Chapter 6
six
RUBY
Bringing the book to my nose, I close my eyes and breathe in deeply. The scent of a new paperback within my bookstore is the best smell in the world, along with freshly cut grass, pine trees—especially at Christmas time—and a freshly poured glass of red wine. I draw the line at gasoline, wet dog, and cigarette smoke—eww.
“Did you just sniff that book?” A deep voice startles me, and I squeal like a banshee. The novel I was holding goes flying and lands with a thud on the hardwood floor beside the front counter.
With my hand resting against my chest, I try to calm the rapid beating of my heart. Looking up, I smile when I see Maddox standing in the doorway of Read Between the Wines.
“Shit, Maddox. You scared me.”
“Sorry, but answer the question, did you just smell that book?” He walks over to the counter and leans against it. The material of his shirt pulls tight across his biceps and chest when he crosses his arms. My gaze lingers on his arms and when I realize, I’m still ogling him, I lift my gaze to his face and notice him staring intently at me .
“Yeah, I did,” I nonchalantly reply with a shrug.
“You do that often?”
“Yeah, I do,” I freely admit without any shame. To a book lover, the smell of a book, old or new, is euphoric. It hits how I imagine a coke addict feels when the drug hits their system.
“That’s creepy and weird.”
“Is not,” I throw back at him.
Maddox bends down and picks the book up. He hands it to me across the counter and our fingers brush, an electrical current zaps from him to me. Judging by the look on his face, he felt it too.
Taking the book from him, I inspect it for any damage. Running the pad of my finger over the spine and then the other edges, I smile when I thankfully realize there are no marks.
“Are you now fondling the book?” He places emphasis on the word fondle, and it comes out in a sexual way.
“No, I was checking it for damage.” Placing it down on the counter, I stare over at Maddox and my heart skips a beat. He really is gorgeous and has aged well. Like a fine bottle of red. His hair is still the same style but the color seems darker and softer. His eyes are still mesmerizing, the flecks of gold in his chocolate-brown orbs are fleckier than usual today, and his lips are still that kissable shade of dusty red.
“No, you were molesting that poor book.”
“I think you hit your head harder than we thought last night because you’re talking shit right now.”
“Says the one smelling and fondling a book.”
“Let’s agree to disagree as to what I was doing with the book.”
“Fine, I will leave you and your book fetish alone.”
“How’s the head today?” Reaching out, I run my finger over the Band-Aid on his forehead. Our gazes connect and it’s as if time stands still. I’m transported back to when I was nineteen and we had sex for the first time. The night all my dreams came true.
“Like I told you both last night, it doesn’t hurt.”
“Hurt and injured are two different things, Mad.”
“Pretty sure they are one and the same but I promise, I’m all good. Ready to get moved in and unpacked as soon as the movers arrive.”
“If I didn’t have to work, I’d help.”
“You don’t need to do that but I appreciate the offer.”
He pushes off the counter and walks farther into the store. Following him, I stand next to him as he looks around. He shoves his hands into the pockets of his jeans, and I watch him as he takes in my store. Read Between the Wines is my baby, and I’m proud of what I’ve turned it into.
When I first got this space it was an empty shell and now it’s my happy place. It’s filled with millions upon millions of words. Stories across all the genres but I mostly specialize in romance novels—my favorite. We have books of all heat levels, we do not discriminate here. And if someone wants something I don’t stock, I will source it and order it in for them. Reading is reading and I will not begrudge anyone for what they like, but I do draw the line at dino porn. That shit is just weird and creepy.
In the adjoining room is the wine bar and seating area. The full length of one side is the bar, serving a variety of wines from all over the world. We also have a small selection of craft beers and non-alcoholic options as well. Coffee can be brought in from Sips and food from Lips and Hips or Granny Taught Us How, located inside Hanson’s Mercantile. There are a few high-top and café-style tables in front of the bar, and off from there is a den with a fireplace and several comfy throne-like chairs. On quiet days, I like curling up by the fireplace with my current read and losing myself within the pages of my book.
Once a month, I host a wine and book night that we affectionally call the Wi-ook Club. It started out with only three people, but now there’s up to thirty people and over the holidays, the place is packed. Each person brings a plate and for hours upon hours we talk books, wine, and all things fine.
The bookshelves are all made by a local craftsman, using timber from trees in the surrounding area. The floors are polished hardwood and are a bitch to keep shiny. But thankfully I have Robbie, he’s my robot vacuum/mopper thing—affectionately called Robbie the Robo Vac—and he’s the best present Joel has ever bought me.
“Ruby,” a deep voice says and I startle, again, and when I jump, I lose my balance, but before I end up on my ass, Maddox reaches out and saves me.
“Joel,” I breathlessly pant as Maddox puts me back upright on my feet. “What are you doing here?”
“Came to take you to an early lunch?” It comes out like a question but I smile at the sentiment as I walk over and kiss him hello.
“That’s so sweet of you, but Charlene called in sick so I can’t get away today.”
“Ohh,” he dejectedly scoffs in annoyance. His gaze flicks between Maddox and me. “Who are you?” he rudely asks.
“Sheriff Maddox Whitworth.” He offers his hand to Joel.
“You’re Sabrina’s brother, right?”
“That’s me.”
“What are you doing here?” Again, he’s coming across rude but Maddox doesn’t seem to notice.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I came to thank Reindeer here for her services last night.” Joel’s eyes widen at that.
“Mad had a car accident on his way into town last night. He ended up at Sab’s rental cottage and we patched him up.”
