Then he withdrew his hand and dropped it to his side. He took a deliberate step back and cool air flooded between us. It was a good thing my body wasn’t steaming. “Next weekend, we’ll do what we enjoy together. No judgment.”

So he wasn’t going to kiss me again, but a weekend of hanging out wasn’t a bad consolation prize. “That sounds just right.”

“I’m glad you think so, Goldilocks. But remember... you’d better be wearing another skirt Saturday night.”