Chapter 3 Ruby
“When will you have some time to hang out?” my brother, Mateo, asked during our call as I was rushing through the city the next afternoon.
“I happen to own a restaurant with a bar. Anytime you want, you can just chill out, and drinks are on the house,” I said animatedly.
“You know what? I might just do that one of these days. It’s the only way I get to talk to you. Other than at Mom and Dad’s.”
Aww. That made me feel a little bit guilty. Since starting the restaurant business, I saw less of my family and friends. My schedule wasn’t compatible with anyone else’s, and although it sucked, business was business.
“Where are you heading now?”
“To meet Daphne.”
He scoffed. “Oh, so you have time for Daphne but not for me?”
“Mateo, I tried to make plans with you this week, but you said you’re too busy with that girl of yours.”
“Well, yeah, I am. Speaking of which, I need to go.”
“Sure. Have fun.”
I hung up and smiled as I entered the coffee shop, looking around for Daphne. This was one of my favorite spots, right next to the Japanese Garden. It was mostly glass and overlooked a patch of greenery.
I immediately noticed my friend sitting at a small round table.
There were already two cups on it. Yum, I bet she ordered my favorite.
Daphne also had a slice of cheesecake in front of her.
We’d been friends ever since freshman year in college in Seattle.
We’d instantly bonded over how much we missed Portland, and after graduation, we both moved right back.
Daphne had her hair in a cute French braid. She was wearing a boho-chic white blouse and jeans and was totally rocking the style.
“Hey, girl. So good to see you.”
It was three o’clock in the afternoon. She couldn’t take a break long enough to come over to the restaurant for lunch, so we decided to meet here for coffee. It was five minutes away from her office.
“Want to share my cheesecake?” she asked, pointing to the second fork on the table.
“No, I’m good.” But a split second later, I reconsidered. “Oh, what the hell.”
She pushed the plate into the center of the table, and I dug right in. It was delicious.
“I haven’t seen you in a while,” I told her.
“Oh, I know. And besides,” she said after swallowing a mouthful, “we need to talk about the engagement party.”
My stomach lurched. What? He hadn’t told her? I bit the inside of my cheek. Damn Grant Clifford and his sexy, stubborn ass. Wasn’t it bad enough that he’d totally crushed my heart? I had to be the one to tell my best friend too?
I cleared my throat. “I won’t be hosting the party.”
She narrowed her eyes, putting down her fork. “Why not?”
“Haven’t you spoken to Roger?”
“He’s perfectly happy with the location.”
“His friend Grant isn’t. ”
Her eyebrows rose to the middle of her forehead.
“Apparently, he can’t secure the property,” I explained.
“Wait, he was there in person? Damn it. I figured he’d just send an employee.”
I blinked. “What difference would that make?”
Daphne cleared her throat as I sipped my coffee. “Grant is very particular. Why didn’t Heath or Cameron come with him? Those two are more flexible.”
“Who are Heath and Cameron?” I asked.
“His brothers.”
“Oh. Well, I don’t know why it was just him, but he made it sound as if you’d be in grave danger. It was so over the top.”
“He’s got his heart in the right place.”
“Uh-huh. Just not his mouth?” I asked sarcastically.
“He can be... intense.”
I rolled my eyes. “Probably comes with the territory. Owning a security company, I mean. But still.”
“Not just that.” She cleared her throat. “It’s not my place to say, but what the hell. Grant, Heath, and Cameron were orphans.”
“Oh no!” I set my cup on the table, holding it with both hands.
“They were in the foster care system for a very long time. Grant was a teenager when their parents adopted them. He’s seen some rough things. I think that’s why he’s always a bit extra when it comes to security. To be honest, I’m not even sure why Roger thinks we need it.”
“Wait, I haven’t gotten over the orphan thing. The three of them were adopted?”
She nodded. “Yes, and their adoptive parents are fantastic people. Anyway, they’re truly good guys. But Grant is very particular. Did he say why you can’t host the party?”
“He said, and I quote, ‘I can only secure it to 90 percent, and I don’t do 90 percent.’”
Daphne burst out laughing, throwing her head back, and then she snorted through her nose. Seconds later, I started laughing, too, and then couldn’t stop. She was the first to come back to her senses.
“Oh God, that does sound like Grant.” She wiped her eyes, then looked at me.
“Listen, I’ll talk to Roger. We’ll have the party at your place, no matter what.
For all I care, we can even skip the whole security thing, though Roger probably won’t agree with it.
Anyway, we’ll reach a compromise with Grant, don’t worry. ”
I shook my head. “Yeah, that really doesn’t seem possible.”
“You don’t know Grant like I do. He’s got a tough facade, but he’s very...”
“Please don’t say flexible.”
