Chapter Twenty
Dash
“Do you do this in every city you visit?” Ruby side-eyes me, walking just close enough that her arm brushes mine every few seconds or so, but not close enough for me to think she’s purposely doing it.
“Do what?” I ask.
“Find some unsuspecting woman, then beg her to take you on a tour of the local sights.” I rear back, and she lets out a small giggle. “I was just kidding. I meant do you always try and visit the special places in each city you play in? Or are you usually too busy?”
“Most of the time, I’m only in a new city for a night or two. Sometimes longer if it’s the playoffs but…” I shrug. “I don’t usually have the urge to explore like I do right now.”
And dang, if I didn’t wish I had more time here. Not just to explore DC and all it has to offer. But time to explore this delicate connection with Ruby.
“Hm,” she hums. “And why’s that?”
“You mean besides the fact that it’s an excuse to spend the day with you?
” Her cheeks turn rosy, but she shifts away from me, only allowing me the briefest moment of victory.
“Well, it is America’s 250th anniversary.
And what’s more celebratory than scoping out our nation’s capital and learning all about our forefathers? ”
She grins. “Guess you’ve got a point there.”
“I make a good one every once in a while.”
She shakes her head, still smiling. “I can’t tell if you’re cocky and full of yourself or just very self-assured.”
“Can’t I be both?”
“Not if you want me to continue being your tour guide for the afternoon.” The teasing look she gives me has me wanting to needle her some more. I like this spicier side of her.
When I showed up at her house, feeling sweat pool in every pore of my body, I worried about how this date would go. But the more time we spend together, the more at ease she seems to become. More open, more playful…and more her.
“Blame my mom and sisters for the self-assuredness,” I say. “Being the only boy with four older sisters meant I was the favorite little brother.”
“You have four older sisters?” She gasps. “How did I not realize this sooner?”
I suppress the urge to wince. “Probably because I don’t broadcast it. I tend not to overshare when it comes to my family.”
She nods like she gets it. “I bet you were spoiled by them growing up.”
“Oh, a hundred percent.”
Another girlish giggle bubbles out of her. It renders me motionless, and I stop to stare and soak up the sound.
“You have a beautiful laugh.”
That rosy blush is back, filling her cheeks. “Um. Thanks.” She starts back toward the monument like she doesn’t know what to do with a compliment. It only takes a few seconds for me to catch up.
As we move closer, the sheer size and magnitude of the Washington monument steals my attention. “Wow.” Up it goes, piercing into the blue, cloudless sky. “This is really something.”
“Yeah,” she says on a small sigh. “It kind of is.”
My focus swings her way. “Don’t you get used to it? Seeing it all the time?”
She meanders down the walkway and I follow, eager to hear whatever she’s about to say next. “I wouldn’t say we see it all the time since we live outside of the city. But we have been here often. Field trips, family trips, or special days like this.”
“Days like this?”
She lifts a slender shoulder, hands clutching the edge of her purse strap. “You know…the country’s anniversary.”
Maybe I’d hoped she’d say something else. Or maybe I’m just worried she’s not as into this date as I am. “Yeah,” I say, forcing a neutral tone. “I know exactly what you mean.”
Ruby switches into tour guide mode and begins reading one of the Informative plaques. I listen intently as she gives a brief history of the memorial, even asking pertinent questions when she pauses for a breath.
“I love American history,” she notes as we move to leave.
I fall into step beside her, tucking my hands in my jeans’ pockets. “Yeah, me too.” Especially when my history teacher ends up being the hot hair stylist I’m dating.
That thought sparks an idea.
An older couple smiles at us as we pass. Before they get too far, I stop and ask, “Would you mind to get a quick picture of us in front of the monument?”
“Sure,” the man says. “I’d be happy to.”
I hand him my phone before Ruby and I huddle together. When she wraps an arm around my waist, I take that as permission to touch her.
Pulling her against me, I smile for the camera. The sun beats down on us, our skin sticky from the heat. But Ruby still smells perfect, her hair holding a light fruity scent like she just stepped out of the shower. I blink the mental image away.
