Page 62 of Saved By Love at Christmas
BEN
The hours I spent with Ruby were some of the happiest hours of my life. Our friendship was great grounding for taking our relationship to the next level. We knew each other inside out, the good and the bad. And making love to this beautiful person only confirmed what I’d thought for years. We were soulmates, pure and simple. It may have taken us a while to reach that point, but we were there now, and nothing would ever come between us.
I couldn’t help the extra spring in my step when I arrived at work.
“Afternoon, Jenna.”
The receptionist looked up from her computer screen and eyed me with curiosity.
“Afternoon, Ben. You’re always a happy person, but there’s something different about you this afternoon. What is it?”
I tapped the side of my nose. “I’ll tell you later… maybe.”
I headed for my consulting room, knowing full well that Jenna would gossip with the other receptionist and the nurses. They’d been trying to fix me up on dates for years. I couldn’t wait to tell them about Ruby, but I’d let them stew until the end of my shift. Just thinking about Ruby made my smile widen, but I needed to focus on the animals who required my care and their loving owners.
After the last of my appointments left, I cleaned down my room, grabbed my coat, and headed into the reception area. I was surprised to see Jenna, the other receptionist, and three nurses waiting for me.
“What’s this? What are you lot up to?”
Jenna stood, her arms folded over her chest. “Who is she, Ben?”
“Who’s who?” I feigned innocence.
“There’s a woman in your life. You haven’t stopped grinning since you came in.” Jenna still eyed me as though she could read my thoughts.
“You’re not leaving until we find out who the lucky lady is.” Sandra the head nurse narrowed her eyes at me.
I held up my hands. “Okay, I’ll tell you. It’s Ruby.”
Everyone broke into smiles, and Jenna had a tear in her eye.
Sandra rushed to me and held me in a warm embrace. “Oh, Ben. I’m so happy for you. Ruby’s lovely. It’s about time you two got together.”
My cheeks warmed at all the fuss I received from the ladies gathered. They all knew Ruby and I had been best friends forever. Woodbridge is such a small place; how could they not know? And I was certain after that evening, the jungle telegraph would spread like wildfire about our relationship.
By the time I reached Tom’s, his car was back. The outside Christmas lights were on, making the place light up with festive cheer. The curtains were closed, and I could only imagine all the happy chatter and Christmas lights inside. I knocked on the door.
Ruby stood there, eyes bright, holding something behind her back. I didn’t have time to say anything when she produced a sprig of fresh mistletoe and raised it high.
“Pucker up, baby. I need a kiss.”
“Well, with an offer like that, how could I say no.” I captured her lips with mine and allowed them to show her how much I’d missed her.
We walked into the hallway, where Fred greeted me with a whine and dropped a ball at my feet. I rolled it along the floor for him and laughed as he clattered after it.
“I have news from the surgery,” I said as I took off my coat and hung it on one of the hooks.
“Oh, what? Have you found us a cat?”
“No, but I think our relationship will be headline news in the sleepy town of Woodbridge by tomorrow.”
Her eyes widened. I was worried until she smiled.
“I bet Jenna got it out of you, didn’t she?”
“Yep. She could see something different in me. I had five female members of staff waiting to interrogate me after surgery.”
“How did they take it?”
