Page 9 of Veil of Web and Ruin

‘If you’ve got time,’ I reply, involuntarily licking my lips.

He follows the movement of my tongue with avid interest.

‘You know I’ve always got time for you.’ He grins.

A minute later, he and Kay break apart. Her cheeks are flushed with warmth, and she stares at her fingers in pure pleasure as she wiggles them, almost in disbelief.

‘Better?’ Ruben asks.

‘You have no idea.’ Kay lets out a happy hum.

‘Glad to be of service.’

Ruben’s eyes move to mine, but rather than speak, his lips just twitch slightly, and an unexpected nervousness fills me.

‘Actually, before you warm up, Rose, I need to get out of here,’ Kay blurts. ‘I said I’d pop around to see Evelina,’ Kay explains for Ruben’s benefit. ‘She’s not been feeling great. I’m sure it’s nothing, but you know how she likes to chat with me.’

‘How late are you going to be out?’ I ask casually.

She shrugs. ‘I’m not sure. But you could always cook Ruben something. Maybe make an omelette. To thank him for our warm hugs. After all, we have plenty.’

Plenty is a stretch, but I get what she’s saying. It would be wrong to take advantage of his good nature when we’re in a position to give back, as we are today. He never charges for his warmth, but truly he should.

‘Okay,’ I tell her. ‘Then I guess I’ll see you later.’

Rather than move to the door, she catches my eye.

‘Can you just help me outside for a second, with the door?’ she says.

‘I can close it from in here,’ I reply, confused.

‘Yes, no … I know …’ She grabs my hand. ‘Can you just come out with me, please, for one second?’

I do as she asks, throwing Ruben a secret look of exasperation as I go.

‘Bye, Rue,’ Kay says, practically dragging me out so forcefully that my feet clatter against the pan. At least I know she’s not as weak as I sometimes worry.

‘What is it?’ I say when we’re outside. ‘Why are you being weird?’

‘He likes you,’ she replies with a doe-eyed sigh. ‘Rubenlikesyou.’

I offer her the most incredulous look I can. ‘Yes, he does. He’s my friend. Generally speaking, it’s important that you like your friends. If that’s not the case, then you’re probably doing something wrong.’

With a long sigh, she shakes her head. ‘I don’t mean like that. I mean,likesyou likes you. As in he could be yourboyfriend.’

‘Kay—’

‘No. I know what you’re going to say. That you don’t want anything. That you’re fine on your own. That you have enoughto worry about. But he’s sweet, and he’s kind, warm … and he’s sexy.’

She says this last bit like I haven’t noticed, but with his big brown eyes and cute smile, Ruben has a comforting attractiveness about him.

‘Please just think about it.’

I roll my eyes, stifling a grin. ‘Ruben and I are just friends, Kay. That’s it.’

‘But you could be more,’ she presses. ‘You would be such a cute couple. And think … you’d never be cold again.’

‘I can’t date a guy just so I’m not cold.’