Page 72 of From Wink to Kink

And I find it utterly charming.

Her cheeks are flushed, whether from the humid air or embarrassment, I'm not sure which. Her eyes are bright with a mixture of nervousness and genuine enthusiasm for her subject. A strand of hair has escaped her ponytail, and she absently tucks it behind her ear as she continues her impromptu lecture on the merits of various cataloging methods.

I feel the tension in my shoulders begin to ease. This, I can handle. This flustered, passionate Ruby is a far cry from the woman who was dissecting my childhood trauma just moments ago.

"...and that's why the Colon Classification system, while innovative, never really caught on in North America," she finishes, slightly out of breath.

I can't help it. I burst out laughing.

Ruby blinks, looking startled. "What? What's so funny?"

"Nothing," I say, still chuckling. "It's just... you really are a librarian, aren't you?"

She crosses her arms, trying to look offended, but I can see the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

"It means," I say, reaching out to gently tug on that escaped strand of hair, "that you're full of surprises, Ruby Brooks."

As she launches into a spirited defense of her profession, I find myself relaxing fully for the first time since we started this conversation. Maybe opening up wasn't such a bad thing after all.

And if it means getting to see this side of Ruby more often? Well, that might be worth braving another giant spider web.

36

CHUCK

I wipemy palms on my pants for the tenth time in as many minutes. The ‘treehouse’—really more of an elevated gazebo with a lot of mood lighting—is perfect. I had to pay the resort through the nose for it, but it’s worth it, especially after I see it for the first time, just before Ruby arrives. It’s a round room, high in the trees, and you have to walk up a long, sloping ramp to get to it. The inside is strung with tiny white lights, giving off a golden glow. Candles are lit everywhere, and flowers give the air a lush fragrance. Rugs cover the floor, there are huge throw pillows for us to sit on, and the low coffee table holds our dinner.

Roasted duck, snow peas, creamy mashed potatoes, tiny brussels sprouts, and icy bottles of champagne. I know there’s a decadent fudge cake under oneof the domes too.

The view of the sunset over the jungle canopy is breathtaking.

But none of that matters if Ruby doesn't show up.

I check my watch again. She's only five minutes late, but each second feels like an eternity. What if she changed her mind?What if she's finally come to her senses and realized she's too good for a jerk like me?

Just as I'm starting to contemplate the fastest way to drown myself in chilled champagne, I hear footsteps on the wooden stairs. And there she is, my girl, who’s dressed in a little red number that scoops low on her breasts and stops mid-thigh.

She looks beautiful, her red hair catching the last of the day’s sunlight.

"Wow," Ruby breathes, taking in the scene. "Chuck, this is... wow. Look at the view!”

I join her at the window and look over the sweeping view of the rainforest. It’s simply gorgeous.

Doesn’t hold a candle to Ruby, though.

I grin, feeling a surge of pride mixed with relief. "You like it? It’s all ours, at least for the night."

She nods, a soft smile playing at her lips. "It's beautiful. How did you manage this?"

I shrug, trying to play it cool. "Oh, you know. Pulled a few strings, sold a kidney. No big deal."

Ruby laughs, music to my ears. "Well, I hope you at least got a good price for the kidney."

As we sit down to eat, I find myself marveling at how comfortable this feels. Just a week ago, Ruby was my teammate's prickly sister who could barely stand to be in the same room as me. Now, she's... well, I'm not sure what she is. But I know I want to find out.

We chat easily through the appetizers, swapping stories about our childhoods. I tell her about my first time on the ice, how I fell in love with hockey despite—or maybe because of—how much I sucked at first. She shares her own story, one about getting locked in the library as a kid, something that would have terrified most people, but which thrilled her to no end.

Imagine, hanging out in an empty, cavernous library alone, as a child. And loving it.

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