“As I said.School.” He looked like he was holding in a rude comment.
Jasmine laughed. “He was obsessed with Canada as a kid. Started when he got into hockey. Our aunt lives in Vancouver, and after a trip there once, he just… stayed.”
Ruby’s eyes widened. She’d been obsessed with the UK forso long, it had never occurred to her that anyone there could be obsessed with Canada.
“Why don’t you have your accent anymore, but your sister does?” Reena asked.
“When I go back home, I sound British,” Rashid said. “Here it’s easier to sound like everyone else so I’m not asked a million times a day where I’m from.”
Ruby leaned close so hopefully only Rashid would hear her. “So your accent’sfake? And you thinkI’mweird. You’re cosplaying as a Canadian because you’re into violent winter sports.” She cringed. She shouldn’t be antagonizing him, but she couldn’t help herself. This man was so infuriating.
“And I have no doubt that you’ll have Union Jacks on your nails and Big Ben earrings within a week of landing in London,” Rashid responded quietly, not even looking at Ruby.
That was it. Ruby was done being polite—no matter who his father was. He suddenly turned to Ruby, unsmiling, just as she was about to tell him to sod off. Their eyes locked, and Ruby couldn’t look away, remembering that charged moment they had in the store when they both had their hands on the cashmere robe.
Ruby’s lips parted, and she felt her whole body warm. She had no idea what was going on, but she didn’t appreciate how his intense stare made her a little breathless. Why did this grump have to be so ridiculously handsome?
He finally turned away when one of the girls whined. Jasmine listened intently to her daughter, then turned to her brother. “She needs the bathroom.”
Those words made the other twin turn away from the parade and nod.
“Okay, they both do,” Jasmine said.
“There’s a Tim Hortons over there,” Ruby said, pointing a few doors away from where they were sitting. Jasmine started to gather her things.
“Let me take them,” Rashid said, standing.
Jasmine shook her head. “I doubt they’ll have a family room. It’s fine. I can manage.”
Ruby almost offered to help Jasmine with her kids, but the tone in Jasmine’s voice stopped her. Determination and insistence. Jasmine wanted to prove that she could handle her kids alone. Whether she wanted to prove it to herself or to her brother, Ruby didn’t know.
Nadim stood. “I’ll walk you there… this guy needs a change anyway.”
Ruby was alone with Reena and Rashid. And there was a gap in the floats, so there wasn’t anything to look at.
“It must be so hard for you to be far from your sisters,” Reena said. “My sister and I aren’t even that close, but I like knowing she’s nearby, you know?”
Rashid nodded. “We all visit each other a lot. And our family group chat is active.” He was perfectly pleasant with Reena and saved his acerbic barbs for Ruby. Rude.
“That’s so nice,” Ruby said, hoping to smooth things over between them. “It must be so cool to have family in different cities.”
“It’s convenient,” he said curtly.
Ruby exhaled. She was floundering.
At least Reena was here. She said, “Your sister mentioned that your family is in the hotel business?”
Rashid nodded. “Yes, they own several hotels. It’s great, but they work so hard. Med school was a breeze compared to my father’s workload. Owning a business isn’t for the faint of heart.” He glanced sideways at Ruby. She clenched her teeth.
Reena nodded. “I know what you mean. I own a bakery, and even while I’m on maternity leave, it’s always on my mind.”
Reena and Rashid talked about Reena’s bakery for a bit, and Ruby may as well not even have been with them. This was useless. The man hated Christmas and was stuck at a Christmas parade with someone he disliked quite intensely. Maybe it was time for Ruby to concede defeat and stick with her original plan of applying for hotel positions after arriving in London.
Reena pulled out her phone. “Ugh. Nadim says there’s no changing table in the men’s room. That’s so sexist.” She stood up. “He said Jasmine is in line to get hot chocolate for the kids. Do you guys want anything?”
Ruby and Rashid said no at the same time. Reena smiled, then left in the direction of the coffee shop as the marching band finally reached them.
Which left Ruby alone with Rashid. Ugh.
