Chapter 18 Ruby
I loved this evening. I could totally see why Daphne said that Cameron or Heath would’ve been easier to deal with. My bet was that Cameron was the most laid-back of them all.
I sat down with the others around the food, fully expecting Grant to join us.
But Evie made a come-here motion at him, and he went straight to her, lowering himself onto his haunches.
It was endearing to see this mountain of a man so attentive with his niece.
Then again, I had a hunch that there were a lot of surprises in store when it came to Grant.
“So, Ruby, where exactly did you and Grant go this weekend?” Sybil asked.
“A cabin in the woods about four hours away.”
“That sounds lovely. My husband and I often go trekking.”
I nodded. “Grant told me. You used to do these long hikes when they were kids. He speaks very fondly of them.”
Her eyes widened. “The boys always enjoyed them. Grant far more than the rest.”
“The place we went to was amazing. So romantic.”
Sybil smiled, clearly happy for us. How lucky Grant and his brothers were to have her in their lives.
“I’m glad my boy took you there. Thank you. ”
“For what?”
“Making Grant get out of his own world for a bit.” Her cheeks pinkened as she said this.
I nodded but wasn’t sure what to say.
“Daphne has spoken about you a few times. She mentioned how close you two are and that your restaurant is doing amazing.”
I felt warm inside. My friend had praised me, huh?
“Honestly, I’m surprised you and I have never met,” Sybil continued. “Although I don’t know any of Daphne’s friends. But I’m glad I’ve met you now. And I’m happy that you and Grant are hitting it off. Many people don’t get past his gruff exterior.”
“Oh, he’s not that gruff,” I said.
“He lowers his guard around family—and you. Grant is different than Heath and Cameron,” she said in a soft voice. “Being the oldest, I think he took the brunt of everything as much as he could to protect his brothers. Taking on all those hardships shaped him.”
I knew exactly what she meant.
“He’s never really let anyone close.” Beaming, she added, “But I’m glad that’s changing.”
Now I felt warm all over. I wanted to ask her more about his upbringing but didn’t get the chance because Grant joined us, and we dug into the goodies.
It was basic finger food: nachos, dips, guac. After we ate, Cameron suggested a second game, but no one was in the mood for it. It was hard to stay motivated after falling into a carbs coma. Those nachos were good .
Evie started to yawn, and Heath said, “Right. It’s time for us to go home.”
To my intense surprise, she didn’t even put up a fight.
“Yes, Daddy, I’m getting tired. My bedtime is in one and a half hours too.”
I wanted to laugh. Evie was such an intelligent little kid. The way she picked up on certain things was funny. Then again, I hadn’t been around kids much, so I wasn’t exactly sure what was normal at her age.
“Then let’s call it a night,” Cameron said. He checked his watch. “Not too late to make other plans.”
Everyone got up at the same time and headed toward the front counter, where we exchanged our shoes.
Theoretically, I could still go back to the restaurant, but I didn’t want that at all.
What was happening to my work ethic? A certain sexy and irresistible—as he’d pointed out—man was demolishing it, that’s what.
I carefully put on my shoes again. As I straightened up, Grant came over, putting a hand on the side of my waist.
“Want to go to the restaurant?”
I sighed. “It crossed my mind, but then I got an even better idea. Why don’t you come back to my place? I noticed some strange tension in your muscles. You could use a massage.”
Oh yeah, I was straightforward.
The corners of his mouth twitched. “Really?”
“Yeah. It was there in the way you moved.”
“I won’t say no to more time with you.”
I wanted to hug and jump him right now.
He brought his mouth to my ear. “You can just say you want me.”
I gasped. “Grant.”
“I want to hear you say it.”
“Of course I want you.”
When he pulled back, the look in his eyes was triumphant. His gaze darkened by the second.
Oh, sweet Lord. His mind was already going to naughty places, wasn’t it?
“Hey, you two, don’t jump each other right here,” Cameron said. “You know, minors around and stuff.”
Holy shit. I looked down at my feet, taking deep breaths to calm my racing heart.
“Cameron, what the hell?” Grant said .
“Just saying. You two were getting ideas. Figured I’d tell you how obvious you were before things escalated further.”
“How exactly could they escalate?” Grant asked, sounding mildly annoyed.
“You want me to give you details? There is a lady with us,” Cameron said with a smirk.
“Now you notice, huh?” Grant challenged.
Cameron turned to me. “Ruby, I apologize. I’m a bit more badly behaved than my brothers.”
I looked up, laughing. He spoke with so much nonchalance that I instantly felt at ease.
