Ryan eyed her curiously. “What is going on between you two?”
Ginger sighed. She seemed reluctant to tell him, but caved anyway and gave him the scoop. “She adamantly opposes my shop, as I’d mentioned the night I was robbed. What I didn’t tell you is that she burned it down last summer. Different location. Cooper Denton moved me into this space.”
“What?” Ryan stared at her, incredulous.
“It was an accident,” she was quick to say, though she didn’t sound wholly convinced of that. “One of my ‘risqué’ displays startled her and she knocked over some lit candles. I was in the attic with my friend Liza. Jack Wade had to rescue us.”
Ryan raked a hand through his hair as he let out a long breath. “Okay, I get where you’re coming from now. That must have been some ordeal.”
“Yes, it wa
s quite terrifying. There was a lot of drama in town last year. And while Lydia backed off for a while after the fire, she’s been at it full steam again lately.”
“I sort of got that sense when I spoke with her Friday night,” Ryan admitted. “But it doesn’t mean we can’t see each other. Unless, of course, you didn’t feel the spark I did the other night.”
Her pretty smile chased away the tension between them. “Oh I felt it all right. Everywhere.”
He chuckled, relieved and delighted. “Yeah, me too. And that’s what matters, sweetheart.”
She stared up at him, still tentative, but clearly pleased.
“I’ve got a pretty strong constitution,” he told her. “And even before I saw the bigger picture with you and my aunt, I didn’t allow her to bulldoze me with her personal opinions of you. I can make my own judgment calls.”
“I don’t understand how someone could dislike another person just because they sell lingerie. I mean, I’ve always contributed to the collection plate at church, even when times were tough at the store. She just has it in for me. And if she knew about the other night…” Ginger groaned. “She’d make it sound as though I asked for trouble.”
Offering his arm to her again, Ryan said, “I seriously could’ve pummeled both of those guys for what they did to you.” He still felt a hot flicker of rage over someone having laid a hand on Ginger against her will. And that they’d taken her money.
“I wouldn’t have protested,” she said. “Believe me. But now you can understand why I didn’t want anyone to know it was me who was robbed, right? I mean, this thing with Lydia is just hideous. Her knowing we’re out together tonight is horrific enough. I don’t want to give more and more reasons for her to talk about me.”
“That’s gonna happen anyway,” Ryan told her. “Because of me. But we’ll just have to deal with it. I have no intention of being disrespectful toward my aunt, but I know sometimes she goes too far.”
“Seems like lately, it’s even giving the reverend pause.”
Ryan was silent on the subject as he pulled the door open and they stepped into Pietro’s. The tangy, spicy aroma that assaulted his senses temporarily derailed him from their conversation. He’d missed this place.
“Well, well, well. What do we have here?” Ruby cooed as she stepped around her hostess stand. She hadn’t changed much in seven years. Still wore her crazy aprons, this one inquiring, “Got Sausage?”
Ryan grinned at her as he gave her a quick hug. “Good to see you, Ruby.”
“I heard you were back in town. Sounds as though you’ll be sticking around a while too.”
“That’s the plan.”
Her gaze slid to Ginger and an auburn eyebrow lifted. “You two make one gorgeous-looking couple, but you’re going to do more than turn heads.”
“Yes, tongues will be wagging,” Ginger said on a sigh. “But Lydia already knows, so…” She stole a glance at Ryan and added, “We’ve agreed to suck it up.”
Ruby whistled under her breath. “More power to ya. How about a table by the window, so no one thinks you’re trying to hide anything by sittin’ in a corner?”
Ryan nodded. “Good point. May as well get it out in the open.”
Regardless of how things panned out between him and Ginger, he didn’t want anyone to think they’d been sneaking around. He didn’t want anyone making the mistake that Ryan might be ashamed to be seen with her, because that was most definitely not the case. In fact, he liked having her on his arm, to hell with the shocked looks the preacher’s nephew and the lingerie princess evoked as they followed Ruby to a table.
As they settled into their chairs, Ruby said, “The special is linguine with clams, white wine or red sauce, your choice. But Mike’s got a mean manicotti on the menu as well, for those of you who haven’t checked it lately. Any takers?”
“Special,” Ginger immediately said. “White wine sauce.”
Ruby grumbled, “Of course.” Her gaze shifted to Ryan as she handed him a menu. “Humor me and look at it. No one ever does.”