He looked at her as if she were a student who just wasn’t getting it. “I fell. Head. Over. Heels.”
“For…?”
“For Ginger.” At her stunned look, he added, “No, Ronnie. For you.”
She blinked at the sudden tingling behind her eyelids, wanting to both laugh and cry.
“That has got to be the most original way to get yourself invited to a birthday party,” she finally managed to say, trying to keep her voice steady.
It was Red’s turn to look stunned. “That’s all you can say?”
She wanted to climb over the truck’s middle section and kiss him oh-so-thoroughly, but something in her resisted. “You could have just asked nicely for a piece of cake—”
He groaned and leaned toward her, cupping the back of her head while he kissed her. “I’ll take this over a piece of cake any day,” he murmured before his mouth closed over hers again.
Ronnie lost all sense of time and space. Red Brannigan II had ignited her appetite. And she wanted to have her fill.
She wrapped her arms around his neck. Brought her hands to touch both sides of his face. Ran her fingers through his hair. And kissed him with a hunger that matched his.
* * *
Red looked deeply into Ronnie’s eyes. This was what he had been waiting for. Everything he had gone through to get to this point had been worth it. He gently traced his fingers over the contours of her face. She was real. His feelings were real.
“We have to get back, Red.”
Red traced the outline of her mouth. He loved the sound of his name on her lips.
“Okay,” he murmured. “I’ll be back later in time for cake…”
After dropping Ronnie off, Red headed to one of the malls. He couldn’t very well show up empty-handed for Andy’s birthday. He wished he had asked Ronnie what Andy might like. Halfway there, Red changed his mind. He had the perfect gifts for Andy at his place. In Toronto. He had intended to give them to Marco last year, but the breakup happened and he had shoved the items into a spare bedroom closet.
Andy was a Leafs fan, just like Marco. Red couldn’t remember if it was Casson or Ronnie who had mentioned it, but it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that he knew Andy would like the gifts. What kid wouldn’t like an official hockey jersey of his favorite team? And a hockey stick signed by all the players? Red had bid on the latter at a charity event in Toronto and had triumphantly brought it home, excited to give it to Marco.
Red felt a twinge of sadness, but he knew in his heart that he had accepted his loss. Now he had the chance to give these gifts to a little boy who had no idea yet that Red loved his mother and wanted to start a new chapter of his life with her. And him.
He checked his watch. If he wanted to be back in time for the party, he’d have to leave now for Toronto. It would take a couple of hours there and back, depending on the traffic, but it would be worth it, seeing Andy’s face when he opened up the gifts. Red approached the merging lane and put his foot on the accelerator, zooming onto the 400 South.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
RONNIE WAS FLOATING ON AIR. She couldn’t think of a better cliché for how she felt. But she wasn’t ready to tell Justine about her and Red. Not yet. Today was about Andy, not her.
Casson and Andy hadn’t returned from their walk. Ronnie told Justine about inviting Red to the party to thank him for keeping Ginger and then drove back to her cottage to change. She went to her room and looked through her closet. She hadn’t chosen an outfit yet, and now, knowing that Red would be there, she wanted to pick something extra special.
Ronnie finally decided on a tailored burgundy dress with three-quarter-length sleeves. She liked its classic rounded neckline and below-the-knee straight skirt. She had bought it two years ago, but hadn’t had the opportunity to wear it since. Until now. Her son’s seventh birthday and Red’s declaration warranted a celebration. A double celebration. And this was the perfect dress to celebrate in. She would wear it with black pantyhose and a low-heeled pair of pumps. And the only piece of jewelry she’d put on would be her locket.
Ronnie laid the dress on her bed and ran her palm over one of the sleeves. A delicious shiver skittered through her at the thought of Red running his hand over the fabric…with her in it.
She couldn’t wait to see Red again. She wanted to sing, she was so happy. Whatever feelings she had had previously about not wanting or needing a man had dissipated when Red had revealed his feelings to her. And kissed her.
She had been afraid to trust again, she realized. But looking straight into the crystal-clear depths of his eyes, Ronnie’s fears had melted. Along with her heart.
She groaned. Another cliché. But true.
* * *
When she drove back, Ronnie was disappointed to see that Red’s truck wasn’t in the driveway. What was keeping him? She went to check on Ginger and let her out of the carrier for a few minutes. Her footsteps slowed as she heard Casson mentioning Red’s name.
He must have called…
“He said he had made a mistake, and he should have never started up with her. He said he couldn’t face her…” Casson’s voice drifted off.
Ronnie had heard enough. She backtracked quietly up the stairs and into the guest bathroom. She sat on the edge of the tub and stared numbly at the opposite wall. He wasn’t coming. She felt as if a slab of ice had rammed into her stomach. He had seemed so genuine earlier. She had believed his words, felt the passion of his kisses. How could he have suddenly changed his mind about her? About them? Yes, he’d been hurt. So had she.
