I’d felt helpless as she’d run herself ragged all morning preparing food while the girls and I cleaned the house ’til it sparkled like a jewel. By the time the first guests arrived, she’d sweat through her pretty new outfit, and Ruby had been forced to change into something else. Which only seemed to further increase her agitation.
“I think Cassie’s interesting,” I said. “Did you know she’s from Garret? And that she left town after senior year of high school to move to New York and study dance?”
Ruby turned to look at me with wide eyes. I ignored the signal to shut up and continued, “Even after a severe injury, she was good enough to get an offer from some big Broadway show.”
“Oh yeah? So how did she end up taking her clothes off for money?” Lucy asked in a snide tone.
“Her dad died,” I said. “She came back to help her mom cover the expenses from all his medical bills.”
Finally, Lucy looked chastened. She snapped her mouth shut, spun on her heel, and left Ruby and me alone in the kitchen.
“That wasn’t very nice,” Ruby mumbled as she handed me another dish.
“She didn’t deserve me being nice,” I replied. “She knows your mom is a dancer at the same club and was being nasty. It’s bad enough that she thinks that. It’s worse that she’s cruel enough to say it in your home.”
“It’s not like I haven’t heard it all before.”
I stopped drying and wrapped my arm around Ruby to kiss the top of her head. “Doesn’t make it right.”
“Mommy, can we watch the Christmas princess movie?” Ray asked as she bounded into the kitchen.
“Again, aren’t—” Ruby stilled at my side, then turned to look down at her sister. “Sweetheart, what did you call me?”
Ray tilted her head, her beautiful blonde curls bouncing around her head like a halo. “Mommy. That’s what you are, isn’t it?”
Ruby wiped her hands dry before squatting down to Ray’s level. “Ray, baby, I’m your sister. Remember? Your mommy is my mommy too.”
“But you take care of us and feed us like a Mommy,” Ray said, her little face scrunched in confusion.
“Yes, I do. But families come in all different types. Remember the book we read? Some families have mommies and daddies. Some have grandparents or aunts and uncles ...”
“And some have special people that decide to adopt!” Ray said with a proud smile.
Ruby laughed. “Yes. And our family has three sisters that love each other very much.”
“But what if I want you and Mr. Gray to be my mommy and daddy?” Rayleigh asked.
Ruby pulled Ray into her arms, then moved to sit at the kitchen table. “I know this is all scary and confusing right now. But I promise I am doing everything I can to keep you and your sister here with me while we try to find Mom. Even if we live together forever, I’m still your sister, not your mommy.”
“What about Mr. Gray? What will he be?”
I nearly laughed at the look that crossed Ruby’s face. She obviously didn’t want to speak out of turn while I was still in the room. We still need to have that conversation she’d paused in the bedroom earlier this morning.
“I’m not sure, sweetheart. That’s up to him,” Ruby finally replied.
“Can we ask him to marry us?”
I felt a flutter of hope inside me. The idea of marrying Ruby had been something I’d toyed with now and then. But it’d always been a “someday in the future” kind of thought. I knew Ruby would need more time than me, and I was prepared to give that to her. But it did my heart good to know the girls wanted me around too.
“If you don’t wanna marry Mr. Gray,” Ray continued. “Maybe I could ask him to marry me when I grow up.”
“He’d be lucky to have a girl like you, Ray. But I think he’s always going to be too old for you.” Ruby kissed her again. “I can’t make a lot of promises right now because we just don’t know what’s gonna happen. But you know I love you, and I’ll always be here for you. Right?”
Tears formed at the corner of Ray’s eyes. “I love you too, Ruby. Even if I can’t call you Mommy.”
As Ruby hugged Rayleigh one more time, she made eye contact with me. I smiled at her, and her returning smile was soft and tentative.
“Why don’t you go tell Ida I said it was okay to turn on the movie,” Ruby whispered to Rayleigh. “I need to talk to Mr. Gray.”
