“I will. Thank you again, Natalie.” I swiped away a tear from my cheek. “I just want to know that she’s okay.”
“I know,” Natalie said. “I’ll do everything I can. You just take care of the girls. I’ll be in touch with you as soon as I have some information.”
I watched her get into her sleek little sports car and tried not to let my fear and anger consume me. I did not know how I was going to handle taking care of the girls and searching for Mom. Since last week I’d laid in bed each night, possibilities dancing through my head like my own custom horror movies. Each scenario was more horrifying than the last, and I couldn’t stop them from coming to me.
Gray had tried to help by offering more positive possibilities, but nothing he suggested sounded right. Sure, Mom was the type to go wild. When she abandoned me for my first ten years, she’d left a note for Uncle Adam letting him know where she was going. Even while she was physically gone, she was there in spirit. She’d send notes or trinkets from wherever she was that month. She’d even get a calling card sometimes and have Adam put me on the phone, so I could tell her all the latest gossip in elementary school.
Not once in those ten years did we not know where she was for more than a day or two. Since having Ray and Brit, she’d gotten even better about checking in. Mom doted on the littles and showered them with more love and affection than I’d ever received. So her silence was the most telling clue for me. If I was the only one that ever cared, I would take on the search myself.
I wouldn’t stop until she was back home, in one form or another.
Chapter 18
Gray
“What are you doing here?”
I grinned and gave Ruby a peck on the cheek before brushing past her into the house. When I came to her house unannounced, she always had a snarky quip for me. But she never denied me entrance.
Ever since the day in her mom’s cabin, Ruby had built her walls even higher. At first, I’d panicked at the loss of her good favor. But I’d been close to tearing them down once before, and I promised myself someday soon I’d chip them all away to nothing.
Today was another volley against her defenses. I walked into the dining room and tossed my shopping bags on the table before turning to Ruby.
“It’s Halloween. We’re going to the festival in town.”
Ruby stood next to the front door, staring at me like I’d lost my mind. She looked adorable with her hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun, wearing a slouchy gray sweater that was dropping off one shoulder, fuzzy socks, and candy corn printed leggings. I’d never been a fan of candy corn, but the way those leggings clung to Ruby’s legs had me reconsidering my stance.
“I know it’s Halloween. But I don’t remember agreeing to the festival when you brought it up earlier in the week,” she said as she stomped into the kitchen.
Ruby went to the ancient brown stove and stirred a huge pot on the burner. The smell of beef and vegetables filled the small area, and my stomach growled in response. Ruby’s cooking was the best I’d had since I’d left Texas, and soup seemed to be her favorite thing to make. Even though the kids insisted they hated soup because it was “slippery,” she continued to make huge vats of the stuff every week. I was the lucky recipient of all her leftovers, and the extra hours in the gym were well worth it.
“The girls agreed. You’re the only holdout. By the way, where are the girls?” I asked and turned to toss my jacket on the back of a chair.
“Ida’s got them carving pumpkins at her place. I didn’t have the patience for the mess.”
I laughed. She acted like she was a stick in the mud, but I’d seen her with those girls. She doted on them like they were the most precious things in her life. She was affectionate and patient even through the worst temper tantrums.
“Perfect, that gives me a chance to update you on a few things.” I moved to lean against the counter at her side.
“What things?”
“Remember when I told you I still had some contacts in private investigation?”
“I thought we were going to leave things to the police?”
“It doesn’t hurt to do some extra digging,” I said. “I called my friend Doc in Montana and had him run your mom and Jordan’s information. Nothing came back for the dude’s name. He’s like a ghost.”
“Can’t say I’m surprised,” Ruby said as she continued to stir the pot. “Hunter already struck out, and so have the police.”
“Doc gave me a little bit of an insight that we didn’t have before. He said the information on the name Ted Jordan looked new. As in manufactured.”
Ruby sighed heavily. “Mom’s always had the knack for attracting the worst sorts of men. When I think about people like that being near the girls—”
“Don’t,” I said and pulled her into a tight hug. “They’re happy and safe with you. You hired Natalie, got the cops involved, and you have the temporary custody order. You’ve done everything you can.”
Ruby wrapped her arms around me tighter. “I know. But, we still don’t know where Mom is or if she’s even alive.”
“Don’t borrow trouble. Whatever happens, we’ll deal with it.” I rubbed my hands over her back. “The girls are happy and safe with you, and you have people looking for Pearl. That’s what’s important right now.”
We stayed locked together in the hug for what could have been hours or seconds. Whenever Ruby allowed me an intimate moment like this, time had no meaning. Glutton that I was, I tried to savor every small morsel of affection she allowed me.
For the last month, I’d come and gone from the house like a dutiful friend. I watched the girls when she needed, helped make repairs to the aging trailer, and even made the occasional meal. I assumed Ruby accepted my help because her plate was so full. But lately, I had hope that my persistence was working.
I hoped that the attraction I saw in her eyes was the same that I’d been feeling. I wasn’t trying to hide my feelings, but I also tried not to overwhelm her with them. This was my first time in the “friend-zone,” and I was doing my damndest to claw my way out.
