“You’re not using me. Friends do things for each other.”
“Okay, but I don’t like the idea of you spending money on me when this was just a deal we made.”
He shook his head, irritation on his face. “Ruby, the necklace wasn’t expensive. And Jasmine already bought the ballet ticket, so it would be wasted if you don’t use it. The money isn’t a big deal.”
“Spoken by someone who’s never had to worry about money in their life,” Ruby said quietly.
He looked at her silently. And Ruby felt terrible for saying it. She didn’t know why she was so hung up on this, why she couldn’t let herself get a little spoiled by her new friend for a while. His eyes were open. He knew her intentions, and he didn’t care.
But Rubydidcare. She understood the value of expensive things, probably because she hadn’t been able to afford them for so long. She’d started to like Rashid. A lot. And she liked Jasmine and the girls, too. She didn’t want to be taking advantage of their generosity.
“I’m sorry, Ruby,” he finally said. His expression was remorseful, and it only made her feel worse. “You’re right. I was insensitive.” He exhaled. “How can I make you feel more comfortable? I want to do nice things for you, but I can take the necklace back. Return it, or give it to someone else.”
Ruby bit her lip. Would that help? She didn’t know. If she gave the necklace back, and if she paid Jasmine for the ballet ticket, then she wouldn’t feel weird about using this family for their connections, because their relationship would be transactional only—she would take him and the girls out, and hewould hopefully refer her for a position at his father’s company.
But that wouldn’t be a real friendship. What did Ruby want more? A friendship, even only for a few weeks, with a man who was kind and smart, and who wanted to do nice things for her? Or did she want him to refer her for a job in his father’s business?
Honestly? At this moment, Ruby wanted the friendship more. A month ago, she didn’t know about the Hakim Hotel Group, and she was fine with pounding the pavement in London to get a job. She could go back to that plan easily—she’d done fine professionally for years without connections, and she didn’t need any now. She’d rather have the person who gave her the beautiful ruby necklace and the trip to the ballet. She’d rather have her new friend.
Ruby shook her head. “No. I was thinking… After today, and after last Friday at the Winter Market, I want to…” She took a breath. This could be a big mistake. She could be throwing away her best opportunity to make her and her mother’s dream a reality. “I want to cancel our deal. I don’t want you to ask your father to hire me. Just forget it all, okay?”
Rashid looked at her with a confused expression. “But we still have two dates left! What aboutThe Nutcracker?” He grinned playfully. “Don’t make me do something aggressively festive without my Christmas buddy.”
“Are we?”
“Are we what?”
“Christmas buddies?”
Rashid gave her a confused look. “Yeah, we’re friends. We had fun today… didn’t we?”
Ruby nodded quickly, mostly because Rashid looked genuinely hurt. And she didn’t want to hurt him. “I had a great time today. But you said you bought me the necklace because we’re friends, and the girls are more comfortable with me now, talking more. But I feel like I’m taking advantage of you all. I mean, the point was for me to make you change your impression of me, and—”
He cut her off. “Ruby, are you saying you were being fake? Like you don’t really like me, Tara, or Noor?”
Ruby sighed. She couldn’t be fake if she tried. Ruby wore her heart proudly on her sleeve—as evidenced by her enthusiasm and excitement about everything she loved. Not to mention her foot-in-mouth issues. She looked down at her hands. “No. I meant it when I said I was growing to like you. And I adore the girls.”
“Ruby, look at me.”
She did. He was so close… right next to her on her small sofa. His dark eyes focused on hers. She half expected him to touch her, put his soft hand on her cheek or leg. And she would let him. Rashid wasn’t a cranky person at all. He had strong opinions and didn’t keep those opinions to himself. He was like Ruby that way. Only their opinions were sometimes opposite.
“Ruby, it’s okay. You’re not using me. I’m helping you, and you’re helping me. I had a great time today. And the other times we went out, too. My sister was right—I need to have friends of my own. Friends help each other, and do nice things for each other, too. Like I bought you the necklace, and you put aside that cologne for me. And you found all these fun things to do with the girls. And I can even help you in your career. Becausefriends help friends.”
Ruby swallowed. She didn’t know what to say, so she said nothing.
“Ruby, I’m glad we’ve spent this time together. I’m glad you gave me another chance after I was such a…”
“We’ve been using the wordtwatin my chat group,” she said.
He laughed. “I assume that’s why your friends crashed our outing today, then? To make sure I wasn’t being a twat?”
She nodded.
“Well, I must agree. I was a twat. I’m glad you put me in my place. I had no right to call you frivolous, impulsive, or absent-minded.”
Ruby shook her head. “But Iamthose things. And love a lot of things that you don’t care for. Like designer clothes and skin care. How can we be friends?”
“Most of your designer stuff is bought secondhand, though.”