The man taps my phone a couple of times before kindly handing it back. “There you are. Hope you like them.”
I accept the phone with a thanks, then as quietly and discreetly as possible, direct him away from Ruby to ask if there’s anywhere he would recommend taking a girl for a nice afternoon meal.
He glances at my date and grins.
After I have the information I need, I fall back into step with Ruby. It was fun getting to explore this piece of history with her, but I want to make sure she’s fed before the game tonight.
“Hungry?” I ask.
She peers up at me, and maybe it’s my imagination, but I swear I hear her stomach grumble a complaint.
“I could eat.”
Satisfied, I tip my head back toward where we’re parked. “All right, then, let’s go. I’ve got just the place.”
***
As we step inside the restaurant, I gently fit my hand to the small of Ruby’s back.
Not just to touch her—though there is that.
I convince myself it’s to help guide her through the small crowd of people stuffed inside the entrance, and not because I can’t help giving into the primal craving that surges through me whenever I’m near her.
“This place is busy,” she says a little breathlessly.
I lean down next to her ear so she can hear me. Not so I can sense the way she shivers anytime I get close. “Have you ever been here before?”
“No, but it’s adorable. And festive.”
Old Americana decor dots the wooden plank walls, along with black and white pictures of days gone by.
Sparkly red stools filled with patrons line a shiny wood-top bar.
From just a quick glance, it seems like a wide array of dinner guests— some in blue jeans and flannel, others dressed to the nines—employ the space.
She angles toward me, bringing our mouths only a breath apart. “How did you find this place?”
I ignore the bone-deep ache to close the distance between us and kiss her like I’ve dreamt of doing since I saw her dive behind that lighted tree. “That man who took our picture? He gave me the name of it; says it’s a favorite of the locals.”
A hostess appears, motioning us forward. “Table for two?”
“Yes, please.” I gently nudge Ruby toward her with the lightest press of my hand.
The red-headed hostess grabs two menus before scoping out the crowded dining room. “It’s a bit full in here right now. Are you okay with the terrace out back?”
I’d never have guessed a place like this had a terrace, but I don’t hate the idea of sitting somewhere a little quieter. I look to Ruby. “That okay with you?”
“Yeah, of course.”
We’re escorted out back where the balmy early afternoon—made even more sultry from the glow of the hanging lights dangling over a patina pergola—greets us.
Potted plants line a slightly overgrown brick patio.
It’s quaint. And way more intimate than the restaurant’s noisy, bustling interior.
Only one other couple is seated in a far corner of the terrace, but they don’t pay us any mind.
“This is great,” Ruby says as the hostess guides us to a small table with just two chairs. “Thank you.”
I thank her as well, truly grateful for the gift of privacy.
“No problem.” She sets our menus on the glass-topped table with a quick enjoy before she vanishes back inside.
Ruby makes a move for the chair, but before she can seat herself, I pull it out for her.
She seems a bit taken aback by the gesture, blinking at me like no one’s ever done this for her before.
That can’t be true, though, right? I have to believe that men still perform their chivalrous duties these days.
“Thank you,” she murmurs quietly, carefully lowering herself into the chair.
“You’re welcome. I’m glad we got seated out here. It’s a little quieter.”
She hums. “It’s definitely that.”
I join her at the table and resist the urge to stare.
Her down-to-earth beauty shines against this quaint backdrop.
Brown hair, blue eyes, perfectly freckled skin...
a tiny gold chain rests against her collarbone, winking in the sunlight, exactly like tinsel in her hair…
an American dream girl, if I’ve ever seen one.
She’s oblivious to my perusal, focused on the menu. But it gives me time to catalog her features, an act I’d like to do every day if I could. It’s difficult to drag my eyes away and decide what to eat.
“So…” She glances up at me. “Do you know what you’re getting?”
Honestly? No. And it hardly matters. All I want is to spend time with her. “Probably a burger,” I say automatically. “Without the bun, since I’ve got to stay lean.”
