Page 30 of From Wink to Kink

Things sometimes just get fucked up.

It was only right to offer to share the room, not that Ruby had anywhere else to go, anyway. Not only was she upset and crying, but she’s happens to be Tyler’s sister. I would expect my friend and fellow teammate to take care of my sister in a similar situation, so I’m going to do the same for Ruby. I barely know her and am pretty sure she can’t stand my ass, but still.

I hear the shower stop and, a few minutes later, a hair dryer starts up. I hope she’s feeling better.

When she emerges, she’s wearing one of the resort’s too-big robes and her bare feet, tipped with red polish, peek out from the bottom. Why that sight makes my stomach quiver, I don’t know, and I don’t want to examine it right now. To give her a little privacy, I figure I’ll take another shower, hopefully one that will cool me off, so I duck into the bathroom.

Once I’m under the cool spray, I let out a sigh of bliss. God, the water feels fantastic. Say what you want about this place, but their shower has bad-ass water pressure. I brace my hands on the tile wall and let it pound at my back, washing away my sweat, if only for a moment. As I do, my mind wanders back to Ruby… those surprisingly sexy toes and her gorgeous fall of red hair.

And my johnson twitches.

Down, boy. Ruby Brooks may be sexy in a hot librarian sort of way, but she’s not for me. Instead, I tell myself to treat her with respect and kindness and this whole mess will be straightened out tomorrow.

Finished, I grab the other robe and return to the room where I find Ruby standing at the balcony door, her forehead pressed against the glass.

“We should step out there, see what it’s like from that side,” I say.

At the sound of my voice, she jumps. “Yeah, maybe.”

Her voice is sad and hollow, and my heart goes out to her. “Hey, we will get this sorted out tomorrow, okay? For now, let’s just sit on the balcony for a bit,” I suggest.

I cross to her side, open the door. She hesitantly follows me, settling into one of the chairs.

One glance tells me she’s inches away from a total meltdown.Okay, Newcomb, I think. Time to put on your big boy pants and handle this like an adult. Sure, I barely know her beyondthe occasional team barbecue and checking out her cute ass, but she's Tyler's sister. And if there's one commitment we make in hockey, it's looking out for our teammates—on and off the ice. That extends to family members, too, of course.

The view from here is spectacular, no doubt about it. The rainforest stretches out before us, a sea of green punctuated by colorful bursts of tropical flowers. In any other circumstance, it would be breathtaking. Right now, it just feels like a hot, verdant prison.

"Look," I start, then realize Ruby looks like she might pass out from a combination of heat, stress, and probably hunger. "Let me get you your water."

I run back inside, looking for the bottles the front desk guy gave us. That's when I spot it—a gift basket that would make Cupid himself blush. There's chilled champagne, a bouquet of roses that could double as a small shrub, chocolates that probably cost more than my first car, and strawberries so red and perfect they look like a painting.

I pluck the card out of the envelope and read it loudly enough for Ruby to hear out on the balcony.

Welcome to Pura Vida. We are delighted you chose to spend a week here with us in beautiful Costa Rica. Enjoy these complimentary treats, and don’t forget to keep your strawberries in the fridge so you don’t attract bugs.

"Mmmm. Appetizing. Anyhoo, they're really pushing the romance thing, huh?" I say, trying for a light tone as I grab the champagne.

Ruby makes a sound that's half-laugh, half-sob. Great job, Newcomb. Really nailing this whole comforting thing.

I pour us each a glass of champagne, because if there was ever a situation that called for bubbles, it's this one. I consider handing her the roses from the basket, but don’t want to go too far, nor give her the wrong impression. So I return to the balcony, two glasses in hand, trying not to feel like I'm at the world's most awkward job interview.

"So," I say, taking a sip of champagne. Damn, it's good. Pura Vida does not skimp on alcohol. "I know this isn't ideal, but maybe we can make the most of a bad situation?"

Ruby looks at me over the rim of her glass, her eyes narrowing. Then, in a move that both impresses and scares me, she throws back the entire glass of champagne in one bubbly gulp.

"Not interested," she says flatly, setting the glass down with a little more force than necessary. "I'm just gonna go back home."

I blink, taken back by her vehemence. "Whoa, hold on. You can't just leave. I mean, you can, but... don't you think that's a bit drastic?"

Holy shit. Why am I talking her into staying? If she wants to bail, what do I care?

She glares at me, and I'm reminded why I always found her a little intimidating at team events. For someone so small, she's got a glare that could melt steel.

"Drastic?" she repeats. "Chuck, we're at a couples retreat. A very... specific kind of couples retreat. And we're not a couple. We're barely even friends!"

"Ouch," I say, clutching my chest in mock pain. "And here I thought we were really bonding."

She rolls her eyes, but I swear I see the ghost of a smile tugging at her lips. Progress.

---