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Ruby hurries to the kitchen to put the dirty dishes near the sink. The busboy is on his break. Ruby didn’t want to poor kid to come back to a room full of dirty tables. She notices the coffee is getting low. She quickly washes her hands and dries them then proceeds to prepare the industrial coffee maker to brew another batch of regular and then sets the decaffeinated pot to going as well. Realizing she’s been in the kitchen for nearly ten minutes, she hurries out to check on her remaining customers.
Making notes of what drinks she needs to bring out to tables after making her rounds, checking on everyone, she heads back into the kitchen. The bell above the front door jingles as another customer enters. Ruby meets Debbie coming out of the kitchen as she is entering.
“Hey, I heard someone entering, but I’ve got drinks to fill,” Ruby informs her. “Seat them at one of my empty tables, and I’ll be with them in a minute.”
“Oh Ruby, I can take them if you want,” Debbie replies half-heartedly. It is her turn to take the next customer, but she’s rattled on all day about her date tonight. Ruby sees she’s anxious to get out of here so she can get ready for her date. Ruby doesn’t have anywhere to go but the shelter, so she doesn’t mind taking on the extra work.
“No need, Debbie.” Ruby smiles. “I know you’re wanting to get out of here early. I really don’t mind. Besides maybe they’ll be a good tipper.” The women laugh, and Debbie heads out to seat the customer while Ruby fills glasses with sodas and gets the freshly brewed coffee. She meets Debbie coming back into the kitchen as she’s about to leave.
“Damn Ruby!” Debbie says dramatically as they pass one another. “You have all the luck.”
“What?” Ruby asks confused as to what’s brought on that train of thought from her co-worker. Debbie smiles and winks at her.
“Total hottie, in a badass, scary way, is sitting at table four.” Debbie sighs wistfully. “I’d have stolen him back for my table if Derrick wasn’t in my life.” Ruby rolls her eyes. Debbie is a hopeless romantic always sure that the next guy she dates will be her prince charming. Ruby leaves the kitchen, heading toward a table waiting for drink refills. She has to pass table four to get there. Her steps faulter when she sees who’s sitting at the table. Tank. Her heart skitters in her chest and belly drops. The man is absolutely gorgeous.
“Tank, what are you doing here?” Ruby asks, pausing at his side. He looks up at her to give her a sultry smile. Ruby can’t control her body’s reaction to seeing him, being this close to him. Desire floods her, stirring her lady bits. She’s thankful for the extra material of the apron she’s wearing. Otherwise, her hardened nipples would be on display under the white button up shirt that is part of their uniform. Her bra has seen better days. The padding was thin to begin with and is nearly non-existent.
“I thought you might like a lift back to the shelter after your shift.” Tank’s deep rumbling voice igniting her growing desire even more, damping her panties while goosebumps erupt over her skin causing her nipples to further harden almost painfully. “And I brought you some of Abigail’s outstanding lasagna for supper. She’s a fantastic cook.” The fortress around her heart weakens a little. He’s being too kind, too thoughtful. How’s she supposed to keep him at arm’s length when he’s doing everything in his power to work himself under her armor.
“Miss?” A customer calls. Ruby glances up at them and nods acknowledgement of their request. She turns back to Tank.
“I’ll be with you in a minute.” Ruby dips her head at her laden tray. “Let me drop these drinks off and see what that customer needs.”
“Take your time, beautiful,” Tank murmurs. “I can see you’re working. I don’t want to disturb you. I’ll have some coffee until you’re finished.” Ruby sighs and heads over to see what the customer is needing. She notices Debbie bring Tank a cup and motions for her to fill his cup since she has the pot on her tray. After ensuring her customers are taken care of, she walks back to Tank’s table.
“You want creamer?” Ruby asks as she fills the cup, glancing over at his handsome face. He shakes his head.
“No, black,” Tank replies. “Got used to drinking it that way in basic.” Ruby nods as if she understands what he means. She doesn’t have much experience with what members of service go through during basic training, but what little she’s heard, she knows it’s a tough, grueling experience. She worked at a bar near Paris Island, South Carolina a few years ago. All Marine recruits on the eastern side of country complete their training there. She’d heard a few stories from patrons at the bar. She couldn’t imagine doing something like what they described. Not only men are trained there, women too. Ruby met some truly badass women while working there. She admired the women and their strength.
Looking at Tank, she can see how he would have flown through basic without difficulty. He’s tall and has muscles on his muscles. His shirt is stretched tight over his biceps, which look to be as big around as her thigh. His shoulders are broad and taut. She wants to run her hands over them and down his back while he hovers over her. Kissing her, making love to her.Stop! You can’t think about him like that.