“What happened? ”
“A deer ran out in front of me, and I ended up in a snowbank.”
“Thought law enforcement could drive in the snow?”
“I’d like to see you stay on the road when a deer suddenly steps out in front of you.”
An awkward silence surrounds us. My gaze flits between the two men before my eyes connect with Mad’s. “Thanks again for last night. I’ll see you around, Reindeer.”
“You are most welcome, Sheriff,” I tell him. Stepping to him, I pull him in for a hug. “It’s good to have you back.”
“It’s good to be back.” He pulls away and looks to Joel. “Joel,” he tersely says in lieu of a goodbye, and without another word, he walks out.
“Well, that was rude,” Joel states when the door clicks shut behind Maddox.
“Yes, it was,” I say, looking at Joel.
“Why you looking at me like that?”
“ You were the rude one, Joel.”
“Me?” he hisses. “What did I do?”
“You were snippy and snarky with him when he’s done nothing wrong.”
“I don’t like the way he was looking at you, and why is he calling you Reindeer? I thought only your pop did that.”
“Maddox has always called me that too, except he went a step further and used to sing Ruby the Red-nosed Reindeer.” I laugh when I think back on that. “It used to piss me off but at the same time, I secretly loved it.”
“That is kinda cute,” Joel agrees, giving me that smile of his I first fell in love with. My moment of contentment dissipates when he tacks on, “He likes you, Rubes.”
“I like him too,” I say. More than I should, considering I’m getting married soon. “As a friend,” I quickly tack on, “and hopefully now he’s back, Sab will visit more often .
“Let’s hope not,” Joel hisses, his face scrunched up, letting me know exactly how he feels about the new sheriff in town. “Well, since you can’t get away, I’ll see you later.”
He turns to walk away without kissing or hugging me goodbye, but I quickly sing out, “Orrrrr, you could get soup and grilled cheese sandwiches from Lips and Hips, bring them back here, and we can sit by the fire and have a romantic lunch date for two.”
“You really want to do that?”
“I’d love to.” Walking over to him, I drape my arms over his shoulders and stare into his eyes. He slides his around my waist, but the usual feeling of being home and loved when I’m in his arms is missing. “Feels like I haven’t seen you in forever.”
“You saw me two nights ago when we met at the lodge to finalize things for the wedding.”
“We did, yes, but we haven’t had any us time lately.” I place emphasis on the us part but it seems to go straight over his head. “If I were insecure about us, I’d think you were cheating on me.” I chuckle at the thought of Joel cheating on me but when he quickly refutes that thought, I begin to wonder. As quick as that thought appears, I quickly quash it. Joel is not that kind of person, at all.
“I’d never do that,” he quickly replies. With a kiss to the tip of my nose, he begins to walk backward to the door. “Back in ten with lunch.”
He saunters out of the store, and I watch his retreating form. Joel and I are getting married in sixteen days, but suddenly, I don’t know if marrying him is the right thing to do. I know I love him, but am I in love with him? Right now should be the happiest time of my life, but here I am questioning everything.
Walking into the wine bar, I sit in my favorite chair and stare into the flames of the fire, hoping they’ ll give me the answers I desire but before they can answer me, my fiancé returns with our lunch. He unpacks the food while I jump up and pour us each a glass of red.
Walking over to the high-top table, I take my seat across from Joel. Before me is a decadent-looking grilled cheese sandwich and a bowl of soup—mushroom soup—eew. Nothing against Norah and her soups but mushroom anything is disgusting; those fungi lil’ fuckers can go back into the dark where they come from. Everyone knows it’s not the soup I would have ordered and, of all people, my fiancé should know this. It’s funny because he loves them and I despise them. I remember when we first started dating, he asked me over to his place for dinner one night. He was so happy and was raving about this new pasta dish and when he served it, my face fell. It was a mushroom pasta dish that was full of all these exotic mushrooms. I later found out some of them weren’t cheap. He was so proud so I reluctantly nibbled my way through, but he was finished and I still has heaps left on my plate. I finally told him I hate mushrooms with a passion and he felt so bad. We laugh about it now but at the time, I was questioning if I could be with him … but he made up for it by ordering me pizza. He gained bonus points when he ordered pepperoni with black olives, my all-time favorite pizza. Especially because he has an aversion to olives like I do mushrooms.
Eating my sandwich and sipping on my wine, I stare at my soup, building up the courage to try it, but I just can’t do it. Not only does it look like dirty dishwater but it smells like it too. The thing that hurts the most is Joel hasn’t noticed my unease or aversion to the soup. He never said a thing about my not eating it and then without saying a word, he reaches over, grabs my untouched bowl, and begins to eat it too.
When he’s finished, he packs up the containers, still not mentioning my uneaten soup. Then, with a lackluster peck on my cheek, he leaves, wishing me a good weekend with Sab. I was hoping he’d join us for dinner at the tree lighting tonight but I never got a chance to ask him … I was too busy focusing on the gross soup.
Dropping back into the chair, I shake my head and sigh in frustration. Sitting here, I think over our lunch just now. Not only did he get a soup I despise but we didn’t really talk at all. We ate in silence, something that has been happening more and more lately. Leaning back into my chair, I think of the book I just read and the lead-up to their wedding. The hero and heroine were both so excited, but I don’t think I can say that for either Joel or me. And as the owner of a bookstore that specializes in romance novels, my life right now should be filled with joy and an abundance of romance. Yes, Joel has a lot to live up to, but right now, he’s failing … and so am I when it comes to romance.