Page 89 of Sassy Love
I roll my eyes at him. This one, like there have been others.
“Alright, I’ll let you go back to... whatever. The boss wants me home for supper. You’re welcome to join us.” Reed tips his hat before stepping outside.
“The boss?” Carlie asks, glancing at my brother.
He gives her his best grin. “Rubes.”
Her eyes light up as she pulls her bottom lip through her teeth. “Oh, dinner with Ruby Robbins... Can we?”
“I’m going to need that request in writing,” I tease.
She raises an eyebrow but pads to her handbag, rifling through it and mumbling a phrase under her breath before returning with a pink sticky note and placing it on my forehead.
Reed cackles where he stands as I peel it off and hold it out to read.
Scrawled over the square pink paper isPlease, Cowboy, I’ll owe you one.
I shift my gaze back to catch hers as desperation twists her face. She’s absolutely gone over meeting Rubes. It’s damn adorable.
I know the feeling of being gone all too well as warmth floods my chest with her plea.
Chapter 22
CARLIE
Isit on a white Adirondack chair next totheRuby Robbins. Well, Ruby Rawlins now, but still. I’m fangirling so stinking hard, I’m terrified I’m going to make an absolute fool of myself.
“So, you need a gala four weeks from now?” Ruby asks me.
It’s all I can do to nod.
Lawson works fast.
I grip the wine glass she handed me twenty minutes ago when we came outside and left the men to wash up. Merlot. It’s floral and rich. Lovely.
“Do you have any idea of the type of guests you need for the sponsorships? Do you have a curated event list already, or access to one?”
“I—no, I mean, I’m not sure. Serelle seems to play most things close to the vest. But I have contacts from Carlson’s I can use.”
“Great, I have a list, but not everyone on it will be a good fit. We should make a new list. A venue will be the hard part, catering even harder this near to the date.”
“I was afraid of that.” I swirl the crimson liquid in my fine-stemmed wine glass and take a sip.
Ruby gazes into the fire, as if choosing her words carefully. “Laws is just?—”
“I know. He’s the kindest man I’ve ever met.” I hope everything I say isn’t coming out weird or like I’m trying too hard. I’m not used to the feeling of not being the most successful woman in the room. As self-centered and shallow as it sounds. But I’ve been running on defense for so long, this is... nerve-wracking. I lower my gaze to the wine, turning the stem in my hands.
“Hey,” Ruby says softly. “This place, this family. Safe space. The safest. Nothing you do or say will change anyone’s mind about anything. Blanket statement. That should really be a Rawlins Hallmark card.” She scrunches her face at me with a kind smile.
“Thank you,” I breathe, seeing the tangle of emotion lining her eyes. The great Ruby Robbins, who I’ve admired for years, is letting me in. I have only ever known her on a professional level. And like one does when you barely know someone, I assumed her life was brilliant. Perfect.
“Of course.” She studies my face, her brows dropping the slightest bit. “I never knew what family meant until I came out here. Reed gave me that. These people will change your life.”
“From what Lawson tells me... you did the same for his brother.”
She huffs a laugh. “Let’s just say we both found what we were looking for.”
“That’s incredible.”
