Exposed: New Adult Sport Romance (The Boys of Winter Book 5) (11 page)

Neal’s mouth twitches as if he’s trying not to laugh, and I slide back on my chair a little. What’s so funny? Oh, crap. I glance down at myself, wondering if maybe my boob is hanging out. I don’t see anything wrong and say, “Do I have mustard on me again?”

Neal reaches for my hand, and I give it to him. He says, “No. Jess is just a friend who wishes we were more. There’s nothing going on.”

My cheeks burn. “It’s fine. We’re not—” The waiter has arrived with our food, and I want to jump up and hug him in thanks. Because once again I’m making a fool of myself. I watch as Scott tops off our wine glasses with the rest of the bottle.

The scent of the elk is mouth-watering. Neal says, “We get this from a local guy, and my chef knows how to season it so it’s almost as tender as filet mignon.”

I slice easily into the meat and take a bite. The flavor is rich, and I moan in pleasure. “Wow, that’s delicious.” I take a sip of wine to follow it and marvel at how it does complement the elk.

We don’t talk as we focus on the meal before us. I know I should be drinking water but can’t help follow up the succulent flavors with wine. When I’m comfortably sated I lean back and sigh. “Goodness, don’t tell Christian, but that might have been the best meal I’ve ever had.”

“I hope you left room for dessert. Our chocolate soufflé is amazing too.”

I hold up my fingers as if I’m going to pinch something. “I’ve got just a smidgen of room left for chocolate.” I giggle.

Neal glances at my wine glass and frowns. “You probably need coffee, too.”

I lift the glass and swallow down the last bit. “Sure.”

He shakes his head. “Ruby, I can’t let you drive like this. I’m not sure coffee is going to cut it.”

“You’re right. I couldn’t help it, the wine was too good to resist.”

“I know all about temptation. Sometimes it is too hard to resist.”

I think he’s talking about our kiss, and while my smart side says to leave it alone, my lack of filter throws caution to the wind. “I guess that means you’ll have to take me home.” I wink at him and snicker.

“Yes, I’ll drive you home.” Neal really is a handsome man. I let my gaze linger on his face, and he smiles at me. He stares back and tilts his head. “Everything okay?”

I grin because Neal taking care of me feels more than okay. “Yup.”

Chapter 16

Sure enough, by the end of dinner I’m still too drunk to drive. It’s dec
ided Neal will drop me off at home and I’ll text him tomorrow to find a time for me to retrieve my car.

The air is crisp as we walk across smooth asphalt. Bright lights illuminate the parking lot, and I can see our shadows. In my swing coat I twirl once to watch the fabric of my clothes flay out. “When I was a little girl I used to spin to watch my shadow like this. I would get mad if I didn’t have a dancy skirt to wear.”

Neal chuckles, and I say, “Now I make them.” I twirl one more time and end up in front of him, walking backward.

“That you do. Maybe Ruby Raines should make some for little girls, too.”

I spin one last time before we get to the car. “That’s a great idea. Put it on our list of things to do.”

While he drives me home I chatter on about my childhood. I tell him stories of the fun things my mom did and how she wasn’t like other kids’ mothers. She made life an adventure for me.

“Did you ever wish for a father?” The blinker ticks as he waits for the light to turn green.

“Sometimes. I used to imagine he was a secret agent that had an important job and would come for us when he was done. But mostly I just accepted I had only one parent. It’s not that strange.”

“True.”

Neal has never been to my house, so I point when we get to my road. “Turn right, up ahead.”

I’m surprised to see my driveway is empty. I had thought Garret might still be working but am happy he’s not. “Want to come in and see all that we’ve accomplished?”

“Sure.”

Fortunately I’ve sobered up enough I get my key in the lock on the first try. The handle of my door is cold to the touch as I push it open. Flipping on the lights reveals an orderly work area. I smile with pride at my employees’ responsibility.

Neal wanders over to a dress form as he surveys the area. I toss my coat on the couch. Rolling rack wheels squeak as I pull one out for him to see. “This is only half of what we’ve done. Isn’t it great?”

I grab the clipboard from the hook on the end and flip through the lists. “If my math is right, we’ll be done a week early.”

“Wow, nice job.”

“Don’t thank me; it’s the awesome people you recommended. They don’t need much managing.”

“Are you making sure they know you appreciate them? You bought their pizza, right?” Neal leans against the cutting table.

I walk over to be next to him and hop my butt onto the smooth laminated top. “I did. I let them pick their hours, and since they get paid by the piece instead of by time, it’s less stressful for me.”

“Probably them, too. I’m glad that strategy is working.”

He turns to face me, and I grab the lapel of his long cashmere coat. The fabric is soft in my fingers, and I slide my hand down it to feel the texture. I can’t help but notice his defined chest underneath. “Take off your coat and I’ll make us some tea.” I push it off his shoulders before he can answer.

He steps back and lets it fall down to his arms before taking the coat off. “You’re kind of pushy when it comes to me and jackets.”

“I’m pushy when it comes to clothes in general. By the way, I like how you dress.” I jump off the table and take his coat from him to lay it on the couch as I walk toward the kitchen. I stroke the soft wool before I set it down. “You pick great fabrics.”

I lift the teapot to find it has plenty of water, and the electric burner twinges as it heats up. “I especially love a man that gets his clothes tailored to fit.” I turn to find Neal right behind me. I look him up and down, and I’m going to pretend it’s the alcohol even though I feel sober. “It’s sexy.”

