Page 119 of Hollywood

“She’s inside, playing with a puzzle I found at a yard sale the other day.”

My eyes widened. “Alone?”

We rushed toward the trailer to find her dumping a bag of coffee grounds all over Ghost’s floor.

“Crap,” he said.

“Yep,” I agreed as I took the bag from Ruby, picked her up, and dusted off her hands. “They call it Terrible Twos for a reason.”

He groaned, staring at his floor. “Well, I better get this cleaned up before the meeting. See you there?”

I nodded, hefting Ruby on my hip. “I’ll get the tools put away.”

“Leave them. I’ll take care of it. Just take care of that little family you’ve got,” he said. “Don’t give up on them.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. I wasn’t worried about me giving up on them. Kind of the reverse.

Hollywood had already forgiven me once. Was it really fair to expect him to forgive me again? How many times could I let him down before it wastoomany times?

CHAPTER 25

Hollywood

“Hot potato! Hot Potato!”Ruby sang (really, yelled) at the top of her lungs in the bathroom. The Wiggles had nothing on her. Splashing and giggling followed.

Tex’s deeper laugh rolled out after, sending a wave of warmth through me. Tonight, he was covering bath duty while I rinsed the dinner dishes. He’d cooked, so I didn’t have to throw out any pans. My French toast debacle had cost me more than my pride.

Tex had whipped up some shredded beef tacos, and Ruby had gone to town. Turned out she liked her meat just as much as herTeckdid.

I bent to place the last plate in the dishwasher and closed the door.

Tex emerged a minute later, the sound of draining water seeping through the walls. He carried Ruby, already clad in pajamas decorated with little Powerpuff Girls, her second-favorite show afterThe Wiggles. Her long coppery red hair was closer to auburn while damp.

“Ruby had fun singing in the tub,” Tex said.

I grinned. “I heard.”

“I think someone takes after their daddy.”

“I can’t decide if that’s a compliment,” I said. “Do I yell at the audience too?”

Tex set Ruby down, and she ran over to the couch where her beloved stuffed bunny waited for her. She grabbed it up and hugged it to her face as if they’d been separated for years.

“Of course it’s a compliment, darlin’. She’s a toddler, but she’s got stage presence. She loves singing. It’s nice to see the ways she takes after you.”

“I never thought about that. She looks so much like Carrie.”

“Oh, but she looks like you too. See the way her smile hooks up more on the right? That’s all you.”

“So my smile isn’t even straight?”

He laughed. “Nothing about you is.”

I glanced toward the living room. Ruby was busy pulling out toys that I’d just put away. I’d have to get her to settle down for bed soon. But since she wasn’t looking…

I grabbed Tex’s shoulder, tugging him down. He kissed me, lips warm, his stubble prickling against my chin.

He pulled back. “I should go. I want to talk to my boss before he takes off for the evening.”