Page 70 of Go Cook Yourself

“What did Flora say?” she hisses when I join her at the craft station. It’s nice to be the sunshine to her grumpy for a change.

Neil watches us, his eyes pinched with suspicion. I cup Ruby’s face and peck her on the lips. Her eyes widen as I say loudly, “Don’t be cross with me, sugar plum. I know I shouldn’t tease you so much. When we get home, I’ll make it up to you just how you like.” I press my lips to hers again, struggling not to laugh when she bites my lip. “And we can make one wreath so that when we move in together, it will be the first thing people see, an expression of our love.”

One of the older ladies coos while another grumbles to her husband, “Why don’t you ever say nice things like that to me?”

Behind me, Neil grunts again, but I’ve stopped caring. What would it be like to come home to Ruby? It’s a dream I can’t realise, but it still fills me with a cosy swirl.

“You’re enjoying this too much,” Ruby whispers with a scowl.

I twirl loose strands of her hair around my finger before running my fingertips across the nape of her neck. No one sees us except Neil, who’s baring his teeth. “Aren’t you enjoying yourself, Rubes?”

She licks her lips and huffs, but she doesn’t deny it. I beam. I’m falling so hard for this off-limits woman.

Once Flora finishes her instructions, we make wreaths in our pairs. As expected, Ruby and I have different ideas about what makes a good wreath.

“But, baby, we need more colour,” she says, certain I won’t argue in front of everyone.

“Nope. It’s got to stay all brown and green, like Christmas should be. It needs cones,” I announce.

She licks her lips and stares me down, even though she’s much shorter than me. “But what about red berries or dark pink flowers? Browns and greens are dull. I thought you weren’t boring. I hoped my favourite chef was more exciting than this. You’re more exciting in other places.” I raise my eyebrows. “In the kitchen, I mean.”

“I thought he was your number two chef,” Neil shouts from across the room, causing everyone to stare. Viv side-eyes his challenge.

Ruby’s mouth drops open, and she stutters to respond, but I’ve got this.

“It’s true. When she first told me, it nearly broke my heart.” The group is pretending to continue with their wreaths, but their pupils are ball bearings rolling back and forth, as they’re desperate to witness the exchange. “But I agree with her firstchoice. I, too, am in love with Mary Berry, although I’d say she’s more a baker than a chef.”

Ruby elbows me in my ribs, causing everyone to laugh, but Neil hasn’t finished with us. “If you’re such a great couple, tell me about your first date. I bet she’s had better.”

Ruby trembles and stares at me.

I’m unsure what Neil did for Ruby on their first date, and I don’t care.

“I’ll never forget my first date with my Rubes. I considered something flashy and overpriced, but that’s not what matters to her.” Neil glares and bares his teeth. I guess that’s what he did. “Family and food matter more to Ruby than anything, so I started the date at the kitchen of her favourite restaurant. I decorated it with colourful flowers and sweets because even though she’s sweet enough,” I say with a kiss on her cheek, “I know how sweet her tooth is. It was like a mini version of Hansel and Gretal but with no witches.”

Everyone gawks at me now, waiting for what’s next. Ruby stares at me with an intensity that feeds the story.

“Together, we baked something neither of us had tried before under the tutelage of one of my favourite bakers. I’m not saying it was Mary Berry, but I’m not saying it wasn’t.” Everyone laughs, and the energy in the room goes to my head. “Once we baked our baumkuchen with a kind of croquembouche hat, the only way I can describe the monster we made, we gave Mary—I mean, the baker—our thanks, and we met up at Ruby’s family’s old cookery school for a special meal. I’d secretly asked her family for ideas of her favourite courses.”

“Oh, that’s lovely,” one of the older women says.

Neil continues to scowl. Before he can poison the dream date, I add, “And at the end of the night, we went for a walk in the moonlight, where I pretended to name stars and made upludicrous names for them, which made her laugh. And then we had a chaste kiss.”

“It wasn’t chaste,” Ruby says, and I can’t focus on anything else. “I’m pretty sure it was like this.”

I hold my breath as she stands on tiptoes and pulls my head down to meet hers. It’s as hot and heavy as it can be in a room full of older people and someone’s ex-boyfriend, but it hints at the night we spent together, her mouth against mine, the scent of passion fruit enrapturing me. Her hand is against the back of my neck, and mine presses into her hips. As I come up for air, I say breathlessly, “I was trying not to sully your reputation.”

Her eyes are sparkling, and there is a pink spot on each of her cheeks. “Oh, it’s a bit late for that, Chef Garett.”

A chorus ofooohsandaaaahsfill the room as Flora says, “If you two don’t mind, this is a wreath making class, not an Amsterdam show.”

Ruby throws her head back and laughs. There’s a lightness to her whole being, whereas, for me, it’s like someone punching me repeatedly in the belly. I like her too much for what we’re doing.

“You heard the woman. Let’s get back to it,” I say as my stomach quivers. “I need to grab something.”

Ruby laughs with one of the ladies at the next table as I walk down the stairs. I barely make it because my whole body shakes. My legs are jelly, and I wait to get sick. I said I could do no strings, and I will because I want her with a fire in my belly and a wobble to my heart, but I can’t sleep with her tonight. The boyfriend experience unleashed too many things in me that I didn’t know I was capable of. I have to let go of these emotions before we do anything.

I want to make love to her.

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