RUBY SPENT HER FIFTEEN-MINUTEmorning break in the back room of the store googling and planning her first outing with Rashid. Then, on her lunch break, she put on her red coat and cream cashmere scarf and headed to her favorite independent café, Sophie’s, to get some warm drinks. The Winter Market was already busy—it was past noon, so the outdoor shopping cabins and food vendors already had a steady stream of customers. Ruby had only half an hour for lunch, so she didn’t have time to look around, but walking through the market was enough to put a huge smile on her face. She didn’t understand how Rashid could complain about working in the middle of this magic. Being surrounded by all this holiday cheer was heaven.
The outside of Jasmine’s dermatology clinic didn’t look like a doctor’s office. The only way anyone would know was the small white lettering on the door that readDR. JASMINE HAKIM, BOARD CERTIFIED DERMATOLOGIST. Ruby went inside.
And… all the joy from the Winter Market left her at once.After all the elaborate holiday decorations and old-world charm, complete with holly on the light posts, this clinic was stark, minimalist, and, honestly, a bit boring. The walls were white, and a faint paint smell lingered. The counter where the receptionist sat was glossy white. The chairs were white leather. There weren’t even any paintings on the walls. Ruby was the only person in the waiting room.
She walked right up to the receptionist—a twentysomething East Asian woman with shiny dark hair parted in the middle and full lips with shiny nude gloss.
“Happy holidays!” Ruby said. “I’d love to speak briefly with Dr. Rash—I mean, Dr. Hakim. Rashid Hakim. Is he in?”
The woman didn’t smile. “Do you have an appointment?”
Ruby frowned. “Oh. I mean, no. I guess he’s probably busy with patients. I saw him on the weekend but didn’t get his number—”
“Dr. Hakim isn’t interested,” the receptionist said. She looked smug.
Ruby frowned. “Interested in what?”
“Whatever it is you’re selling, soliciting donations for, or asking him to join. If you’d like a consultation, you can make an appointment with $100 deposit. If you have a doctor referral, please have them fax it.”
“Oh no, I’m not a patient. I’m his…” She wasn’t sure what to say. His friend? His holiday date? Neither was really true. “Iknowhim. Like, personally.” Well, that didn’t sound right, either. It sounded like she was implying she’d had sex with him.Ugh.Was that what the receptionist was thinking? That Ruby was his hookup?
The receptionist gave Ruby a startled look. Yep. That’s exactly what she was thinking. And Ruby wasn’t a fan of how shocked the girl looked at the thought of Ruby having sex with Dr. Rash. Sure, Ruby wasn’t a size 2 with lip fillers, but she was attractive. She could get a man like Dr. Rash if she wanted one.
“Rebecca, it’s fine. Hello, Ruby,” a voice behind her said. It was him, of course. Had he heard her kind of implying she’d slept with him? She turned and… oh.
She hadn’t seen him at work before. Only in jeans. And he looked…different. Less lumberjack, more hot doctor. No stethoscope around his neck or lab coat or anything, but instead, very, very nice business casual. Charcoal flat-front pants, a blue dress shirt that looked buttery soft, and leather shoes that looked pretty designer for someone who criticized her love of designer brands. And a perfectly tailored black wool overcoat. The gray at his temples was more visible in the bright lights, and paired with the more adult outfit, he looked like he’d earned every one of his thirty-seven years. All in all, Dr. Rash looked gorgeous. She kind of understood the receptionist’s hypothetical point now—he probably was a touch out of Ruby’s league.
Ruby took a deep breath, pushing down the butterflies in her stomach. He even smelled hot—hedidsmell like that designer fragrance candle. “Hey Dr. Rash… id.Rashid.I just came to bring you a coffee… I didn’t get your phone number on Sunday. We need to talk, right? So, I can tell you my… plans?”
“I was about to eat my lunch,” he said, holding up a brown paper bag. “If you don’t mind talking while I eat, come into the consultation room.”
She relaxed a bit when he said consultation room instead of examination room, and followed him down a gleaming white hallway. She wasn’t sure what she expected from the consultation room—but it looked like a stock photo of a modern corporate office. White walls and a neat glass desk. She sat in the chair opposite his desk.
Rashid took off his coat and hung it on a hook behind his door. He sat in the white leather desk chair, opened his bag, and took out his food. The smell of grease and beef filled the room.
“You’re having a burger and fries for lunch?” she asked, taking off her coat and putting it on the back of her chair.
“Yes.” He smirked, looking at her. “Are you wearing Christmas earrings again?”
“They’re bells. They don’t ring, though—that would be annoying on my ears.” She handed him the coffee. “Your niece said you don’t like things that taste good, so I got you a peppermint mocha.” She wrinkled her nose at the thought of mint and coffee together.
He blinked at her before giving the coffee a sniff.
“That was a joke. Sophie’s coffee always tastes good. Even their peppermint.”
Not saying anything, he took a tentative sip from the cup, then looked up at Ruby, eyes wide. “Itisgood. Thanks. You sure you don’t mind if I eat?”
Ruby smiled, waving her hand. “No, of course not! Go ahead. I’m on my lunch break, too. No time to eat, though!”
He raised a brow. “So… what did you need me for? Please don’t say you want me to look at a blackhead or something.”
Ruby inhaled indignantly. “Excuse me? Blackheads don’t stand a chance with the crap skin care that I waste my money on.”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “Apologies again for being so rude that day. I have no idea what you are using on your skin, but it looks great.”
Ruby put her hand on her chest. “Oh my god. Did Dr. Rash justcomplimentme? Compliment myskin?” He huffed another laugh. He seemed a lot less grumpy now than that day he came into Reid’s Holiday and insulted everything there. “Does it bug you when I call you Dr. Rash?”
“No. Rashid has always been my name, and I’m a doctor. I still wonder why no one else thought of it. I mean, at my hospital everyone always teased Marcus Johnson, the urologist.”
