Garret helps me clean while Elaina takes charge of showing Neal how to place the pattern pieces based on my diagram and cut properly. As I dry a dish, I take a moment to watch Neal. His strong fingers move deftly as he works with Elaina’s guidance. I don’t think I’ve ever noticed how sexy a man’s hands can be before.
The deep baritone of Garret’s voice sounds behind me. “It’s cool that he wants to learn what you do. He’s a pretty awesome guy, right?”
“Yeah, he really is.” I’m impressed with how much Neil cares about Ruby Raines. He’s invested in how everything works and wants to learn every aspect. Neal catches me watching and winks. Warmth spreads through my being, because not only is he invested in our business, he’s invested in me.
Chapter 24
Since the fabric arrived, I’ve been working at least eighteen hours a day. I go to bed with the sound of sewing machines whirling and presser feet clicking in my head and wake up wondering why it’s so quiet. We open on Friday, and while I’ll let the others sew today, I need to get the clothes in the shop and spend the next two days getting ready.
My shoulders ache from hunching over for hours on end, and instead of getting out of bed when my phone alarm goes off, I check through my texts.
I groan when I open Trevor’s. He becomes increasingly impatient with my refusal to take time off to be with him. “I know you’re busy, but it’s been almost a week. Don’t you want to see me?”
“Of course I want to see you. Can I call?”
My phone rings, and I answer. “Hey. I’m sorry. I’ve got a deadline, and I’m scrambling to meet it. I wish I could make you understand this has nothing to do with us.”
“I bet you see Neal every day, right?”
“That’s not fair. We’re partners, and trust me, when he does see me, I put him to work.” I whip off the covers and sit up. The sudden chill makes me wrap an arm around myself.
“I want to believe you, but I’m having a hard time with not being important enough for you to want to see me.”
I sigh. “Trevor, please don’t do this.” I glance out at the snow-covered mountains glistening in the morning sun. The sky is the color of hyacinth, and it’s going to be a gorgeous ski day. “Look. I’m renting a van today to bring clothes into the shop. I’ll be hanging and steaming all afternoon and into the evening. If you stop by, I promise I’ll take a break for you. Okay?”
“Okay, I’ll come by after skiing.” He sighs and says, “I miss you, baby.”
“I miss you, too.” But once I hang up, I think about how I haven’t. I’ve been so busy Trevor hasn’t been in my thoughts except when he annoys me by trying to shame me into seeing him.
But Neal has. Sometimes when I’m sewing, my mind drifts off to the night he worked with us. Or the times he’s stopped by with coffee, tea, and pastries and then rubbed our shoulders while complementing our work.
He even grabbed my laundry and did it for me so I wouldn’t have to take time out to get it done. I flush a little, thinking about how he folded my underwear and bras, and am so grateful I had recently thrown out the icky ones.
It’s as if he knows what I need before I do. None of it’s expected, but I can’t help compare Neal’s easy way of making me feel special to Trevor’s way of working on my guilt. Something’s wrong with that.
The roar of an engine in my driveway makes me bolt out of bed. I don’t have to guess who’s here, but for a moment I panic that maybe Trevor decided to stop by. I scramble down my ladder to peek out the window and sigh in relief. Another man in my life who makes me smile, Garret, has arrived.
I pull open the door with a grin and say, “You know, you may need to get a girlfriend so I can get some sleep.”
“Aw, boss, you’re going to miss my wake-up calls.” His hair falls to his shoulders and is damp.
“I probably will. Give me a half hour, and I’ll be ready to go get the van.”
Garret is going to help me load the clothes so I can drive them to the shop. Twisting my hair up on top of my head I hop in the shower while he starts sewing while he waits.
Leaving Garret behind to work, I’m bouncing along down the road in a white van that has the strong odor of a past smoker and a bold advertisement painted on the outside in case anyone else wants the pleasure of driving it, too. I texted Neal, and he and Christian will be ready for me in case I have to double park outside Ruby Raines to unload the multiple rolling racks of clothes.