“YES!” Rayleigh screeched and bounced off Ruby’s lap. “Ida! Ruby says we can watch a princess movie. You gotsa put it on now!”
I chuckled as she blew past me without even acknowledging my presence. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say she orchestrated that.”
Ruby sighed, and I grinned in answer. Ruby seemed like she didn’t know what to say or do next. But I knew exactly what needed to be said.
“My answer is gonna be yes.”
“Your answer about what?” Ruby asked in a flustered voice.
“When you ask me to marry you. My answer. It’ll be yes.”
“Who said I’d be doing any asking?” Ruby gave me a saucy grin as she walked back to the sink.
“I think I’ve been going about this all wrong,” I returned her grin as I picked up the towel I’d abandoned and begun drying.
“Mmm,” Ruby replied. Intent on giving noncommittal answers.
“Maybe if I get Rayleigh to teach me her ways, I can get what I want too.”
Ruby just laughed and flicked some sudsy water at me. “As if you don’t get your way most of the time as it is.”
I kissed her nape, just below her tattoo. “You already have the answers to all those questions rattling around in your head, Ruby. All you gotta do is have the courage to ask them.”
Chapter 26
Gray
“We need to think of what Santa is going to give the girls.”
“Didn’t they write letters to Santa that we put in their St. Nick stockings?” I asked.
Ruby popped her head out of the bathroom door and rolled her eyes at me. “I’m not getting them a puppy.”
“But it would be so much fun,” I said with a laugh.
Ruby just glared at me and turned back into the bathroom to continue getting ready for bed. Even though I didn’t need the sleep, I always spent the first part of the night in bed with her. I loved the quiet moments we stole at the end of the day. The simple quiet of talking about our day was something I wouldn’t ever give up.
“You’re not the one that would pick up the accidents or feed the dang thing,” Ruby said as she snapped off the bathroom light and came into the bedroom.
She’d changed from her typical leggings and a baggy t-shirt. Now, she wore a pair of loose shorts made of semi-sheer material, the color of ripe peach, and a matching tank. I sat up and swung my legs over the side of the bed so I could get a better look at her. Ruby wasn’t usually the instigator in the bedroom. But these new PJs screamed she was interested in some fun tonight.
“Is that new?” I asked. It surprised me how hoarse my voice sounded.
Ruby smiled and put a hand on her hip, pulling the fabric tighter against her middle. I could clearly see the outline of her rosy nipples and the gentle swell of her belly. The peachy color against her pale skin gave a subtle blush all over her skin. The sight was mouth-watering.
“Come here,” I rasped and held out a hand.
Ruby took my hand, and I used it to tug her onto my lap. I needed all of that soft creamy skin and those generous curves pressed against me. Just like it was the first time, the weight of her body against mine set off a riot of sensation. From the sound she made as she lowered herself to my lap, Ruby was feeling the same things.
I leaned in and ran my nose along the side of her neck, “Not that I’m complaining, but what brought this on?”
Ruby sighed and threaded her fingers through my hair. “You’ll thi
nk I’m crazy.”
I kissed the side of her neck as I ran my hand over her thigh, then down to trace the adorable dimples at her knees with the tip of my finger. “Try me.”
“I was reading a book on my break,” Ruby whispered. Her fingers were sliding down my back now, the sharp points of her nails digging in when I touched or licked a spot she especially liked. “There was a scene ...”
I tugged her hair from the elastic and unwound it from the bun on top of her head. In the soft light of the bedroom, the waves shimmered a dark copper color. “What were they doing in this scene?”
Ruby’s breath hitched when I kissed across her collarbone toward the gentle slope of her shoulder. “The woman had on this lingerie set. Her man went wild for it—”
I bit gently at the muscle that connected her neck to her shoulder. “I can see why.”
“I-I’ve never had a sexy lingerie set. This was the best I could do.”
