Page 40 of A Tempting Seduction

“That sounds wonderful, actually. I always wondered what it would be like to have a big family.”

“It has its moments. Like the time Jack and I convinced Walker that the tooth fairy paid double for molars, so he tried to pull out his own tooth with a pair of pliers.”

Ruby's eyes widened in horror.

“How old was he?”

“Seven. Old enough to know better, but young enough to believe us when we told him the tooth fairy was running a special promotion.”

“Did he actually do it?”

“He tried. Got the pliers from Dad's toolbox and was working on loosening the tooth when Mom caught him. She tanned the two of us, but Walker's tooth came out naturally about a week later anyway.”

Ruby dissolved into laughter, the sound bright and infectious.

“Your poor mother. Five children must have been exhausting.”

“She says it kept her young. Dad claims it turned his hair gray prematurely, but he's got pictures of himself at twenty-five, and his hair was already turning gray.”

“Do you all still live in Jasper Creek?”

“Most of us. Jack's been in Alaska for the past eight years, chasing fishing boats and adventure. He calls every few months with stories that sound too crazy to be true.”

“And the rest of you stayed close to home?”

“Walker and I went into business together after I left the Air Force. Carrie married her high school sweetheart and never left town. Fiona tried to make it work somewhere else, but she's back now with the kids.”

“It's nice that you're all so close.”

“Most of the time. Sometimes I want to strangle Walker, and Carrie can be a little too invested in everyone else's business, but we're family. We show up for each other when it matters.”

Ruby's expression grew soft, almost wistful.

“That's precious. Not everyone has that kind of support system.”

The comment hung in the air between us, loaded with implications. Ruby was telling me something about her own experience without actually saying it.

“Can I take your plates?” We both looked up at Sarah, then looked down at our empty plates.

“Sure can,” Ruby and I said simultaneously. Then we laughed. Sarah asked if we would like dessert. I looked at Ruby who shook her head. “This dinner was a feast, I don’t know where I would put another bite.”

“All right then.” She set the bill down beside me, and I slipped my credit card into the folio, and she took it. “I’ll be right back.”

“This was wonderful.” Ruby said. “Thank you for dinner.”

“Thank you for saying yes.”

We made our way back to the Mustang. The drive home felt different from the trip to the restaurant. More charged somehow, like the evening had shifted something between us.

Ruby was quiet, but it was a comfortable silence. She gazed out the window at the darkened countryside, and I found myself stealing glances at her profile in the dashboard lights.

When I pulled up in front of her duplex, neither of us moved to get out of the car immediately.

“Would you like to come in for coffee?” Ruby's voice was soft, almost hesitant. “I have apple brown betty from the Down Home Diner if you'd like some dessert.”

I turned to look at her, trying to read her expression in the dim light.

“Are you sure?”