I saw the way she looked at me when she thought I wasn’t looking. Ida and Hunter told me all the time to go for it. But I was out of practice with women. My last meaningful relationship had been before I’d retired from the Army ten years ago. Everything between then and now had been one-night stands or something akin to friends with benefits. I wanted more this time.
I just needed Ruby to get on board.
When Ruby would have pulled away, I tightened my hold. “Don’t. Not yet.”
“Grayson.” She was the only one besides my mother and sister that used my full name. I liked it. “The kids—”
“In a minute. Stay with me for a second.”
Ruby sighed and sunk back into the hug. “I shouldn’t. But okay.”
“You say that word a lot, Ruby. Why shouldn’t you?”
“Because it feels good, and it makes me forget.”
“Forget what?”
She tilted her face to me. Her eyes soft and dreamy, in a way I’d never seen before. I wanted to keep that look there forever. “I forget that we’re just friends. That you’re just being nice and helping me out with the girls.”
Her words startled me, and I let out a laugh. “You can’t be serious. You can’t think I’m only here because I’m nice.”
Ruby frowned and pulled back a step. “I’m totally serious. We agreed, Gray. Just friends.”
“Wait a second,” I said. “You’re the one—”
“MISTER GRAY!”
The sounds of tiny feet cut through the haze of the moment. Ruby and I separated quickly, moving to opposite sides of the kitchen. I barely had enough time to recover before Rayleigh rushed into the room and launched herself at me.
“Mister Gray! It’s Halloween! We’s gonna get candy!”
&nbs
p; “We’re going to get candy,” Ruby said, carefully pronouncing each word correctly.
“We’re going to get candy,” Ray repeated.
“You only get candy if you eat a good lunch. So, go wash up.” Ruby turned from the stove and waved a hand in Ray’s direction.
“This is gonna be the best day ever!”
With a hoot, the little girl jumped down from my arms and bolted for the bathroom. Brit ducked her head into the room and waved before running after her sister. In their excitement, they almost ran over Ida, who was walking into the kitchen.
The older woman collapsed into one of the dining chairs, looking like it had been another long afternoon with the kids. “What did I say about running indoors?” Ida called after the children. “Not that you’ll listen,” she muttered to herself.
I laughed and plucked the pie plate from her hand. “Ida, what do we have here?”
“A little birdie told me it was your birthday in two days and that you like pie instead of cake. So that’s my famous pecan pie.”
“I love pecan pie. My great-aunt had pecan trees on her farm in Texas.” I peeled back the foil and took a deep breath. “Who told you I love pie?”
“I’m not outing anyone. We just want you to have a nice birthday,” Ida said, then swatted at my shoulder. “So let us spoil you a little.”
I gave her a kiss on her papery cheek. “You’re right. Thank you for the pie, Ida.”
Ida blushed like a much younger woman and swatted me again. “Don’t waste that charm on a woman of my age. You should flirt with our girl over there.”
“I try, ma’am, but she seems to be immune.” Ruby snorted. We ignored her. “Maybe I need to pull out the big guns?”
“Chocolate and books. Give that girl either of those and she’ll be putty in your hands.”
“Are you two done talking about me like I’m not here? I got kids to feed, and apparently, we’re going to a festival.”
“We’re going to the festival?” Brit asked as she and Ray came back into the room.
I looked at Ruby, silently asking her permission. When she nodded, I knelt down to talk to Ray and Brit.
“After lunch, I’ll take you all into town, and we can go to the festival. We can play games and get treats, and there’s even a costume contest. Does that sound like fun?”
“What about trick or treat?” Brit asked, not convinced what I offered was a good deal.
“We can walk around the park before we go to the festival,” I said. “Plus, there’s going to be lots of candy at the festival. The stores downtown are doing their own kind of trick or treat. Does that sound like fun?”
“Yes!” The girls squealed and gave me a hug. Then they ran to Ruby and wrapped their arms around her legs.
“Can I wear makeup?” asked Brit.
“Can I have a sword?” asked Ray.
“How much candy do we get?” asked Brit.
“Do I have to share with Ray?”
“We always share in this house,” Ruby said.
“But if I get more candy than her, that’s not fair,” Brit said with a pout. “She’s little. She can’t carry as much as me.”
“I can too!” Ray argued. “And I’m gonna have a sword, so people gonna be scared of me.”
“Do you see what you’ve started here?” Ruby pointed a finger at me. “Get in here and help me.”
On a laugh, I swooped Ray into my arms and then tossed her high above my head. “I got you a princess outfit. Princesses don’t have weapons.”
“Yes, huh!” Ray said through her giggles. “They can if they need to catch bad guys.”
“I’ll protect you from any bad guys,” I promised. “You just worry about getting that candy.”
U
“Admit it, Ruby.”
“I will not.”
“Sweetheart, I see that smile you’re trying to hide. You loved every second of that festival.” I glanced at Ruby across the front seat of the truck. “I swear you ate more candy than the girls.”
