It had been days since he’d touched her, days since he’d held her in his arms and kissed the daylights out of her. He totally understood that Ruby was torn in two by the return of her ex. She’d banked her future on Trace Evans and had envisioned a life with him. And Trace had failed her. The guy wasn’t good enough to shine Ruby’s boots, and tonight was Brooks’s chance to win her over. To show her that they needed more time together, that what they’d started at the C’mon Inn was worth pursuing.
In just a few hours, he’d be face-to-face with her, and he wouldn’t let up until Ruby was his.
A knock at his door shook him out of his own head. It was his brother Graham.
“Hey.”
“Hey. Thanks for showing up on time.”
“My brother calls and I come.”
Graham stepped inside the cabin, immediately took in the romantic setting, lifted his nose in the air and grinned. “Smells like a funeral home in here.”
Oh man, Graham was such a pain sometimes. “Don’t make me sorry I let you in here.”
“You’re doing this for Ruby?” Graham walked farther into the room.
“Yep. You know I don’t like to lose. And Ruby is worth winning.”
Graham eyed him carefully. “Just don’t blow it, Brooks. Seems weird saying this, but she’s family now. And you’d have the entire Preston house come down on you if Ruby gets hurt.”
“I don’t intend to hurt her,” Brooks said, hearing the commitment in his voice.
“Man, you’re really hooked, aren’t you? I mean, you two are polar opposites.”
“Let me worry about that. And we’re not that different when it comes right down to it.”
“Hey, I have my hands full with wedding plans and the baby coming. I’m not going to say another word, except you deserve to be happy.” He looked over the place again. “Nice touch with the candles. Ruby will love what you’ve done. I hope it works out.”
The sincerity in Graham’s voice made up for his crap from earlier. “I appreciate that.”
“So, what’s up?”
“I’ve been thinking.”
“About Bill Turner? I do plan to see him one day, but after what you told me, apparently there’s no rush. He won’t know who I am, right?”
“Probably not, but if you need to see him, to meet with him, I wouldn’t stop you. Ruby said...” Brooks paused. Everything Ruby had told him was true. She’d gotten him through a tough day, and that was only one of the reasons he was crazy about her.
“What did Ruby say?” Graham asked.
“A lot, and I’ll tell you later, but first I want to run something by you. I think I’m ready.”
“Ready?” His brother gestured to the decked-out room. “Obviously, if you’ve gone to so much trouble for Ruby—”
“I’m talking about my vendetta against Winchester. I think I’m through, Graham. Once and for all. I wanted to get your opinion. I want to make peace.”
His brother’s brows shot up. “Really?”
“Yeah. It’s time. Being here at Look Away has cleared my head some. I’m not the same man I once was. Vengeance can be taken only so far before it destroys you. Coming here made me see that I want to look to the future and not bury myself in the past. What’s done is done.”
“I like what I’m hearing, Brooks. And Eve will be grateful if you could put the past behind you. She’s come here to support me in meeting my father while her own father is very ill. Sutton isn’t long for this earth. Eve, Nora and Grace are struggling with all of it. I mean, say what you might about the man, but he is their father, and he’s dying.”
Brooks drew breath in his lungs. He’d had a long-running feud with Sutton Winchester and had come to learn the man hadn’t been guilty of many of the things Brooks had once believed. Winchester’s biggest crime had been to love his mother, Cynthia, so much that he hadn’t revealed her secrets. In a way, that had been honorable. Though it had caused the Newport sisters a lot of grief, Brooks’s anger had softened recently. “Yeah, I know.”
“I’ve already put the past behind me, for Eve’s sake and for the sake of our baby. It’s no good clinging to a grudge. I’m a happier man for it and I think you would be, too.” Graham slapped him on the back. “You’ve got my full support.”
“Wonderful. I’ll make that happen soon. Now get out of here. I’ve got to get ready to sweep Ruby off her feet tonight.”
Shortly after his conversation with his brother, Brooks got dressed in a Western tux, a bolo tie and a black Stetson. He took a final look at himself in the mirror. This was it. He would make his stand for Ruby’s affection tonight and, he hoped, make this Christmas holiday one of the best ever for both of them.
Any doubts warring in his head were quickly replaced with positive thoughts as he exited his cabin and approached the Preston home. Surrounding oak, cottonwood and white birch trees glimmered with thousands of lights. The path leading up to the house sparkled from the ground up, and an array of colorful twinkling lights outlined the beautiful home’s architecture.
Peace settled in his heart.
A part of him had always known there was something more for him than city life. A part of him had always known something was missing. Now, as he gazed at this home in all its magnificent yet simple splendor, a sense of true belonging nestled deep down in his bones.
Beau greeted him at the door with a big papa bear hug. The man was not ashamed of wearing his emotions on his sleeve, and Brooks hugged him back with the same enthusiasm. “Welcome, son. The party’s just getting started.” Beau smiled wide, his eyes bright. “My dream of having my whole family under one roof is the best gift I could ever receive.”
Brooks got that all too well. Except for Carson, everyone who mattered most to him now was right here at Look Away.
“Let me introduce you and Graham to some of my closest friends.”
Brooks followed his father into the house. But as he began shaking many hands and making small talk with Beau’s neighbors and friends, he kept one eye on the front door.
And then she walked in.
Ruby.
He swallowed a quick breath. And then excused himself from a conversation that couldn’t compete with the stunning creature removing her coat at the front door. She wore her hair partly up in a sweep secured with rhinestones, the rest of her raven tresses flowing down her back. The dress she wore was ruby red, the color perfect for the holidays and perfect on her. The dress exposed her olive skin, dipping into a heart shape in the front that cradled her full breasts.
His heart beat wildly at the vision she made. And suddenly, his legs were moving and his focus was solely on her. He couldn’t seem to get to her fast enough as he strode the distance to put him face-to-face with the Ruby of his fantasies.
“Ruby, you look incredible.” He hadn’t seen her since he’d visited his grandfather. “That dress on you...is a knockout.”
“Thank you.” She gave him a smile. “You do a pretty good version of a cowboy for a city dude.”
“I tried.”
“I love the tie on you.” She gave it a sharp tug. “And the hat.”
He removed it immediately. “Uh, sorry. I, uh...” Why was he tongue-tied?
“It’s cool, Brooks.” She took the hat from his hand