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Ruby was in the kitchen, cooking up a storm when I burst into the compact room. She had a spatula in her hand, bacon frying on the stove, pancakes on a countertop griddle and three huge men hunkered down at the crammed table, shoveling food into their mouths like they’d never seen it before.
“Charlie!” Ruby cheered. Her long hair was in a topknot, her bangs parted in a haphazard kind of way. She had a sheen of sweat on her forehead, and her cheeks glowed pink. The kitchen was warm and oozing with smells that made my mouth water. “These friends of yours are bottomless pits! I’ve made a million pancakes already.”
“This is the best food I’ve had in decades,” Lex said with his mouth full of everything. “Seriously, woman, you’re a master chef.”
She was grinning so hard her face looked like it was about to split, and her eyes sparkled like I hadn’t seen in a long time. I squeezed into her space and gave her a big hug, soaking in her cinnamon scent and familiar embrace. There was nothing like having a friend like Ruby—no obligations, no wolfie protocols or expectations, just love and acceptance.
“You’re okay? Jared didn’t hurt you?” I gulped around the lump in my throat, still unsure how I was going to break it to Ruby that Jared wouldn’t be coming back ever. He might have been her ex, but I knew Ruby well enough to suspect she’d be looking out for him once she got past their breakup. She cared, maybe too much, about everyone in her life, past and present.
Ruby laughed. “Hell no. I kneed him in the nuts and ripped out a chunk of his hair right as these guys showed up, saying they were friends of yours.” She leaned closer then whispered, “Where were you hiding these hunks, Charlie? Seriously, they’re gorgeous.”
I heard a chuckle and knew that the gorgeous hunks had heard Ruby, despite her attempt to keep it quiet. I pulled back and gave her a once-over, making double sure she was unhurt before I turned to the three at the table. “Thanks for getting here so quickly.”
Lex nodded, his mouth still full.
“We were in the neighborhood,” Ari said with a nod at Kane as he eased himself through the kitchen door.
I felt Ruby stiffen for a second before she turned on her usual hospitality. “Wow, another giant.” She laughed. “What do they feed you guys in Vancouver?”
“Ruby, this is Kane Duke.” I stepped back to give Ruby some space. “He’s a…friend of mine from back home.”
Kane offered his hand. Ruby studied me for half a second, one eyebrow cocked, before turning to Kane with another huge grin. “Sit down. There’s room.” She waved his hand away and patted him on the arm instead. “I bet you’re hungry, too, right?”
Much to my surprise, Kane did what Ruby said and settled himself in the last seat at the table. He and his men exchanged some meaningful looks, but otherwise the focus was on the food that Ruby doled out, keeping plates full for the guys. She had no idea what kind of damage a single werewolf could do to her pantry, but she seemed to be completely in love with the idea of filling these guys up.
“Can you pour me a coffee?” Ruby nodded toward the coffee maker. “I just brewed a fresh pot.”
I noted the nervous tic of her cheek and realized that as much as she was thriving in culinary bliss, she had questions, and we needed some time alone. I owed her explanations, and I knew she expected the truth. My stomach was in knots, because I was unsure what to safely tell her.
I did as she’d asked, pouring both of us a cup, then fixing hers the way she liked it. With two coffees in hand, I nodded to the table of men. “Hey, guys, I’m going to steal your chef for a few. How about one of you take over cooking duties for now?”
Ruby didn’t argue. She laid the spatula down. “The bacon is almost ready, and the pancakes just need a flip in a minute.”
Leaving the warmth and intensely delicious smells of the kitchen was heartbreaking. I’d much rather sit down and feast like the rest of the pack, but Ruby deserved some truths, even if I couldn’t tell her all of them.
“You didn’t have to drop everything and run to my rescue.” Ruby slipped her arm into the crook of mine and nudged me with her shoulder once we were through the tight hall and into her cozy living room. “I had things under control.” Her voice wavered. “Mostly…I mean. It was a little crazy the way Jared was acting.”
I set the cups down on the coffee table then pulled Ruby into another hug. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here for you.”
The tension left her body in an instant, and she wrapped me up in her arms too.
“Don’t be silly. You had things going on.”
I pulled back to look at her face. Her eyes were swimming a little, and I knew she was fighting a torrent. “I’m sorry this happened to you.”
It’s my fault.
I clamped down on my guilt. There was no point blurting things I couldn’t explain to her. I didn’t want to put her life in danger with any information that wasn’t absolutely necessary. A human knowing about the existence of werewolves came with a price I wasn’t willing to make Ruby pay.
“Nothing for you to be sorry about.” Ruby patted her cheeks, wiped her fingers under her eyes to catch some tears then put on her megawatt smile. “I’m just glad you’re here.”
She steered me toward my usual spot on the couch then slid herself into her place, legs up, our toes touching, just as things used to be—with the exception, of course, that four werewolves were sitting in the other room, likely listening to everything we said.
“So, you going to tell me who the hunks really are or what?” Ruby blew on her coffee, even though I’d put enough cream in it to drown out any heat, then took a sip. “I know you have no friends except yours truly, so…”
I jabbed her butt with my foot and laughed along with her, my own coffee cup in hand, the smell of Ruby’s favorite hazelnut blend making me feel right at home.
Fuck, I missed this.
