Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
DECLAN
It’s been a long, long three days.
Ever since Vegas, the energy between Ruby and I has been intensified.
It’s a given when you do the things that we did together, but it goes past being attracted to one another.
Beyond the lust we have toward the other.
Beyond the way I’m forced to resist touching her when I want to. Especially when I catch her watching me. Which is just about as much as I watch her.
I crave Ruby Asher. I want to hold her in my arms the way I did those two nights.
I want to wake up to her small laugh and the way her face lights up when she sees me next to her.
I want to be the one standing in the bathroom brushing my teeth next to her and our eyes meeting in the mirror with a silent agreement that sleep will be non-existent for the night.
I want more.
So much more.
But the timing isn’t right. She deserves someone who can give her 100 percent.
My fingers fly over the keyboard, finishing the end of an email to Steven. I need an update on everything, stat.
“Declan!” Max runs inside the back door, with Susie right behind him. “Is it time to go to the festival yet?”
I glance at my watch, fully knowing that Summer Fest has been in full swing for at least an hour now. Given this is Lovers, I’m sure the town started early.
They love a good festival and have them for the tourists. Almost every weekend during the summer
“I …”
“Oh, Mom, good! Can we go now?”
Fuck.
Ruby has entered the room, and she looks gorgeous.
Short skintight black athletic shorts and a coral oversized shirt. Her hair is in a messy bun and her face is makeup free.
She looks like I need to sweep her into my arms, take her up to her room, and make sure she knows just how much I crave her.
I let out a sigh when our eyes meet.
Of course, Max breaks the trance. “Please, please.”
He claps his hands and bounces his brows as if he just revealed a grand idea.
I chuckle, my eyes again finding Ruby’s.
Should we? mine says to her.
Do you have to ask? I’m convinced she says back as she gives a slight nod.
“Let’s go,” I say and stand.
It’s not that I try to avoid the festivals— it’s just that they all start to blur together, so I’m picky about the ones I go to. Seems Ruby and I have that in common.
But the kids love every single one no matter the fact that they all look exactly the same. The one change is the name and the occasional game or two.
“Are we walking together?” I ask as we all move for the front door.
“No,” Ruby quips.
My neck practically snaps as I look at her.
Is she mad at—oh.
She winks at me and walks out the door.
Susie and Max take the lead as we walk toward Main Street.
“How’s your day?” I ask, bumping her arm with mine.
“Eww, Dec, are we really going to be those people? The ones who slept together and now they just create small talk.”
I beam at her, soaking in the way she called me Dec. A lot of people call me that, but never Ruby.
I think she might be my favorite person to use my nickname.
If she doesn’t want small talk, I’ll just cut to the point of what I’m really thinking.
“You look sexy today.”
“Dec!” she scolds and then smacks my arm. “No.”
I chuckle again. “What do you want from me?”
“I don’t know.” She tosses her hands up. “Ask me about work or something.”
“How’s work?”
Her laughter catches me off guard.
“Good. Thank you for asking. I signed a new client today.”
“That’s wonderful. Tell me more.”
She playfully shoves me and rolls her eyes. “Better, but you don’t have to keep asking me about work.”
“Why not? I genuinely want to know. I’ve seen your work, Ruby. You’re good. More than good. The whole concept of your talent amazes me.”
To that, she pauses, her gaze latching onto mine.
“You’ve checked out my work?”
I nod. “Is that not okay?”
“It’s fine. I just … why?”
I shrug. “Why not?”
“Because you don’t need graphic design work.”
“Doesn’t mean I can’t still be interested in what you do. I actually recommended you to a friend who is rebranding his restaurant—”
“In Chicago?”
“Yeah.” I smile. “Did he call you?”
She nods. “That’s my new client.”
“Good.”
“So, I got him because of you?” Her smile starts to fall.
“No,” I reply quickly. “I only told him to check out your website. You did the work, Ruby. Don’t ever think otherwise.”
“Mom!” Max calls out before Ruby can say a word.
She follows her son but glances over her shoulder twice before we reach Summer Fest.