“Sweetheart, once again, you’ve outdone yourself.”
Ruby let out a shuddering laugh. “Do you think so? I felt kind of silly picking this out.”
“Why?” I slid my hands along her hips, pressing and massaging at her flesh, finding the spots I knew she liked the best. “If you like it, what’s wrong with getting something pretty just for you? I promise you I’m appreciating it.”
I could see the flush on her cheeks and chest was a deeper red than was normal when we were in bed together. She wasn’t just turned on; she was embarrassed. Ruby wasn’t the most confident woman when it came to her body, but we’d never had a direct conversation about it. Mostly because I loved her body just as it is and felt that my appreciation should be enough to convince her.
Now, I knew I’d been mistaken. Ruby needed the reassurances, and I was more than happy to oblige.
I wrapped her up tight in my arms and shifted so I could lay her on her back in the center of the bed. The soft curves and dips of her body encased in the silky material was a sight to behold. How this woman could ever have a moment of doubt about her appeal was beyond me, so I set about telling and showing her exactly what I thought of her new purchase.
“Do you know the first thing I noticed about you?” I asked as I traced a path along her collarbone with the tip of my index finger.
“My ability to make a fool of myself whenever you were around?”
“No, though I do find it endearing that I can affect you as much as you affect me.” She snorted in disbelief, but I ignored her. “No, what I first noticed was all this lovely skin.”
I traced my finger’s path with my tongue paying special attention to the sensitive sides of her neck. “I never knew what peaches and cream skin meant until I saw you walking down the street in a white tank top and jean shorts.”
“Peaches and cream, more like pasty and burned.” I gently pinched her nipple through the top of her lingerie. “Hey!”
“No negative talk while I’m seducing you.” I looked up, and her expression was thunderous, but she gave a begrudging nod. “The second thing I noticed was all these generous curves.”
I kneeled above her and used both my hands to slide up her hips to cup her breasts. I could see Ruby wanted to argue, but she wisely kept her denials to herself and just moaned as I massaged her breasts and tugged at the hard peaks of her nipples. Ruby arched her back, thrusting her breasts into my hands as she moaned and gasped her pleasure.
“I’ve spent hours thinking about this body,” I said as I tugged off her top. “I think about it so much I’m sure I know it better than my own.”
I leaned forward and wrapped my mouth around a nipple and sucked hard just like I knew would drive her wild. Ruby gasped and threaded her fingers through my hair, digging her nails into my scalp and tugging on my hair, directing me to just where she needed me.
As I used my mouth on her breasts, I gently pulled her bottoms down with my free hand. The silky material gave way to silky skin, and once I had her fully naked, I cupped her hips in my hands and pulled her closer to my body.
I took my mouth from her nipple and kissed my way up to her ear so I could whisper, “Does it feel like I find anything about your body objectionable?” To punctuate my words, I used my control of her hips to rub her bare pussy against the bulge of my dick in my boxers.
“N-No,” Ruby whispered.
“Next time you’re shopping, and you want to get an outfit like this, you text me a picture if you’re feeling uncertain. I’ll make sure to remind you of exactly how this feels.”
I let go of her for a second. I shoved down my boxers so I could rub the tip of my cock against her wet pussy. “Any time you need reminding of how much I appreciate this body, you let me know. I’ll always be available for refreshers.”
Ruby made a sound between a laugh and a moan. “If I promise to call you, will you fuck me now?”
“Yes.”
“Then, I promise. Now, stop being a tease and fuck me, Gray.”
I slid inside Ruby in a slow thrust that had us both sighing in contentment. Every noise, every moan, every gasp from Ruby was like music to my ears. I lived to make this woman feel loved and appreciated. And it killed me that she ever had doubts of her worth.
I knew Ruby wasn’t ready to hear all the words that threatened to flow from my lips, so I showed her in the second-best way. In the reverence of my touch and my enthusiasm for the way she shared her body with me. By the time we were both spent and panting, I had a new appreciation for the steamy books Ruby was fond of reading. “I need to know the name of that book you’ve been reading.”