“Yeah, a burger sounds good.” She nods, still staring at the menu and giving me plenty of time to stare at her. In a totally non-creepy way. At least I hope it’s not creepy.
Ruby’s physically stunning, yes, but she also has an inner quality that’s hard to put a name to…Charisma, maybe? Whatever it is, it’s what ignites that spark Max and I discussed.
And now that I’m sitting here with a woman I’m attracted to on more than just a physical level, I can say with confidence that I’m glad I listened to Max.
When I’m with Ruby, or even thinking of Ruby, my memories of Sarah fade.
Whatever lingering pain that remained lessens.
I no longer have the desire to check up on my ex because I don’t miss her like I used to.
Maybe I can’t credit Ruby with getting me over all that, but I do know allowing myself to pursue her feels a lot like moving on.
Max would be proud if he were here.
“I think I’ll go with the chicken sandwich.” Ruby’s declaration snaps me out of my musings. “With the sweet potato fries.”
“That sounds delicious.”
“Yeah.” Resting her hands on top of her menu, she asks, “So, are you excited for tonight?”
“Definitely.”
Thinking of the game brings my family to mind. Will Ruby be ready to meet them? I haven’t brought up that they’re here yet because I have no idea how she’ll react. Sure, I’ve met her mom and brother, but that’s a different situation.
Besides, her family is demure and sweet. Mine’s loud and overwhelming.
“Me too. I’m ready to see who wins tonight.”
“Becoming a hockey fan, are you?”
She laughs. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
“Ah, ok. Just a DiFranco fan, then. I got you.”
Her giggling continues even as she shakes her head. “There you go with that unwavering self-assuredness. Guess I have your sisters to thank for that.”
“Speaking of sisters…” I pause and take a breath.
It’s now or never. I wouldn’t bring them up at all, except that they might go out of their way to find her.
And I know social interactions can sometimes be too much for Ruby.
I’m protective of her peace, and don’t want the DiFranco women to overwhelm her all at once when she’s least expecting it.
“They’ll be at the game tonight,” I say slowly to give myself time to read her expression. Her eyes only widen the slightest bit.
“Your sisters will be there?”
“And my mom.” I try for an innocent, charming smile. “They sort of…flew in this morning.”
“Oh, gosh. Really?” Her hands fly to her cheeks. “Dash, I feel just awful! Here you are spending the day with me when your family is in town to see you.”
I splay my hands over the table. “Don’t feel bad. I want to be here right now.”
“But Dash—”
“Ruby, please. My family is totally fine without me this afternoon. They’re probably shopping or having a spa day or something.”
A little divot forms between her brows. “Are you sure? If it were me, I’d want to spend every second with you I could.”
A smile I have no control over stretches across my face. “You know, comments like that do nothing to help with my ego issue.”
Instead of laughing at my joke, she clears her throat. “Will I get to meet them, then?” One hand goes to the tiny gold chain around her neck, twisting it around her pointer finger.
“Do you want to meet them?”
“Oh. Of—of course I do.”
“Ruby.” “Hm?”
“Don’t give me the answer you think I want.” She bites her bottom lip, trapping it between her teeth.
I can already tell she’s nervous about this. And I’d never push her to do something she didn’t want. “I’m going to ask you again. This time, I want you to give me an honest answer. Not a rehearsed one. Not the responsible one.”
She blinks repeatedly as if I caught her in some kind of trap. But I’m not trying to trip her up; quite the opposite. I’m trying to offer her freedom. Freedom to choose what she’s comfortable with.
Her gaze drops to the menu in front of her. “I…I would like to meet them.”
“But?”
“There’s no but. I really would like to. I’m just…nervous to, is all.”
I want to reach out to her, touch her and offer some kind of physical reassurance. But I don’t. “Are you sure that’s all? I promise you, I will not be upset if you’d rather wait and meet them another time. Like I told you at the monument, they can be a lot all at once.”
She opens her mouth to respond, but the waitress pops up to our table to take our orders before she gets the chance.