“Let’s you and I go, Ruby, before Cameron puts his foot in his mouth again.”
“Yeah, you do that,” Cameron replied.
Everyone else had already stepped outside the bowling alley, which was getting very crowded. This was probably their busiest time.
As we bid everyone goodbye, Evie actually wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug. I hugged her right back.
“It was so great meeting you, Ruby. I like your name, by the way.”
“Thanks. I like yours too.”
She smiled at me. “Will I...? Never mind.”
Huh. Now she had a filter?
“Come on, honeybun, let’s go,” Heath urged.
I didn’t let go of her until she did, and then we all went separately to our cars. Once we got in Grant’s Lexus, I became a bit nervous.
Holy shit. I invited Grant back over to my place just like that.
But he did say yes, Ruby.
Well, why wouldn’t he say yes to sexy times?
We spoke a bit about the cabin on the way to my house, and when we finally got out of the car, I was somehow even more nervous. He had an arm around my shoulders as we walked side by side to my front door .
“You’re tensing up a bit,” he said.
It was true, though I couldn’t explain why. So instead, I tried to be playful about it.
“I guess I could use a massage too.”
“At your service,” he said as I unlocked the door and we stepped inside.
I turned on a dim light and then put a finger to my lips, narrowing my eyes. Nah, the couch wouldn’t do for this.
“I think we should go straight to the bedroom.”
“I won’t fight you on that. So, what did you and Sybil talk about?” he asked as I put my things in the coat closet by the entrance door.
“She said Daphne mentioned me and my restaurant.”
“And what did she say about me?”
“You’re so sure she mentioned you, huh?” I teased.
“Yes. I know Sybil.”
“Well, I’m not going to betray her confidence.”
He wrapped both arms around my waist. “Ruby.”
“I won’t. You won’t convince me. Not even with your sexy stare.”
He lowered his head, kissing my earlobe. I gasped lightly because it was a sweet spot.
“No, not even if you do that.”
He straightened up and brushed my cheek with the backs of his fingers. “Don’t listen to everything they say about me.”
That was not where I thought he was going with this.
“She didn’t say anything bad.” He cocked a brow as if to say, “Really?” “Just that you don’t let anyone in.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed hard.
“That’s wrong?” I questioned him.
“No, it’s not,” he admitted. “But I don’t like that the people around me think they need to warn you about me.”
“I honestly don’t think that’s what she was doing.” I licked my lower lip. “It was just a conversation, you know? ”
Grant frowned. “Ruby, everything Daphne told you—”
“We said we won’t get into all that.”
“I do things with you that I’ve never done before—with anyone.”
“What are you saying?” I whispered.
Oh my goodness. My heart was beating erratically.
People don’t change, Ruby. Don’t even go there . You’re just having lots of sexy time and a lot of fun.
“That I want more of this. More of you. All I could think about in that bowling alley was whisking you away again.”
My smile went from tentative to full-on, huge, and ridiculous.
“Yeah?” My heart was fluttering. Yep, fluttering. “Just so you know, I’m not opposed to that at all. You make me want to do things I haven’t before too.”
Like handing over the reins to my restaurant just so you could be with him , a voice said in the back of my mind.
But why not? I was always about balance, and I needed some sexy time to balance the hard work.
Yeah, that was it. That’s all this was.
* * *
Grant
“Now, I think I promised you a massage,” Ruby said.
“And I promised one in return.”
“Yeah, but I want to start.” She was grinning from ear to ear.
“I don’t have anything against that. Here, I’ll make it easy for you.” I started to take off my shirt.
“Oh, this is so sexy. I’m getting a striptease too. Let’s go to my bedroom.”
As I dropped the shirt to the floor, I took her hand, and she walked in front of me. It was the world’s smallest bedroom. The bed practically took up all the space.
She climbed onto the bed and said, “Turn around and sit on the edge.”
The mattress dipped under my weight. Feeling her hands on my bare skin was not doing my self-control any favors.
I lasted less than a minute before turning around, grabbing her by the ass, and pulling her onto my lap so I could kiss her just the way I wanted.
I wanted to explore her without holding back, to hear her sounds of pleasure and feel her hot body mold against mine.
Between kisses, I moved her up and down my body. My cock already needed friction.
“Grant, the massage.”
“Fuck the massage, Ruby. I want you.”
“Yes, yes, please. I want you too. I need you.”
I hesitated, but only for a split second before admitting, “I need you, too, and that’s not something I’m used to. Not something I accept.”
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t like needing anyone.”
She smiled. “Sometimes we just can’t help it, though, right?”
“Right.”