He laughed. “Look, Ruby. Last night was fantastic. If you want to do it again one night or every night, I’m down for that. But it’s also okay if you want to put the brakes on this. We’re kind of in a weird place. I’m just out of a long relationship, and you’re on your way out of the country. Maybe it’s the holiday season that’s making us do things we wouldn’t normally do.”
Ruby’s eyes widened. “Did Dr. Rashid Hakim seriously admit that there is a little bit ofmagicin the holiday season?”
He laughed. The server came to bring them their food—a date, honey, and caramelized onion grilled cheese sandwich for Ruby, and falafel eggs with fava beans and cumin potatoes for Rashid. He tore off a piece of bread and dipped it into the sauce for the beans. “Oh man, that’s good,” he said after eating it.
Ruby tilted her head. “Did you really mean what you said?”
He frowned. “Yeah, it’s fantastic. You want a taste?”
“No, I mean, you’d be willing to put the brakes on you and me, and go back to just being friends?” Maybe his mind wasn’t as blown last night as hers was, if he was willing to ignore their chemistry.
Rashid put his fork down and looked at her. “Ruby, I like you.A lot.And if the timing was different, I would want to see where this could go between us. But…”
“But the timing sucks,” she said.
He nodded.
Ruby didn’t know what to say. It sounded like they were on the same page—that last night was mind-blowing, and they wouldn’t mind doing it again, but an actual relationship, with any level of commitment, probably wasn’t a good idea.
But she was still here for almost three weeks. And so washe. And they’d already decided to spend some of that time together… along with the girls, of course. But she wasn’t sure casual was right, either—she liked himwaytoo much for a friends-with-benefits arrangement. And she wasn’t sure she could continue a physical relationship with him without a promise of exclusivity while they were together.
But a fling? Ruby wasexcellentat flings. She had them all the time, and she’d never had a problem walking away after a fling ran its course.
Ruby finished chewing before speaking. “What if we call this a little holiday fling? No strings, no promises for the future. Like we’re a couple and do things together, not only sex, and we’re exclusive, but not serious—like, no buying each other Christmas presents, or getting jealous, or anything like that. Then, after January first, we go back to being friends.”
He smiled widely. “I like the sound of a holiday fling. Very fancy.”
“Is that sarcasm?”
He laughed. “Not at all. Let’s do it, Ruby. Let’s have a fling.”
Ruby grinned. Seemed she’d found herself a holiday boyfriend. Their first activity after making their holiday fling official was to agree to spend the day together, since neither of them was working. So, after paying the bill—Ruby insisted they split it since this wasn’t one of the four outings that he was supposed to pay for—they headed back to Jasmine’s house so Rashid could change. Ruby stayed in the car—the girls would be at school, but Jasmine would be home, and Ruby didn’t want to see Rashid’s sister the day after she had wild and passionate sex with the man.
Ruby had already planned to go shopping on her day off. After his comment last week about her not exchanging gifts with her friends, she had decided to get them something. Since the Caroling party was on Saturday, this was Ruby’s last chance, and she still needed gifts for Reena and Shayne.
Rashid readily agreed to join her. “I should probably get something for Jasmine, anyway,” he said. “The girls will expect Santa to bring her something Christmas morning.”
“What about all that stuff you got at the artist market?”
He shrugged. “That was mostly for other people. Back home in Calgary.”
“Okay, but what about the books I wrapped for you at Reid’s? Weren’t those for Jasmine and the girls?”
“Yeah, but I already gave them those.”
Ruby frowned. Now that she thought about it, on Sunday Ruby had seen Jasmine reading one of the books Ruby had wrapped. Ruby suddenly smiled wide. “Wait. Did you buy those booksjustso you could come into Reid’s and ask me to wrap them?”
Rashid’s face transformed into an expression Ruby had never seen on him before. Embarrassment? Guilt?
Ruby laughed, pointing a finger at his face. “You did! You totally used that as an excuse to see me again! Youlikedme!”
Rashid took her hand that was pointing and kissed the back of it, making her shiver. “After what we did last night, isn’t that obvious?” he asked.
“Okay, but youalwaysliked me! Even back when I thought you hated me!” This was an unexpected discovery. She’d been so sure he thought she was a frivolous flake after their first meeting, but really, he already had a crush on her.
Also, Rashid blushing was just about the cutest thing in the world.
“Okay, fine,” he said. “I thought you were strange and frustrating when we first met, but I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”