Gazing out at the majestic mountains in the distance inspires my mood to float along like the puffy clouds in the sky. I’m looking forward to hours of quiet as I organize, steam, and hang the clothes on their respective racks. A week of little sleep and constant noise has pushed me to the edge, and I need today and tomorrow to recharge my batteries for the opening.
At the traffic light I send the text I pre-typed before I left telling Neal I was minutes away. It’s early, and because I’m here before most stores open I get a space in front of the shop. Neal and Christian are waiting on the sidewalk for me, and I’ve barely parked before the twang of the metal doors sounds as they open up the back.
The ramp creaks and thuds to the ground, and I hop out to go prop the door open. I smile when they both work to ease one rack at a time out of the truck and into the shop. These guys know that while nothing would break, the clothes on the racks are precious to me.
Neal slams the back doors shut and comes to me with the bungee cords. I gather the snake like restraints in my arms as I gaze into his face. He has a day-old stubble happening, and I’m tempted to rub my fingers against the roughness. He asks, “What time do you need to drop this off?”
“Did you want to take it for a spin? Pretty sure it would be a hit if you’re trolling for the ladies.”
He grins at me. “As long as they don’t think I want to kidnap them.”
I nod. “Good point. It needs to be back by five, so I’m going to park it in the back until later.”
“If you don’t want to leave I can return it for you at four. I’ll just need your car keys to get back.” He’s standing in dress slacks and an Oxford shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and I think he must be cold as I watch wind blow through his hair.
“Thanks, I may take you up on that.” Tossing the cords into the passenger seat, I climb in and drive off to park in my shop spot.
On my way back I cut through Rhinestone Cowgirl so I can thank Christian. He’s in his office on the phone, so when I get his attention I mouth the words as he gives me a wave. When I flip the light switch for the overheads in Ruby Raines, I stand and take in the atmosphere. With the mossy-green carpet and twisted-vine wood fixtures, my vision for a fantasyland has turned into something special.
Relishing the quiet, I roll the racks to the back of the store and begin to pull the clothes that don’t need to be steamed. For the most part, the only ones that do are the silks because the centerfold has been pressed in for decades. The light clink of hangers being placed on metal rods is soft and lets my mind wander as I work throughout the morning.
By the time Nika comes over to chat with me, I’ve won Project Runway and been written up in Vanity Fair. I turn to my ex-model friend as she stops to take in the store. “Oh, Ruby, it’s magical.” She crinkles her nose. “But that new-carpet smell needs help.” Her eyes widen a bit. “I know just the thing!” Nika turns away and calls over her shoulder, “Be right back.”
I chuckle at her and continue arranging a T-rack display. I’m lost in my daydreams again when she returns. A paper bag rustles as she says, “Ta-da!” And presents me with three jar candles. She says, “It says mistletoe, but it smells just like pine. How perfect is that for your little slice of the forest?”
“What a great idea. You’re so sweet.”
She sets them down on the counter, and a match whisks as she lights it. Once they’re all burning, she places them in strategic places throughout the shop.
When she’s done she slides up next to me and starts to sort clothes by size. �
�I hope you don’t mind, but I got Tasha to cover for me so I can help this afternoon.”
I glance over at her. “How did I get so lucky? Thank you.”
“Yeah, well, more help is on its way later. Casey, Megan, and Lori are dying to see your new lines, and when I told them they could help hang, steam, and do displays, they practically squealed. No, wait, they did squeal.”
I chuckle as she says, “They all helped me get Rhinestone Cowgirl open in time, and since they all have at least one of your pieces, all they need is a nice discount.”
“I would give them that, anyway.”
“They’re your friends, Ruby. They would do if for nothing, so it’s about the gesture.”
I pull an empty rolling rack to the back of the store as I speak. “Thanks. We really do need that girls’ night.”
“That we do. But since I’m here, you can catch me up on Trevor.”
Trevor. My heart sinks, and suddenly I’m really glad Nika is here.
Chapter 25
I sigh, and Nika asks, “Wow, that’s not a good reaction to me asking you about Trevor, what’s going on?”
