18
I t’s seven a.m. when I burst into Charlie’s cabin. I groan when I spot Ruby and Charlie in the kitchen. So much for not getting hassled about why I’m here. Charlie sits at the counter, paper in hand. There are about half a dozen flower varieties scattered across the kitchen table. Ruby stands over them, brown kraft paper in her arms.
Making sure to school my expression into a scowl, I start checking the cupboards. “Y’all got any honey?”
Charlie glances up from the paper. “Honey?”
“For Reese’s coffee.”
Ruby perks up. “Reese?”
Charlie looks doubtful. “Honey in coffee?”
Their interrogation grates on my nerves, but I keep my mouth closed. The sooner I’m out of here, the better. I have a naked girl in my bed, sleeping the day away like she damn well should. I want to get back to my place, brew a pot of coffee, and make Reese breakfast before she wakes up.
Christ. The things I’m doing these days. Cursing as I trip over her high heels. Mouse preferring her more than me.
For some reason, it brings a smile to my lips.
Charlie arches a brow. “Friends sleep over?”
Flower arranging forgotten, Ruby stares with rapt attention.
“None of your business,” I remind him. Spying the honey bear in the spice cabinet, I grab it up and make a mental note to pick up three or four of them on my next grocery run.
“My ranch, my business,” Charlie grunts.
He has a point. Everyone knows about us now. Especially after kissing Reese in the lodge last week. The grapevine works fast.
“Heard you had words with Reese’s manager,” Charlie says.
I lean back against the counter, cross my arms. “I hate that guy.”
He was worse than I expected. And I expected a lot based on what she had told me. Warning signs went off in my head the second I saw him. How can I let her go back now that I know what she’s up against? It’s clear there’s no one in her corner who cares. Well, I fucking care.
I wanted to hit the guy. So damn bad.
He made her cry, and he put his fucking hands on her. He’s lucky he walked away in one piece. Reese was good though, lying through her teeth to give herself time. Until then, I want to keep her close. And if close means she stays at my place every night, so be it.
“You want some flowers?” Ruby asks, pulling me from my thoughts. “For Reese?”
“If you got time,” I say, trying to keep my voice casual.
“Friends get flowers?”
I round on my mouthy brother. “Is there an echo in here?”
“Hush,” Ruby scolds Charlie. To me, she says, “What are her favorites?”
I scratch my head. I don’t have the slightest idea.
Helping me out, Ruby says, “I’ll give you one of each. For research purposes.” She giggles.
I wag a finger at her. “None of fucking that.”
“You swearing at my wife, asshole?” Charlie growls before slugging down his coffee and pushing back from the counter.
“She started it.”
Hustling around the kitchen, Charlie sets his cup in the sink. “We’re closing off the chalets.”
“What, when?”
“End of summer. One of them has snakes. The other bad pipes. We’ll either refinish or demolish.”
“Reese is in a chalet,” I growl.
“She’ll be gone by then.” Charlie grins. His eyes dare me to say otherwise. “Won’t she?”
She will be, and a fire burns deep in my gut at the thought. But there’s no other option. We’re friends with benefits. That’s how it stays.
Before I can rebut, my eyes snag on two overnight bags sitting by the front door.
“Y’all goin’ someplace?” I ask.
“Bozeman,” Charlie calls out, stomping down the hall. “Overnighter.”
I drift toward Ruby. Her small hands arrange stems.
“Those.” I point to a stem of small blue bulbs. My throat bobs. “She’ll like those.”
“Bluebells,” Ruby says, giving the stem a delicate sniff.
Bluebells for my Bluebird.
“They’re fairy flowers. They mean strength.” Her blue eyes flick to me. “Love.”
I shake my head. “That’s your forte, not mine.”
As Ruby works, I glance down at the table. Beneath the wrapping papers, my gaze snags on paperwork. Medical paperwork. Before I can get a good look, a large hand slams down, blocking my view.
“Nosy bastard,” Charlie mutters.
“I’m your big brother,” I tell him, punching a finger in his chest. “It’s my job.”
Charlie rolls his eyes, snatching up the papers. Then he kisses his wife, grabs his Stetson, and heads out the door.
Worry rising inside me, I glance at Ruby. “You okay, honey? Say the word and I drop him in a lake.”
Ruby sets down the bouquet, a bright kaleidoscope of color. She tilts her blonde head, staring at me with serious blue eyes. “I am. Are you?”
“Yeah, actually, I am.”
Never been better. I’m happy. Reese, with her big green eyes and sweet kisses, has unraveled me.
Ruby beams. “It’s nice, Ford. You’re not the relationship grinch.”
I pinch my brow. “Fairy Tale, you’re killing me.”
She bats her eyes at me. “You learn why she’s here yet?”
I give in. Fuck it. “No,” I tell her. “She won’t talk to me. Nothing deep at least.”
Ruby hands me the bouquet. “Maybe you give her a truth to get hers?”
Considering it, I rub a hand over my jaw. “Give a truth, huh?”
One truth. Maybe that’s all it would take to get Reese’s.