We spot her brothers, the girls, and her father instantly. It’s hard not to when Hudson has a booth outside his bar and Brooke has one outside her bakery, which are right next to one another.
Weaving through the crowd as we make our way over, I take in the music playing from the town speakers, the booths serving food, the people dancing in front of the dance studio, and a couple of the little boutique store owners who are outside with their best sellers on display.
The street is lined with wooden picnic tables, and there isn’t a free one in sight.
I’ll give it to the town, for as much as I think these things are overkill, it sure does bring in good business for everyone.
Sheriff Sloan, Brooke’s father, walks out of his daughter’s bakery. He waves a quick greeting and is on his way to keep an eye on the town.
Not that much goes on here to keep track of.
“Brownies!” Susie cheers and then looks at me with pleading eyes. “Can I get one?”
“Go for it,” I tell her and hand her some cash.
She and Max disappear into the bakery, running up to Luca and Miles standing in line and leaving Ruby and I on the sidewalk.
“Ruby, hi,” a female voice says from behind us.
I turn at the same time as Ruby to see who it is.
I have no clue, but Ruby forces a smile.
“Clarissa, hey, I didn’t know you were back in town.”
“Just for the weekend.” Clarissa’s eyes drift from Ruby to me. “I don’t believe we have met. I’m Clarissa,” she says and holds out her hand.
“Declan Young.”
Clarissa gasps. “The Declan Young?”
I do not like the way she said that.
“Maybe,” I say.
“Wow, Ruby, from one millionaire to the next. I love your taste in men.”
I glance between her and Ruby, looking for a sign, but I don’t catch on.
Even then, I don’t appreciate whatever this Clarissa is insinuating.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I practically growl at the woman, and she steps back. “I think you owe—”
Ruby’s hand rests on my arm.
“Have a great weekend while you’re here, Clarissa,” she says and turns to walk off.
I follow instantly.
“Ruby,” I call out. It’s clear she’s on a mission to get away from me, or Clarissa, as quickly as possible.
“She’s wrong,” Ruby turns to face me. “You defended me, and you don’t even know the story, and I don’t … I’m not … I don’t care about the money.”
Her lip starts to shake. I grab her hand and pull her away from the crowd. Since Hudson’s Bar is at the end of the block, I round the corner there, stopping when she leans against the brick building.
I step closer to her and tilt her chin up so she’ll look at me.
“What just happened?”
She bites her bottom lip and it drives me insane as I wait for her answer.
“Clarissa said I had a type, and I don’t. I mean, I do, but it’s not money.”
“I never once thought you only liked me for my money, Ruby.”
She nods, but I can see in her eyes that she’s still not okay.
I don’t ask anything more; I just stand there, holding her hand in mine until she’s ready.
Finally, after a minute, she lets out a breath.
“I didn’t really understand how much money the Davenports had when I got pregnant,” she says quietly.
I keep my gaze locked on hers, grateful that she wants to open up to me, and she goes on.
“I just knew that leaving with them was going to open opportunities I couldn’t get here. Opportunities that would be good for me as a young mom and help set me up for when I’m older and need to provide for Max. I didn’t think the entire town would think I betrayed them and chose money over them.”
I frown.
Ruby choosing to leave at seventeen to have a baby in a place she’d never been, surrounded by people she didn’t know, all so she could give her kid the best life is a selfless choice that most adults wouldn’t make.
If anyone thinks otherwise, they’re idiots.
“No one thinks that.”
She grunts. “You were there just now.”
“Clarissa doesn’t count. She doesn’t live here. Only those with real estate in their name here count. This town loves you and is lucky as hell to have you in it. I know they know it, too.”
She twists her mouth, and the urge to bend down and kiss her hits me strongly. To feel her under my hands again. Her soft skin, plump lips, and to hear her moans as she comes over and over.
Her hand flattens against my chest, her fingers curling around my shirt. I lean closer, but then a horn honks nearby, breaking the trance.
As if I didn’t need the reminder of why kissing Ruby again is a bad idea, my phone rings in my pocket.
The caller ID ruins my entire day.
Davenport Inc.