“Oh, no, he’s not. Zero flexibility. But we’ll make it work. Now, let’s talk details.”
I didn’t have it in me to curb Daphne’s enthusiasm even though Grant seemed like he wouldn’t budge.
So instead, I threw myself into planning the party with my friend.
She’d wanted to hire an event planner in the beginning, but I told her that I’d do it.
It was the least I could do, since she was hosting a party at my restaurant out of all the available options in Portland.
Frankly, I would’ve loved to throw the party for free, but I couldn’t afford it.
I really wanted to spoil my friend. She was like the sister I never had.
I loved my brother to the moon and back, but I’d always longed for a sister.
My mom once confessed that they tried for a third baby for years, but it simply didn’t happen.
After finishing our conversation, I headed back to the restaurant. We were so busy that I completely forgot that she said she’d speak to Grant. I only checked my phone after midnight as I headed home. I had two missed calls from the same number, plus a text message.
Number: Call me whenever you get this, no matter the time. Grant Clifford
No “hello” and no “please.” I kept in mind what Daphne told me, but I still felt like roasting this guy. He deserved it for the way he’d spoken to me at the restaurant, so I didn’t call him back right away as he’d instructed. Instead, I went home, took off my shoes, and sighed.
I loved my home. It was super cozy, and I would always thank heaven that I’d gotten into the housing market early on.
I worked my ass off in college every free moment so I could graduate debt-free.
The first thing I did once I got a job was to save money for a modest down payment.
It was all I needed for this place. The house itself was tiny, but I also had a shed in my garden that I’d converted into a livable space, so I split my time between the two.
I liked to paint, and whenever I managed to find the time, I went over to the shed for that. Same for reading. The house itself was just for sleeping and eating, mostly.
I sat down on the small stool in the kitchen and called Grant. It was super late, but the man did say that he wanted me to call him no matter the hour. He answered before the first ring even finished.
“Ruby?” he asked.
“Yeah, I just got home and saw your message.”
“No matter. Thank you for returning my call. Look, I was too strict yesterday.” There was a pause, and then he said, “Roger called me after your meeting with Daphne.”
I grinned. “And you got scolded.” I had no idea why I was prodding him, but it was fun. Did the man ever let loose? “So the party is back on at my place, huh?” I added when he didn’t reply.
“I told Roger that I’ll take a look at it again.”
I stopped in the act of grabbing a cookie from my sweets jar and blinked. “Right. Just so you know, one does need time to plan a party. I can’t have you approving and disapproving the location at the last minute.”
“I haven’t approved it, Ruby. I just said I’d take another look. And didn’t you tell me you just need four hours to set up everything?”
I sighed. Good grief, where was the good guy that Daphne insisted Grant was?
“Anyway, I’d like to come after hours so I can look at the place in the evening as well.”
“Sure.”
“What time do you close the restaurant?”
“Eleven, but with cleanup and prep work, we’re usually not out of there until around midnight. Which is why I’m calling you so late.”
“I see. Okay, that won’t be a problem. I can be there at midnight so we don’t get in the way of your team.”
He was committed, I’d give him that. “Well, then, show up whenever. I’m there every evening.”
“Ruby,” he said in a tone like I was being scolded.
“Oh, right. You don’t operate that way.”
“Ruby,” he repeated, and I felt something melt inside me. Why did I like the way he said my name—even if he wasn’t happy with me? “It’s best if we decide on an evening. I don’t believe in just dropping by. You could be dealing with an emergency or something.”
“At midnight? I hardly think so, but sure, let’s decide on a day. Maybe not the weekend.”
“Then how about next week. Tuesday?”
“Of course.” I bit my lip, shimmying in my seat before adding, “Why don’t we discuss the pain points right now, though? Like the fence.”
“My company will send you a multitude of options so you can choose one that would be aesthetically pleasing to you.”
He was not going to let that go. Fine, let him send them to me. What did I know? Maybe there was an “aesthetically pleasing” option.
I usually liked to stand my ground—my mom said I was more stubborn than the entire family put together—but I didn’t want to be difficult in this case. It was my best friend’s party, after all, not mine.
“Perfect. I’ll also message you a secure link where you can share your email address with me.”
“Huh? I can just text it to you.”
“And then anyone who hacks your phone can get your email. And in turn hack your account.”
I blinked. “That’s never happened to me. And I keep my email and password in the notes app on my phone.”
“Do you know how easily anyone could steal them?” he snapped.
“And do what with them?”
“Ruby, don’t take this so lightly. Cyberattacks are—”
“I get it, Grant. Sure. Just send me that link. And I guess I’ll see you again soon.”
“Yes, you will.”
With that, he hung up, and I just stared at my phone for a few seconds.
Good God, that man is exasperating!
And far too sexy.