Page 108 of Waiting for Redemption

“We’ll be right back.”

“Okay.” Ruby laughs as Maverick hops up in the booth with Riley and I follow behind Hendrix. I barely have enough time to check my emails before he comes busting out of the bathroom again.

“Feel better?” I ask as Hendrix walks out of the restroom.

“Yeah, that was a close one.” The kid put away like three bottles of water while we were out this morning and never once stopped talking and playing long enough to go to the bathroom. I'm surprised he didn’t burst in the truck on the way here.

When we make it back out front Hendrix runs over to the booth where both dogs are laying and snuggles up to them just as I catch a glimpse of Ruby at the end of the bar. I take a moment to admire the way she seems to float behind the bar. She never knew how much of my attention she held when we worked here together, but there were so many times customers would have to clear their throats or tap their glass on the bar to get my attention because it was always on her. The way she owns any room she walks into is downright captivating.

God, she’s so fucking beautiful.

And apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks so…Before I can call out to get her attention a guy slides onto the barstool closest to her, grinning ear to ear while she’s still facing the other direction. Every protective and jealous bone in my body starts itching as I walk a little faster in their direction.

“Excuse me, but what’s agorgeouswoman like you doing working at a bar like this?” Ruby turns around quickly upon hearing the remark, but she doesn’t look nearly as pissed off as I am. “Ooh, and the front looks even better than the back. What’s a guy gotta do to get them digits?”

“First of all, you can fuck all the way off. Preferably back to wherever the hell you came from,” I interrupt, watching as Ruby’s eyes grow wide.

“Tank!” She swats at my arm, but I don’t budge. I hold his stare until his eyes begin bouncing back and forth between me and Ruby.

“Look man I–”

“Was hitting on the wrong man’s wife,” I sneer, making his mouth drop open as he looks back at Ruby again.

“Oh, shit!” Ruby starts laughing as he covers his mouth with his hands. “You got wifed up?”

“I did. By the best, as you can see,” she says, rubbing my arm as my anger begins morphing into confusion.

“Zay, this is my husband Tank.”

“Well, he comes bythatname honestly.” He shakes his head in agreement, looking me up and down.

“Tank, this is my friend Zay. The one I told you about fromBad Bunnies,” she explains, helping me to recall her telling me he was the onlyreal friendshe had while working there.

“Right, sorry. I’m just a bit protective over my girl,” I admit, looking over at Ruby whose gaze is filled with delight.

“As you should be. I wouldn’t have come in playin’ had I known. I meant no disrespect.” He holds his hands up defensively.

“So Zay, what are you even doing here?” Ruby asks as she rounds the bar to give him a hug. I know he’s a friend, but I’m still fighting the urge to pull her back over to me.

“Well, I happened to seethisand thoughtno way is my girl working at a bar in Tennesseeso I had to come see for myself.” He slides over a magazine displaying an article that reads “10 off the grid places you should visit while in Nashville”with a photo of Ruby behind the bar, looking like the fucking goddess that she is, but I can barely take the time to appreciate it since all I can feel is the heat in my ears from him referring tomy wifeashis girl.

Like fuck she is.

“Oh my god, I remember Max telling me someone was featuring Chattahoochies in an article, but I had no idea they took this picture,” she says, holding the magazine up to read it. When her face drops from amusement to panic it’s like I can almost read her mind.

Is this how Mark found her?

She looks over at me and when Zay sees the exchange he quickly changes the subject.

“So, has Melissa reached out to you about coming back forOne Last Dance?”

“What?” Ruby shakes her head, trying to regain her focus.

“Bad Bunniesis hosting a theme night where they bring back all the old crowd favorites… Ya know, the ones that can still work the pole at least. I know for sure you were one of the names mentioned.”

Absolutely the fuck not.Can he leave now?

“Oh, no I haven’t heard from her. But I had to get a new number when I left so she probably didn’t have a way to contact me,” she explains.

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