“No. This beach doesn’t allow dogs. But since I am now her official owner, I have all her papers and medical documents. I was able to leave her with the doggy daycare not too far from my house.”
“That’s great.”
I nodded. “I sent out an email to the family with a picture to let them know about Karma and had five replies with offers to watch her whenever I needed someone.”
“You can add me to that list, as long as she doesn’t dig anything else up in my yard.”
“I’m pretty sure that was a one-time thing because your soil smelled like bones and dead things.” I chuckled and pointed to the flowers on her dress. “Black-eyed Susans.”
She glanced down at her dress. “What do you mean?”
“The flowers on your dress.”
“Really? I had no idea they were called Black-eyed Susans. How do you know that? You’re a man.”
I crossed my arms.
“Oh, right. You’re that whatchamacallit, professional backyard designer flower guy, plant man.”
I laughed. “What a coincidence. That’s exactly what my business card says. Nick Morris, the whatchamacallit, professional backyard designer flower guy, plant man. It wasn’t easy fitting all that on the card. I had to pay extra for printing.”
She laughed and playfully pushed me on the arm. “Okay, give me a break, I’m trying not to think too much today.”
“You’re off to a good start.” I chuckled. “By the way, we still need to talk about the flowers and plants for your backyard. I know you wanted to attract butterflies and hummingbirds.” I motioned to her dress. “Anyway, those flowers attract butterflies. You might want to keep that in mind.”
“I will. And I am loving the yard more every day. It’s amazing how much personality the rocks added today.”
Brandon and I had spent almost all morning moving the rocks from the delivery this morning. From the street to the backyard, wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow, exactly eight thousand pounds of rocks were transferred from the front to the back. Brandon did the wheelbarrowing and I moved the rocks into place in the backyard once he dumped each huge pile in front of me. It was like Ruth said, the yard was really shaping up well and in record time.
“Now, we just have to plant the palm trees, succulents, and flowers. There are a few other things to take care of, but most of the big stuff has already been finished. Most likely we have a few days left on the job and we’ll be out of your hair.”
Ruth lost her smile.
She probably was thinking what I was thinking.
When the job was over, we wouldn’t be seeing each other anymore.
“Nicky!” my mom called out. “You get over here right now and introduce me to your date!”
Ruth turned toward me and crossed her arms. “Do you want to explain that?”
I pointed to my mom. “I did not tell her this was a date. I told her you were a friend. That’s all. I promise.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.” She waved me off. “I don’t care about that.”
Ruth didn’t care if my family thought we were on a date? Really?
“I’m talking about the part where she called you Nicky. You didn’t tell me that was one of your nicknames. Explain that, Mr. Knick-knack-paddywhack.”
“Nicky is not a nickname, Ruthless. It’s short for Nicholas, just like Nick. But there are only a few people who call me that.”
“How come only a few? I think it’s cute.”
I couldn’t tell if she was kidding. “Really?”
“Really. In fact, I may start calling you that now . . . Nicky.” She smiled.
Her voice was sultry, the way she said my name that way.
And that smile . . .
Breathtaking.
My heart beat faster.
We locked gazes for a moment.
Holy crap, something’s happening between us right now at this very moment.
I had the sudden urge to kiss her.
That wasn’t going to happen.
There was no way she could have the same urge.
And yet . . . why was she staring at my lips?
Maybe I had just imagined it.
“You look like you want to say something,” Ruth said.
“Me?” I replied, trying to get that thought of my lips pressed to her lips out of my head. “No. Nothing.” I gestured back to the canopies and tables and my family already gathering around the food and nibbling. “We should probably get over there. I can make some introductions. My mom is waiting impatiently.”
“We’d better go then.”
“I want to apologize ahead of time for what you are about to endure.”
Ruth laughed. “I can handle your family.”
There was that confidence that I loved.
Loved?
Where the heck had that come from?
We walked toward my relatives, all of them hovering around in a bunch, watching us approach, no doubt wondering who the lovely lady was by my side.
They were ready to pounce on her like vultures. They had so much love and affection to give. That was just the way my family was. They loved everyone. We had no black sheep. We saw the best in people and welcomed them with open arms.
Still, I couldn’t help wondering if Ruth would be overwhelmed or a little uncomfortable by it.
My mom shook her finger at me. “It’s about time, Nicky.”
Ruth held out her hand. “Hi, I’m Ruth.”
My mom pointed at Ruth’s hand. “You can put that thing away. We’re huggers in this family.”
She smiled. “That’s quite all right with me. I am, too.”
She was? What happened to my hug? I got robbed.
“I’m Jan, Nicky’s mom.” My mom extended her arms around Ruth and pulled her in for an embrace like she’d known her forever. Maybe she was getting carried away because Ruth dropped the bag she was carrying.
That’s my mom. She loves everyone.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Ruth eyed the food area and then picked up the bag from the sand, handing it to my mom. “I can see you have a lot of food over there, but I never like to arrive to a party empty-handed. I hope you don’t mind my bringing a couple of Bundt cakes.”
My mom glanced at the logo on the side of the bag. “Nothing Bundt Cakes? They’re my absolute favorite.”
Ruth pointed to the bag. “Red velvet and lemon.”
“You are a doll.” My mom turned to me. “Your girlfriend’s a keeper.”
I sighed. “Mom. She’s not my—”
“Nicky’s dad, Ralph, is in the water, but this is my granddaughter, Lindsey. Nick’s daughter.”
“Nice to meet you.” Ruth gave Lindsey a big hug and then turned back to me, keeping her hand on Lindsey’s back. “You never told me you had such a beautiful daughter.”
Lindsey creased her eyebrows. “Dad! Really?”
I shrugged. “What? It hasn’t come up in conversation yet. It’s not like she knows everything about me.”
Lindsey hooked an arm around Ruth’s arm and pulled her away from me, smiling. “Don’t you worry, she’s going to know everything when I get through with her.”
“What a wonderful idea!” My mom grabbed Ruth’s free arm. “Let’s start from the beginning when Nicky was in diapers.”