Lord he’s a beast, but when he looks at her, she doesn’t see a beast. She sees a man with kindness and compassion. She appreciates he can be tough, vicious even, when the situation warrants. He wouldn’t be a Marine if he weren’t. Yet when it comes to interacting with her, he’s all soft and tender. His hardened features soften when their eyes meet, which makes him all the more attractive.
Ruby carries the near empty pot of coffee back into the kitchen to brew another pot. Debbie is standing near the coffee maker. Her face lit with mischief.
“Giirrrl!” Debbie draws the word out. “That hottie is checking you out!” Debbie squeals clapping her hands together. “You should give him your number.” Ruby rolls her eyes at Debbie’s enthusiasm, but that won’t be happening for several reasons. The main one Ruby doesn’t have a number, but Debbie doesn’t know that bit of information. Ruby has worked hard to keep a polite distance between herself and the other waitresses. She willingly fills in for them if they need a day off, but they have to ask her ahead of time. Even the owner knows Ruby will be there when she’s on the schedule but calling her in at the last minute can’t happen as they have no way of contacting her. She’s considered getting a prepaid phone, but many of them you have to create an account online, and Ruby doesn’t want to take the chance it could be linked to her, even if she used an alias.
“Oh stop, Debbie,” Ruby chides. “He’s not checking me out. Besides I’m a dwarf next to him.” Debbie frowns.
“How would you know?” Debbie inquires. “He’s sitting down. You didn’t see him when he was standing.” Ruby scrambles to think of an explanation that doesn’t involve disclosing she familiar with the sexy man as more than a customer.
“He brought her to work this morning.” Jose jumps into the conversation. Ruby’s face heats, and she closes her eyes. The last thing she needs is for them to start making a big deal out of her and Tank. There is no her and Tank. There can’t be.
“What?” Debbie screeches. “You know him, know him? My God, Ruby! Where have you been hiding him? He hasn’t been here before, has he? Because I would remember if I’d seen him before. He’s smoking hot.” Debbie fans herself. “Seriously, are you two a couple?” Ruby can’t get an answer out for the rapid-fire questions Debbie is shooting at her.
“It’s not a big deal,” Ruby replies calmly. “I met him yesterday at a fundraising meeting for “A Place to Call Home”, the homeless shelter that Jolene Carter runs. We are on the same committees, and he wanted to discuss it some more.” Debbie gives her a ‘don’t shit me’ look. Ruby occupies herself with making more coffee. Debbie watches her for a few minutes, but then checks her watch. She hurries back out to the dining room to check on her customers.
She returns a few minutes later carrying a tray full of dishes. She deposits them into the sink before turning to Ruby.
“Are you sure you don’t mind finishing my last table?” Debbie asks. When Ruby confirms her agreement, the woman throws her arms around Ruby’s neck, startling her. “Thank you, thank you a million times. You’re the best! I really think Derrick is the one.” Debbie whips off her apron and grabs her purse as she checks her watch again. “I should have just enough time to make myself beautiful before he gets to my apartment.” Ruby waves farewell to Debbie, then goes out to the counter, checking on the dessert tray.
Most of the slices of pie are gone, as are the brownies. She makes a note of what’s left. She’ll need to add to the list of pies for the baker. They only have a couple slices of apple left. She looks up to see Tank sipping his coffee, seeming content to wait for her shift to end. Hmm, what’s coffee without some pie to go with it. She reaches into the dessert cabinet to snag him a big slice of apple pie. Taking it into the back she warms it up in the microwave, getting some vanilla ice cream from the freezer while it heats. When it’s heated, she places a large scoop of ice cream on top of the pie.
“I thought you might like some dessert with your coffee,” Ruby says as she sits the dessert in front of him. “I hope you like apple.” She looks over at him. The look he’s giving her is so intense, but she can’t look away. Not even if her life depended on it.
“Thank you, beautiful.” Tank smiles at her. “I do like apple.” He cuts into the pie getting a bit of the ice cream with it. He puts the confection in his mouth. His eyes close, and he gives a quiet moan. Ruby’s body goes into overdrive at the sound. He really shouldn’t be making sounds like that in public. It’s putting very inappropriate thoughts in Ruby’s head. “Mmm, that’s really good.” Ruby swallows and nods. She hurries away to check on Debbie’s table.
A couple of hours later, Ruby’s finally ready to leave for the night. Her feet and legs are killing her. She knows that letting Tank drive her to the shelter is a bad idea, but at present, she’s not going to worry about it. Her feet will thank her later. She comes out of the kitchen, slipping off her apron to see him waiting for her near the front door.
