CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Kingston
It takes a fucking lifetime to finish up for the day. That’s a good problem to have because it means a large haul. One of our best to date. We even spent part of the day discussing bringing on a fourth crew member.
“Here ya go,” Deuce says as he passes over the record breaking check. The most we’ve made for one day’s work. Well, legal work anyway.
I pump the man’s hand. I’m anxious to call it done. “We sure do appreciate you. Hope to see ya again in the next few days.”
“I’ll be here.” The man smirks and shoves his hands into the sides of his denim overalls that he cut off into shorts. And who needs a shirt for underneath? Not Deuce.
I drop the boys off at the house and it kills me to take the extra five minutes for a shower. Guts and bait aren’t exactly aphrodisiac material.
“I’m outta here,” I yell on my way out the door. I don’t even wait for a smartass remark. No, I can’t stand to stay away for a second longer.
I pull up and am instantly relieved to see Ellie Mae hasn’t moved. My ears tune in to the music and my mouth waters when the mixed spices dance across my taste buds. She’s working her magic. I don’t know what’s happening. I can’t explain the feeling invading my full chest.
Content, maybe?
If this was all I had to come home to for the rest of my life, I would die the happiest man to ever live.
Ruby only reinforces that notion when she leaps out onto the porch. Her hair is tied up in a crazy bun. She’s not wearing a stitch of makeup and she looks fresh and natural. Her jean cutoffs have tiny pieces of white fringe. She’s barefoot and has a rag thrown over one shoulder. She appears frazzled and a mess and I swear, she’s never looked more perfect.
“What’s cooking, Sugar?” I breathe in her sweet scent as she presses her head into my chest. I don’t tell her, but I can feel her do the same. I’m damn glad I got that shower. “Smells like you’ve been up to something good today.”
She bounces up to her tiptoes and plants a warm kiss on my cheek. “I went and hung out with Gus at the marina.”
“Oh, I bet the old man really enjoyed that.”
“Yeah, we have a standing date for tomorrow. But tonight, we have shrimp tacos with homemade Cajun slaw and Pico de Gallo.
“Shut your mouth!” I love the way she giggles when I tease her.
“Yep, and ice cold watermelon for dessert.” She guides me to the table and I take a seat, ready to chow down. She hands me a beer and sits down to join me. Ruby loves her food. I love the way she eats. Hell, I love how much she eats.
“Sorry it’s so late.” I throw three tortillas on my plate.
“No problem. Just means it was a good day, right?”
I also love how she gets it. She gets everything. “One of the best. I think you might be my good luck charm. You sure you’re not a rabbit?”
She laughs from her cheeks, and my body responds with instant reaction.
“All human, baby.”
“That’s the way I like it.” I shove an overflowing taco into my mouth. “Damn, woman. You got some serious skills.”
“All human skills,” she says in a low tone before pushing herself back from the table. “Let me get you a paper towel.”
Something changed. Snapped. Her demeanor is different.
“Hey, Sugar. Did I say something wrong?”
She shakes her head. “No, not at all.”
But she can’t fool me. I can see it. Her eyes are distant, and I don’t hear her sweet laugh for the rest of the night.
Me and my fat, stupid mouth.
*
I’m buzzing before dawn and sketching on a paper towel, taking special care to let Ruby sleep in. She did her best to appease me last night by pretending like everything was ok, but I knew better. She had been lost ever since supper. We spent the rest of the night on the porch tossing back beers and eating fresh watermelon. But she kept the conversations short, like chit chat between friends, keeping me at bay.
“Are you sneaking off?”
Her words make me jump. “Shit, you are entirely too stealthy.”
She looks sleepy and yummy as she rubs her tired eyes with the balls of her fists. “Did I wake you?”
She shakes her head and the motion sends messy tendrils swooping around her face. “No, but I thought you’d be gone by now. Sun’s almost up.”
I don’t fill her in on my idea, but I can’t wait to get the day started. The sooner I’m done with work, the sooner I can get back to Ruby. Now, I just have to talk the two knuckle heads into jumping on board.
“Yeah, I better get going. What’s on your agenda for the day?” I pull her onto my lap and bury my face in the warmth of her soft neck.
She melts into me and it’s everything. “I’ll figure out something. Gus is waiting with bated breath to hear all about our hot date.”
“You might want to spare the old man the details of our major fuck session. I don’t know if his feeble heart can take it.”
She giggles and her cheeks flush with heat. “Fuck session? Hmm, I like the sound of that. And I don’t know. Maybe I’ll make a friend.”
“I’d prefer it if you’d stay off the radar. There are no friends out here.”
She shrugs, and I can’t help but think she’s not taking my warning seriously. “Besides,” I start. “I’m all you have time for anyway.” I gently grip her chin and get lost in her searing kiss before she stands up and I give her a swat on the ass. She grins, but winces and I love the way her pale skin blushes as I remind her of what’s to come. She’s obviously still sore from last night and my head is already spinning with new ideas of ways to enjoy her. God, every part of her.
I hate it, but I finally tell her goodbye.
The day seems to last so damn long now.
*
“You sure are in an all fired hurry to get outta here.” Wyatt tugs off his ballcap and scratches his head. “Happy looks good on you, brother.”
His words come out of nowhere and surprise me. I want so much to be able to say the same for him, but I can’t. I ruined that for my brother. “Thanks, man. Yeah, I feel kinda like an idiot with a damn grin on my face all the time, but it just won’t go away.”
He chuckles and a lop sided smirk creeps in one corner of his mouth. “I remember that feeling. A little advice? Get over the idiot part and just go with it. It’s the best thing in the whole world to have someone tuned into you, like you’re the only two people breathing. I’d do anything to have Lilly back. Don’t let anything, or anyone, get in the way.”
My chest tightens as I hear my brother’s honest confession. The pain in my heart is grief. I know it well. My mother. Kate. Even Lilly, but none like the grief I have for the relationship I used to have with Wyatt. “I don’t plan on it. And you know if I could change what happened back then, I sure as hell would.”
He nods and twists his lips. “Yeah, I know brother.” He drops his gaze and apparently spots the folded up paper towel in my hand. “Whatchya got there? A shopping list? Little lady already got ya whipped?”
Now it’s my turn to chuckle. “Man, she can whip me all day long. Nah, it’s just an idea I wanted to run by you and Fournette, but I didn’t catch him in time.”
“Ain’t nothing keeping that hound dog away from the bar on ladies’ night. Come on, let’s see it.”
I pass him the paper and hold my breath as he surveys the penciled drawing. “You sure you don’t wanna just ask her to move into the main house? Seems a hell of a lot easier than doing all this shit to the old shack.”
“I thought about that, but I can’t help it. I don’t think it’s good enough. Not for her.”
Wyatt scoffs. “Shit, thanks, man.”
“Don’t be like that,” I say as I pluck the paper towel from his hand. “The house is great, but it’s your pride and joy. Not mine.”
“And the cabin is?”
“I don’t know why, but Ruby loves it there. She says it feels like home and she’s never had that before. I want to give her the world, but since I can’t, I’m giving her the fish shack. Only a little bigger and a lot better.”
I wait and hope he ain’t looking for a fight. I don’t have it in me and I’m just gonna do what I want in the end.
“Sounds like a plan to me. Not a solid one, but that’s not how us Merciers do it, anyway. You know I got your back and Fournette goes without saying.”
“I appreciate that, brother. Seriously, because I’m going to need all hands on deck to pull this off.”
We talk the whole ride back to the house. He’s got a lot of ideas and it feels good to have a normal conversation, like normal brothers. Normal people who also just happen to be Louisiana black bears.