“Well, first let me say he’s totally hot and works for me physically in a big way.”
Nika snorts. “Yeah, I noticed that.”
I grin as I recall our encounter behind the freshly assembled racks. “Yeah, when he helped the other day, we were good together. But since then things have gotten kind of strained.” I pull a box of belts over to sort, and it swishes across the carpet.
“I heard he was your high school boyfriend. I bet it’s hard to reconnect after all these years, and maybe you just need time to get to know each other again.” Nika sits on the floor and reaches in to pull out a pile of plastic-wrapped leather.
“That’s probably part of it, but it’s like we don’t have the same priorities. He’s been mad at me all week because I don’t have time to be with him. And he pulled the jealousy card about me seeing Neal every day.”
“Well that’s just stupid, Neal’s your partner.” Metal clangs as she piles up unwrapped belts.
“I know, right? But it’s more than that.” I pick up part of her pile, and the leather is smooth in my hands as I check the back for sizes. “The other night when we went out with the crew he got a little drunk. Not a big deal, but I was so annoyed. He really did act just like he used to in high school.”
“Oh, that’s hard. Do you think it might have been a one-time thing?”
“Maybe, but Casey told me he has a reputation for being a partier.” Cellophane crinkles in my hands as I pick up the discarded packing and shove it in the box. “This might not be fair to him, but I feel like I grew up and he didn’t.”
“No, it sounds that way to me too. Maybe he’ll surprise you once you’re done with the crazy schedule. I remember how wiped I was, and I’m sure I wasn’t thinking clearly. I think I had at least two meltdowns before Rhinestone Cowgirl opened.”
“Yeah, that could be it. He’s going to stop by when he gets done skiing today, so we’ll see.”
Nika stands and places her hands on my arms. She’s over six feet tall, and it makes me feel a bit like a child. “These things have a way of working themselves out.” She pulls me into a hug, and I welcome the warmth of her embrace. She says, “If you need a good cry, I’ve got loads of tissues in my office.”
I pull away and grin at her. “Good to know.”
Christian comes walking in and asks, “Anyone hungry? I’m about to get lunch next door and can bring you something.”
“I’d love that Asian chicken sandwich they do.”
Nika says, “Me too.”
After a lunch that gives me new energy, Nika helps me drag racks around based on my map and then rearrange for ease of shopping. I love having her input, because she knows her stuff.
Around four we take a break when Neal comes for the keys to the van. The girls and Trevor should get here by four thirty. I pull out the price sheet for the accessories and tagging guns to have a project ready to go.
The girls arrive first, and I set them up with their tasks, knowing Trevor will likely want to take me someplace for us to be alone. I’m trying to get over my guilt of not working while my friends are doing it for free, but if I want to appease my boyfriend, it’s necessary. The truth is, he does deserve my time, and the opening of the shop just came at a bad point during the development of our relationship.
As Lori is gushing on about the pendants I’m having her price, I turn to the sound of the front door opening. Trevor’s smile is from ear to ear as we approach each other. He wraps his arms around me and leans down for a kiss. “Hey, baby.”
His lips are warm and soft, but when his tongue enters my mouth I taste beer. My excitement at seeing him fades as I wonder if he stopped by for one before coming to see me. I’m distracted by it and force myself to turn off my inner dialogue to kiss him back.
When we break apart, he says, “Now that’s my kind of hello.”
“Yeah, mine too. Let me get my coat so we can get out of here.”
As I walk behind the counter Trevor glances around the shop. “It looks great in here. Kind of woodsy.”
“Thanks. That’s what I was going for.” I turn to the girls. “Thanks, guys, I’ll be back in an hour.”
Casey says, “Have a good time, we’ll be fine.”
A breeze blows through loose locks of my hair as we walk out the door. “Where should we go?” I hook my arm in his as our feet beat in time down the sidewalk.
“The Gold Pan.”
My mood darkens. A noisy bar with cheap beer is the last thing I had in mind. “Um. Okay, but it’ll be hard to talk to you in there. I was hoping for something a little less busy.”
