Ruby looked at him. “They teach you those skin metaphors in medical school?”
He laughed. “Shush, you. So will you show a clueless doctor and his two nieces Christmas joy three more times?”
Ruby smiled. “Okay. Yes. This could be fun, now that we understand each other.”
He smiled so big that it actually gave her goose bumps. The man had a breathtaking smile. Maybe she liked it too much.
“I’ll try harder not to be so single-minded,” he said. “If I slip, remind me of my addiction to designer cologne.”
Ruby grinned, then picked up his wrist to smell it. The cologne had settled into a smoky, spicy scent that made Ruby’s knees weaken. And his skin was even softer than she imagined. She stepped back and grinned. “That scent is a winner on you. Want me to put one aside for you in the store?”
“That would be great, thanks.”
“You know what Dr. Rash? I don’t think you and I are all that different. I’ve figured out something else that we definitely have in common.”
“Oh? What’s that?”
“Food. We both love good food. Which… look.” She pointed at the stand that they were walking past. “You ever have a Liège waffle?”
“I’ve had a Belgian waffle. What’s a Liège waffle?”
She smiled. “It’s a type of Belgian waffle. Yeast based. Oh my god, they have ruby chocolate drizzled ones. I freakingloveruby chocolate… and no, not because of my name. Wanna split one?”
He nodded, grinning.
She ordered a waffle drizzled with ruby chocolate and sliced strawberries. After the woman handed Ruby the little cardboard tray with the waffle on a stick, she immediately handed it to Rashid to take the first bite. She grinned when his eyes practically rolled back in his head after tasting it.
“Good, right?” she asked.
“Phenomenal. I’ve never had ruby chocolate. It’s a little fruity… and rich. It’s decadent. You’re going to have to get another one, because there is no way I’m sharing this.” He took a step away from her and took another bite.
Ruby laughed. “But if you only eat half, you’ll have room for cider donuts.”
He looked at her, blinking a few moments. “Seriously, Red? Dessert for dinner, again? You’re going to be a bad influence on me, aren’t you?”
She smiled cheekily and shrugged. “You need a little morenaughtyin your nice little life.”
“Good point,” he said. “We’ll need churros, too.”
RUBY WAS GLAD SHEwasn’t working until noon on Saturday, because she woke up with the mother of all sugar hangovers. And a bit of a regular hangover, too, because she and Rashid had ended their desserts-for-dinner night sitting in front of a fire in the Winter Market with warm cups of mulled red wine.
She ate a healthy breakfast of an egg white omelet with toast and made it to Reid’s Holiday ten minutes before her shift started. The store was ridiculously busy again.
When she took a five-minute break in the back room, Ruby opened her friend group chat.
Ruby:Change of plans—Operation Impress Dr. Rash is back on.
Reena:It’s back on? I thought he was a twat?
Ruby:He’s a twat who apologized. I still want him to refer me for a job at one of his father’shotels, so I’m giving him another chance. Where should I take him that won’t make him rant about the commercialization of Christmas?
Reena:Niagara Falls? That’s a natural wonder. I hear they do a holiday light show.
Ruby:Too far. And super commercial. Have you even been there in the last thirty years?
Marley:Casa Loma is doing a Christmas event.
Ruby:Too… castle-like. We ranted for a while about the royal family and British peers last night.