Neal stares for a moment, and it makes me think he’s figuring something out. But then his eyelids lower, and he grips my arms lightly. “I’ll have to remember to give you wine more often.”

Oh, no. I gaze up at him and he sighs. Kissing me lightly on the top of my head he releases my arms and moves over to sit on the couch.

I kick off my shoes and climb on the oversized arm so my feet are on a cushion. I wiggle my toes now that they’re free. “Why haven’t you gotten married? I mean, not that thirty-two is ancient, but you’re a great guy. I would think someone would have snatched you up by now.”

“I guess the timing was never right. I found one once, but apparently I was too blind in love to see she didn’t want to marry me.”

“Oh, Neal, what happened?”

He shrugs. “I asked and she said no.”

My heart sinks. “That had to have been awful. Women can be jerks.”

“Jerks?” His lips turn up in amusement.

“Yeah, she obviously led you to believe you were the one. She shouldn’t have done that if she wasn’t as serious as you were.”

Neal chuckles softly. “Oh, Ruby, you’re refreshing. Unfortunately I think it was me convincing myself our relationship was more than it really was. But thank you for assuming the best in me. It’s appreciated.”

The kettle starts to hiss, and I slide off the couch to pad over and make tea. “Cinnamon orange or a chai blend?”

“The chai blend sounds good, and I take it plain.”

Steam rises as I pour liquid into the mugs. The tea bags float on top of the near-boiling water, and spoons clink when I drop them in.

“Why wouldn’t I think the best of you? You’ve been nothing but great to me. You’re generous with your time, expertise, and money.” The floor is cool under my bare feet as I walk back to the couch and hand him his mug. I set a small plate on the tacky ’70s coffee table along with my tea to steep.

I settle back on the arm of the sofa and say, “You’ve pretty much launched my career and made it almost risk free. Who does that for someone they barely know?”

I nudge his thigh with my toes. “An amazing man that deserves to be cherished, that’s who.”

Neal grabs my foot, and I flinch because it tickles. He applies the steady pressure of a squeeze, calming my twitches. “Maybe it’s because a talented woman like you deserves a chance.” He sets his mug down with a thump. “You give me too much credit. You’re a good business risk I couldn’t resist.”

He’s massaging my foot now, and while I shouldn’t let it turn me on, my core is trembling. I want to reply with something witty about resistance, but I bite my tongue and let my head fall back as I close my eyes. “You’ve just found my Achilles’ heel.” I giggle at my bad pun.

I hear a sigh but don’t look over at him. I’m not sure I want to know whether he’s annoyed or attracted to me. I pull my foot away and push the other toward him. “Equal time?”

Neal complies and continues the massage. I say, “Whatever the reason, I’m grateful, and plan to do my best to make you proud.”

“Don’t do it to make me proud; I already am. Do your best because you can’t help it.”

I sit up taller and gaze at him. I know success is more than just doing your best. You need to know what the best is. “I’m not sure I can’t help it. But that didn’t work out so well for me last time. Thank you for making sure that this time my best will count.”

Neal drops my foot, and I slither down to a cushion to deal with my tea. He says, “You’re welcome.”

Emerging myself in passion is easy for me to do. The trick is to pursue the right one. Just like Neal going after a woman he didn’t really have, or me fighting to succeed in a business I didn’t understand, doing your best won’t work if it’s not the right goal.

As I squeeze water out of my tea bag, I steal a glance at his strong hands doing the same. My heart surges with joy, because with Neal I feel as if anything’s possible.

Chapter 17

Awake at four in the morning, I’m a little fuzzy but feel surprisingly go
od after my wine consumption last night. Three hefty glasses should have given me a headache, but I take the small gift and seize the opportunity to get some sewing in before employees arrive.

Crushed velvet is smooth on my fingers as I lift a project from a small pile of cut fabric left to sew. We’ll be done by this afternoon and I tense, realizing my silks aren’t here and there will be no work until they arrive. The last time I checked the shipment it had just been released by customs, and the earliest I can expect it is three days from now.

I sigh as I flip on my light to sew. While I’m sure a day or two off will be welcome after the long hours everyone has worked, I hate the feeling of time wasted.

My machine whirls with the steady beat of a needle bobbing up and down. I run a mental list of the things I need to do besides create inventory. I know that store fixtures will be arriving soon, and because they have to be assembled maybe I can start while I wait for my shipment.

My scissors snip off threads as I finish the skirt I’m working on. It’s still early, but I decide to text Neal about my car. I retrieve my phone from the kitchen counter and find Trevor texted me last night around midnight, when I was sound asleep.

“Hey baby, thinking about you. Thought you might be up.”

I grin, remembering our late-night text conversations as I hid under my covers so my mom wouldn’t know I wasn’t sleeping. I tap out a message back.

“Hey, just got this. Are you awake? :)”

I type out a text to Neal, not expecting a reply back from Trevor yet.

“Let me know when you can come get me for my car. I’m up.”

A text from Trevor comes in. “I am now. Slept with my phone.”

“Sorry to wake you. Go back to sleep and text later.”

Gray dots dance as he types. “I’d rather talk to you. What are you doing today?”

I plop down on my couch with a whoosh. “Sewing, but we might finish this afternoon and be on hold until another fabric shipment comes in.”

“I probably won’t get a class today, should I come take you on an adventure?”

A notification from Neal texting back flashes at the top of my screen. I open it and read, “I’ll be there in forty-five minutes.”

I text Neal. “OK”