“I want you to meet my friends, and they want to meet you. It’ll be fun, you’ll see.”
My mind goes back to the old days when he cajoled me to go to parties almost every weekend. I did usually end up having fun, so I paste a smile on my face, cuddle in a little closer, and say, “It’ll be nice to meet your friends.”
I set my mind on making the best of this for Trevor, knowing I won’t be there very long. We enter the steamy heat of too many bodies and the noise of an inebriated crowd of mountain employees. Faces are red from the wind and cold, and someone calls Trevor’s name before we make it to the bar.
He yells back with a wave and turns to squeeze his way in to order us drinks. Moments later, I’m handed a sturdy mug full of amber liquid, and I take a sip of the hoppy flavor of cheap beer. The metallic taste it leaves on my tongue tells me I won’t be finishing it.
Trevor leads me away from the crowd to an area around a pool table. A group of guys are laughing loudly, and we approach them. He fist-bumps one and says, “This is my girlfriend, Ruby.”
I lift my hand in greeting as Trevor points and names them. I know I should try to remember but figure it doesn’t matter. None of them look like they’ll remain sober enough to remember mine tomorrow. I shake off my negative thoughts and remember I was going to make the best of this.
I ask, “Good day out there?”
A thin blond guy answers me. “It sure was, didn’t you ski?”
I shake my head as I answer loudly enough to be heard. “No, I’m opening a clothing store, and it’s crunch time right now.”
He nods and says, “That must be tough, I hear you used to race. You probably miss the snow.”
I shrug. “I get to ski enough. I’m okay with my weekend warrior status.”
“Cool.”
But I can tell he doesn’t think I’m cool at all and that he’s waiting for a reason to jump into the story Trevor is telling. Two girls wander close, as if they want to join us, and I decide maybe I’ll have better luck with them.
I lean over to talk to them. “Hi, I’m Ruby, Trevor’s girlfriend.”
They smile and one says, “We’re Maddie and Julie. Do you teach too?”
“No, I run a store in town.”
The one named Julie asks, “W
hich one?”
“Ruby Raines, it’s a clothing store, and we’re opening on Friday.”
Maddie says, “Nice. We both teach kids on Peak 9.”
“Fun. I bet you love your job.”
Trevor seems to have noticed I’m not listening to him, and he steps between the two girls to grab my hand and pull me into his circle. Wrapping his arm around me, as if to keep me from straying, my conversation is officially over with the girls. Not that it matters, because we probably ran out of things to say to each other anyway.
Trevor is done with his beer, and he’s looking around as if he wants to get another. I step up on my tiptoes and say, “You can have mine. I’m not really a beer drinker these days.”
“You sure, baby? Want me to get you some wine?”
I shake my head, imagining I won’t like the wine here any more than the beer. “I’m fine. It’s better that I’m sober when I get back to work anyway.”
Trevor continues to tell stories and make sure I’m part of his circle by keeping an arm wrapped around some part of my body. To be fair, his stories are funny, and I find myself enjoying them along with his friends’ tales as well.
After more than an hour I wait for a break in conversation to tell Trevor it’s time for me to go. He nods, but he’s having fun, and I guess by his hesitation to leave he doesn’t want to go. As we’re headed toward the door a guy grabs his arm. “Shots!”
Trevor says, “Tequila?”
The guy has clearly had a lot to drink, and I can’t believe Trevor is considering it. The drunk says, “Hell, yeah!”
“Ruby, this is my roommate, Ned. Do a shot with us before you go.”
Oh, no, the other partier in his house. I shake my head, “I have to get back to work.”
“Okay.” He gives me a quick kiss and takes off to the bar with Ned. What?
Tears spring to my eyes because my boyfriend, whom I thought was going to walk me back to my shop, just ditched me to do shots of tequila. Numbly I watch him walk away. When I push open the door, cold air that would make my eyes water anyway is the catalyst that lets tears fall.
Exposed: New Adult Sport Romance (The Boys of Winter Book 5) Page 12