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When I walk in, she comes from the back, a smudge of chocolate on her jaw and flour dusting her apron.
“Hey.” She greets me brightly. “Didn’t I just see you?”
“I can’t get enough.” I shrug and put the food on the counter.
She peeks inside. “Oh my God, what’s today? Is it beef stroganoff day?” She inhales. “It is!”
I take the packages of food and open the top one. The stroganoff steams as Ruby tears a fork free from the to-go napkin.
“It’s hot.” I take the fork from her and select some noodles and beef from the creamy sauce, then blow on them. “Open.”
She does, her pink tongue giving me so many filthy ideas. I slide the bite of stroganoff onto her tongue, and she chews with a sensual moan. “So good. Even better than I remember.”
“Beef stroganoff day?” Lorraine pops through the kitchen door and pulls out another plate from the bag. “You can feed me, too, if you like, young man.” She gives me a cheeky grin and flips the top off the to-go container.
“Grams!” Ruby laughs.
“Worth a shot.” She takes the plate and a fork back into the kitchen.
“Grams is right. You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take, right?”
“Are you suggesting I share you with Grams?” Ruby laughs as I fork some more stroganoff for her.
“Never.” I feed her again, loving the way she enjoys every last bite.
“More orders?” I ask.
“Some Olin guy—” She narrows her eyes at me. “Who I heard from Merry might just work for your family—keeps placing orders for cakes, cookies, you name it. We’re swamped.”
I suppose I should pull back on the flood of orders. Keep it busy enough that Ruby has to stay, but not so busy that I don’t get to spend time with her.
Leaning over the counter, I kiss her.
She smiles against my mouth. “Are you trying to distract me?”
“Is it working?” I nibble her bottom lip.
“Maybe.” She fists my shirt and pulls me closer, kissing me in earnest.
“Ruby! We forgot the timer on these strawberry cupcakes!” Lorraine calls from the back.
I groan as Ruby pulls away.
“No rest for the wicked, right? See you after work.” She blows me a kiss and disappears into the back of the store, leaving me wanting more. Always wanting more.
14
RUBY
“I know you enjoy spending time with me, but that smile of yours is relentless,” Grams says as I pull my apron off.
“I love this time of year. It always makes me smile.” I don’t admit it’s because of Knox, not wanting to get Grams’ hopes up. She’s loving the idea of Knox and me being a thing. I’m not sure what we are, but I’m enjoying it for now. The way he is with me makes it hard not to.
“Oh, so you’re saying the holidays were just as good in the city?” She lifts one of her brows knowing I’m full of shit. I never could get anything past Grams.
“They were different.”
“Different as in terrible.”
“I suppose,” I finally admit.
“See? It’s time you moved back home.” She gives me one of her firm chin nods that always means she’s made up her mind and there’s no longer a need to discuss it further. She’s said her piece, and I should do as she suggested.
“You want me to come home that badly?” I peek into the mirror above the sink to make sure I’m not a total mess before Knox comes to pick me up.
“I never wanted you to leave in the first place. But I knew I had to let you follow your dreams or you’d resent me later on in life.”
“What?” I spin back around to face her. She’s already got her coat on and is ready to head home for the night. We don’t have a million and one orders due tomorrow. “I could never resent you, Grams. Why didn’t you say something?”
“Honey, I’m not going to stop you from wanting to go out there and see the world. If I told you I didn’t want you to go anywhere, that’s what you would have done. You need to figure that out for yourself. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t miss you. I tried to understand when you didn’t come home to visit. I really did, but my Christmas cookies, Ruby, I’ve always wanted you here. Even when I was trying to give you space so you could spread your wings, I missed you something terrible.”
“I’ve missed you so much.” I walk over, wrapping her in a tight hug.
“As much as I don’t want to tell you what to do, I'm ready for you to come back anytime now. Maybe give me a few grandbabies. Sooner rather than later. I’m not going to live forever, you know?” She’s really laying it on thick tonight.
“Grams!” I say through a laugh.
“Go on now.” She waves me out of the back of the kitchen when she hears the bell for the front door chime. She doesn’t have to hurry me along. My feet were already moving the second I heard the sound, too. I fight not to run, not wanting to be overzealous. I’ve got to play it cool. Even if the last thing I’ve ever been in my life is cool.
