Page 55 of Theirs to Take

“It’s great,” she said. “Although something interesting happened today.”

“Share,” Millie insisted. Ruby instantly regretted bringing up the incident with Luke. She and Millie weren’t friends like that yet, but Ruby had no one else to spill the beans to.

“The hot guy in charge of security at my building told me that I was hot. Well, he said, ‘hot as hell,’ but you get the gist.”

“Oh—that is something,” Millie agreed. “Do you like this guy?”

“I mean, I never really thought about him that way. Sure, I’ve noticed him and all, but I never thought that he even knew who I was,” Ruby admitted.

“But he does, so you like him?” Millie pushed.

“We’ve only said a handful of words to each other, but yeah, I think he’s nice,” Ruby admitted.

“And hot,” Millie said. “Don’t forget that you said that he’s hot.”

“Yes,” Ruby agreed. “He’s nice and hot.” God, she sounded like an idiot and now, she fully regretted bringing up the subject with Millie. “Let me call in the order. You want your normal meal?”

“Yep,” Millie agreed. “P7—the orange chicken and fried rice combo.”

Ruby nodded and told the woman who answered the call their order. She was promised that the food would get to them in about twenty minutes, and she wondered how she’d be able to change the subject because talking about hot, nice Luke until their food got there wasn’t going to happen.

She ended the call and Millie sat down on the sofa next to her, wearing a huge smile. “So, what are you going to do about Luke?” she asked.

“Um, nothing,” Ruby admitted. “I work with him, and I’d be mortified if I asked him out and he said no.”

“I get that,” Millie said. “I’ve been turned down before and it hurts. It doesn’t hurt to play things safe,” she said. “Let him come to you.” As if that would ever happen. Guys like Luke didn’t come for her—ever.

Ruby did her best to make small talk while Millie kept trying to drive the topic back to Luke. Ruby said a little prayer of thanks when the delivery guy knocked on her front door.

“That must be the food,” she said. “Give me just a minute.” She pulled the front door open and gasped when she found Luke standing there. “You’re not the delivery guy,” she said.

“Who is it?” Millie asked. She joined Ruby in the doorway and gasped a bit as she looked Luke over. “Wow, the delivery guy’s hot.”

“Millie, this is Luke,” she said.

“You weren’t kidding, he is hot,” Millie said.

“You told her about me?” Luke asked, smiling at her like a loon. Ruby suddenly wondered how the hell she had gotten herself into this mess. The better question was how the hell was she going to get out of it?

“No,” she lied.

“Oh, she told me all about how you told her she’s hot while you both were on the elevator,” Millie shared.

Ruby shot Millie a look, trying to silently tell her to shut up, and Luke laughed. “What can I do for you, Luke?” she asked.

“I’m in a bit of trouble and I need your help,” he admitted.

“How can I help you?” Ruby asked.

“By giving me a place to lay low,” he said. “I’ll explain everything, if you’ll just let me in, Ruby, please.”

“How about you send my order over to me and I’ll leave you two alone,” Millie asked.

“You don’t have to leave, Millie,” Ruby insisted.

“I don’t mind,” she said. “What are friends for?” She winked at Ruby and all she could muster was rolling her eyes.

“Fine,” she said. “I’ll have the delivery guy bring your half over when he gets here,” Ruby agreed.

---