Page 16 of Cinnamon Strudel
Morgan
He listened as Ruby bustled about the kitchen, directing her to respective cabinets as she asked. “Would you tell me what my brothers said to you?”
Ruby didn’t hesitate. “They wanted to know why I took a blind guy toseeChristmas lights, then made some rather rude comments about you.”
Morgan clenched his jaw, more upset with himself than his brothers. He shouldn’t have mentioned where she worked. “What rude comments?”
“Something about how easy it was to keep secrets from you. I didn’t like that.”
He shrugged it off and tried to ease her mind with a smile. “Nothing I’m not used to. It made me tougher, but don’t tell them that.”
“I won’t.”
“I’m surprised they even told me they were with you.”
“I made them.”
“Oh, did you?”
Wrappers crinkled, and drawers slid open and shut. “I had a feeling you would be upset, and I was not about to be the messenger.”
“I wouldn’t have been upset with you.”
“I wasn’t afraid of that.” A pan clanged to the stove, and the gas clicked as the stove was ignited. “Where do you keep the measuring cups?”
“Opposite us, second cabinet to the right, I believe. I haven’t used them in a while.”
There was a triumphant chirp and then something being poured into them. As Ruby walked by him the scent of apples wafted along with her.
“Tell me, darlin’, are you dolled up again?”
“Why don’t you see for yourself?”
Then her phone was pressed into his palm. He raised it to his field of vision, already finding it unlocked. He quickly opened her camera, with no interest to even look at the other apps. His heart fluttered as he watched her spin for him on the screen. She seemed to like red, only this time, a matching bow sat at the base of her high ponytail.
“You look absolutely gorgeous.” With a breathtaking grin, Ruby twirled her ponytail, and he quickly snapped a picture of her. “May I have this?”
“Go for it. Just send it to yourself.”
Once he did, he set the phone back down. “I like that you get yourself all pretty for me.”
“Can I be honest?”
“Please be.”
“It feels good. I mean, I enjoy how you appreciate it, but I feel gooddoingit.” Meat sizzled in the pan on the stove. “I’m usually just in my work clothes or lounging around at home. Dressing up is nice.” There was a pause before she switched the subject.“You’ll have to help me put everything back where it belongs later. I would hate for you to not be able to find anything.”
“I guess it would give me an excuse to video chat with you.” He hopped off the counter and went to fetch her a drink. “I can’t persuade you to a glass of wine, can I?”
“Is that your plan? Get me drunk so I can’t drive home.”
“It’s up to you, darlin’. I would happily get you a rideshare home, and back in the morning.” He threw her a wink and grabbed a glass for himself. “Or you could just stay the night.”
There was silence, with only the sound of liquid stirring echoing through the room. “If I stayed, what expectations would you have?”
He set the glass and bottle on the counter. Expectations? It took him longer than he cared to admit to realise what she meant. “Your safety. I have no other expectation other than getting to know you and making sure that you’re comfortable.” He would have given anything to know what was going on in her mind. There was more silence before he couldn’t stand it any longer. “Ruby, please come here.”
She did, timid steps padding across the kitchen floor. He found her arm and skimmed his fingers down her bare forearms until they wrapped around her wrist. Wanting—needing—to see her, he bent down until her gorgeous large almond eyes materialised.
