Page 34 of No Rings Attached
“I get that people can hide behind a screen, but I don’t think that’s what happened with us. You’ve been straightforward in every one of our conversations. Who you are is very clear to me, even though until now we’ve only communicated by email or on the phone.”
“That’s true, but?—”
I raised an eyebrow and tilted my head, which effectively stopped her next words. “Who was it that contacted Patrice’s son’s favorite band and got them to have a virtual meeting with him during the school day to wish him a happy birthday?”
“Um, me. But he’d been having a rough school year and was being bullied. Anyone would’ve done that.”
I raised an eyebrow. She was wrong. Everyone wouldnothave done that. And she didn’t ever take credit for any of her thoughtful gestures. “Okay, and Selena?”
She gave an embarrassed chuckle. And thank God, unlike all her other gifts to my employees, she had not signed my name to this one. I’d heard all about it the next day at work.
“She’d been struggling after her divorce and I thought she could use a pick-me-up.” By way of a host of male dancers that showed up at Selena’s house. They not only danced, but hung out with Selena for hours afterward. At the end of the night she had gotten the number of the “firefighter” and they’d been dating for the last month.
“Mypoint, Ellie, is that you’re a good person. You listen to the people you’re having a conversation with, really listen. You hear the things they want or need and you try to help with it. You act on it to show you care.”
She let out a huffed breath and just stared at me. I had a feeling she had no idea what to say or do. Then she finally shook her head and grabbed my hand. “Show me the special river everyone’s hyped up so much.”
I intertwined our fingers and gave a little squeeze. I’d let her change subjects for now, but if nothing else came of our time together as a fake couple, I wanted her to know how truly special she was.
“It’s right over there.” I pointed further down the road. We said very little as we strolled by the next few shops on Main Street. I had a feeling she needed time to absorb the points I’d made, and I wanted to give her the chance to do so.
When she slowed down to look into the window of a storefront, I did too. And I made special notes about the things she lingered over. A pretty journal in the window of Art’s Content, a local artisan shop where residents sold their crafts. I’d heard it wasn’t doing well since tourism had dwindled over the years. A beautiful amethyst crystal displayed at Sacred Serenity, the New Age store, and how she lingered to read the seasonal food offered on the sandwich board outside the bakery, The Sweet Spot. I waved to Penny, the owner, through the window.
Eventually, we reached the river and stopped on the stone bridge to watch the small—but—hypnotizing waterfall to our right.
“This is really pretty,” she said, her voice an awed whisper.
While I knew from experience she was correct, it washerbeauty that I gazed at instead. The sun was setting in the distance. The orangey-yellow rays bounced off the water and provided the perfect backdrop to frame Ellie. Her arms rested on the ledge, her sexy curves pressed against the wall.
“Yeah,” I responded.
She didn’t need to know I meant her.
“Tell me about the myth again?”
I moved to join her at the wall. Her shoulders brushed against my arm and sent a warm feeling to my chest. I leaned in so that my lips were level with her ear. As I recited words I knew from memory, Ellie tilted her head closer to mine.
Knowing the Ruby River Legend was practically a requirement to be a resident.
“Long ago, when the world was quieter and their passion had to hide, two forbidden lovers met at the edge of the river. She wore a ruby necklace, a gift from her family. He had nothing to offer but his heart.”
Ellie gave a sweet sigh. “How romantic.”
“On the night of the red moon, they threw their tokens into the water—hers a ruby, his a vow—and chose each other. The river shimmered crimson by morning. Since then, when a ruby hue kisses the water at sunset, it’s said someone is about to fall in love.”
Ellie clasped her hands beneath her chin, a faint smile playing at her lips. “So they were star-crossed lovers, like Romeo and Juliet … but without the poison, and more of a Hallmark ending. That would be an awesome premise for a book.”
I agreed. “My parents swear the night they got together, they saw the river shimmer crimson. They partly credit it for the success of their marriage.”
We turned around and leaned on the wall, and I pointed to the other side of the bridge. A large tree stood tall and proud, its smattering of colorful fall leaves partially shading the bench beneath it. “They ended up sitting next to each other on that bench that same night and shared their first kiss.”
“That’s so incredibly sweet.” Ellie tilted her head just right, letting it rest on my bicep.
I froze, not wanting her to move away. I liked having her this close.
“There must be something to it,” I said. “They’ve been happily married for thirty-six years.”
“Relationship goals,” she said under her breath.