Ruby laughed and hugged me around the waist. “Why?”
“Because whatever happened in that book gave you the best damn idea you’ve had in a long time. I’m going to buy everything that the author has written, so you’re never short on ideas.”
Ruby laughed again. “With you for inspiration, I’m sure that I’ll never lack ideas.”
I pulled her in tight and kissed the top of her head. “I meant what I said. If you ever need reassurance, I’ll be there to give it to you.”
Ruby squeezed me around the middle. “I know. It’s just hard not to get in my head sometimes. Even without all this extra stress I’d have a hard time with my self-confidence. But I promise Gray, you’re the best boost to my confidence I’ve ever had.”
“I know dealing with everything has been hard on you. That’s why I’m so glad you agreed to go on this weekend trip with me. I understand it’s not easy to take time for just ourselves, but I honestly think it will do you good.”
Ruby leaned up and propped her arm on my chest so she could look down at me. Her sex-mussed hair tumbled around her shoulders, and her face looked satisfied and happy. My heart warmed at the sight.
“I agreed to go because I want to spend alone time with you too, Gray. You don’t have to keep selling me on the idea. I promise I’m looking forward to it.”
I slid my hand up and down her back as I looked hard at her expression, and I was happy to see no stress there. “Good. Because I’ve already booked your massage, and there’s no refunds.”
Ruby laughed and kissed my mouth before rolling off the bed and walking toward the bathroom. “Gray, you realize all you’re spoiling me, right?”
“That’s the plan, Ruby. That’s the plan.”
Chapter 27
Ruby
The next morning, I met with Natalie to discuss updates on my mom’s case. I didn’t tell Gray about the appointment and even knew it was a mistake as I lied and said I had a dentist appointment. Gray took on a lot of the burden of the search for Mom while I concentrated on work and the kids, and sometimes his dedication made me feel guilty. How could I ask him to shoulder more emotional weight on top of everything else he was doing?
So, like a coward, I drove myself into town and parked my Bronco at the dentist’s office. Then I walked three blocks in
the steadily falling snow to Natalie’s office above Fika. When I got inside the building, it surprised me to see that Annika was already there. The looks on both the women’s faces set me on edge.
“What’s wrong?” I asked as I walked into the room. “Is it Mom?”
“No,” Annika said. She reached for my hand to tug me down in the seat next to her. “I got some news earlier this week that Natalie has finally verified.”
“With the help of the tips from the website, the cops identified the man that your mom was seeing before she disappeared,” Natalie said. She spun her computer monitor around. On it was the picture of an average-looking guy in his fifties. “This is Robert Wier, an accountant from Ohio.”
“But I thought the guy was from Canada?” I said as I looked between the two women. “The ID he gave the Waites said Toronto, and Beau confirmed my mom mentioned going to Canada for the weekend.”
“That was his cover,” said Annika. “He was trying to hide his vacation of sin from a wife and four grown kids.”
Disgust soured in my stomach. “So he lied to her, made her believe they were going to be something? And then what? Abandoned her in another country?”
“He claims he did nothing wrong,” said Natalie. “He admitted to spending the week with your mom, but he claims he left her in the Waite’s cabin, healthy and whole on that Sunday morning.”
“The cops have been through the cabin several times. There’s no evidence Mom was ever there.”
“This is just the story he’s telling right now,” said Annika. “The fact that he lied to your mom about his identity is a likely sign that he’s lying about other things.”
“So, if he’s back in Ohio and Mom’s still missing, we’re back at square one. Aren’t we?” Tears slipped down my cheeks, unbidden. The feelings of dread, disgust, and fear swirled in my stomach and left me nauseated.
Annika laid a soothing hand on my back. “We don’t know that.”
“Until we find her, there’s always hope,” added Natalie.
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