“I had a piece.”
“More like twenty.”
Ruby just growled in response and folded her arms over her chest.
I reached out and tugged a hand free, then threaded my fingers through hers. “I had a good time.”
“I don’t know how that’s possible.” Ruby gave a sharp little laugh. “Ray puked up her caramel apple on your boots, and Brit made you spend nearly forty dollars to win her an ugly stuffed unicorn. You’re being so nice, and I feel like we’re taking advantage.”
I hit the brakes and pulled the truck to the side of the road.
“Is there a deer?” Ruby leaned forward to see out the windshield.
I tugged on the hand I still held. “Ruby, sweetheart, look at me.”
“Are you okay?” She reached out with her free hand and put her palm to my forehead. “Do you feel sick?”
Maybe lovesick.
I didn’t think she wanted to hear that just yet, so I pulled our joined hands to my mouth and kissed her knuckles. “I’m fine. I just want you to listen to me.”
“I—”
I squeezed again. “Listen.”
Ruby glared like she wanted to argue. But she nodded and kept quiet.
“You’re right. I can be a nice guy. I’d probably do a lot of this for any other kids that were in the same situation.” I kept steady eye contact for the next bit. “But I’m spending time with you, taking you places, watching the girls for you because of you, Ruby. I spent months coming into the grocery store late at night because of you. I was so desperately working up my courage to ask you out.”
“You were not.”
I laughed. “Babe, how can you be so oblivious? I tried to talk to you so many times, and you just blew me off.”
“You barely said a word!”
“You wouldn’t make eye contact.”
She opened her mouth to argue but closed it just as quickly.
“Just about the time I was ready to give up, I found you running into the woods after a dying bunny.”
“Never gonna let me live that one down, I see.”
“Never,” I said with a grin. “Now, I’m worried I ruined my shot by being a coward. Did I let it go so long you thought I wasn’t interested?”
“You were right to back off. My life was a mess before this stuff with the girls.” She looked in the back of the truck. “And now, it looks like I’m in for a long haul with them. I can’t ask you to sign up for that.”
“Babe, clue in. I’ve been all in since the bunny.”
The look on her face was priceless. It was something between anger and disbelief.
“I told Ida you need a night off from the girls, so she’s gonna take them overnight on Saturday. Hunt will take them off her hands Sunday morning for a few hours. If you want to take the free time and just relax, do it. There’ll be no hard feelings from me. But if you want to go on a date with me, be ready at seven Saturday night.”
Chapter 19
Ruby
“If you’re not careful, you’ll sweat through that pretty new dress.”
“Too late for that, Ida. I already feel like a sinner in church,” I muttered as I swiped mascara on my lashes.
Ida laughed and pulled me into a tight hug. “You’ll be fine. He’s already ass over heels in love with you.”
“Isn’t the saying, ‘head over heels’?” I wondered aloud as I pulled from Ida’s hug and went back to applying my makeup.
“Meh, same thing. Do you know where he’s taking you?”
“No, all he said was he’d be here at seven.” I stepped back and gestured at the moss green sweater dress and black tights I was wearing. “Do you think this is too much?”
The fit of the dress was tighter to my generous curves than most of my clothes. But it was th
e most suitable thing I could find at Walmart on short notice. With a body like mine, beggars could not be choosers.
“I think you’re going to give him heart palpitations.”
I snorted and rolled my eyes. “Could you check on the girls? I don’t like how quiet it is out there.”
“They’re showing Grayson the pictures they made in school.”
“He’s here?” I felt my heart jump into my throat. “It’s only six-thirty. He said seven.”
Ida shrugged. “He’s early.”
“Well, go talk to him or something. Make sure the girls aren’t bothering him.”
“I love seeing you worked up for a date, but maybe you should take a shot of something to take the edge off. No man wants to date a bundle of nerves.”
“Out,” I growled. “And don’t embarrass me.”
Ida exited the bathroom, mumbling about ungrateful children. I knew I should feel bad about speaking cruelly, but the date had me on edge. In all my daydreams about Gray, I’d never once been able to imagine what it would feel like to date him. I couldn’t have expected this feeling of excitement and dread that stirred in my stomach like champagne bubbles.
My last serious boyfriend had been my high school boyfriend. We had parted ways our senior year when he’d decided that having a girlfriend that wasn’t going to college didn’t fit with his vision for his life. I’d had blind dates and coffee meet-ups and even a Tinder connection or two since then. But nothing ever seemed to pan out. Gray was the first man I’d developed a serious attraction to in over six years. It terrified me this date could fail like so many others had before.
I couldn’t lose him.
I gripped the counter for balance and took a deep breath. “What’s the worst that could happen?” I mumbled to myself. It was an old game my uncle used to play with me. If I said the worst possible thing out loud, it wouldn’t seem too scary.
“I could show what a hick I am by using the wrong fork at dinner. Someone from town could gossip about me loudly at the next table. Another woman could try to pick him up in front of me. He could tell me this was just a friendly dinner—”
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