Page 65 of Saved By Love at Christmas
“I love you too, Ruby.”
* * *
BEN
Going back to an empty house made me feel hollow. I missed Ruby more than ever. Her laughter, her enthusiasm for life, and her coming apart in my arms after making love. When I got to bed, I swapped my pillow for the one she’d slept on so I could breathe in her scent.
The alarm going off made me groan my displeasure, and I was almost tempted to hit the snooze button. Usually, I’d have Fred to bark at me if I didn’t get up, but he was probably snuggled up in his basket in front of the fire at Tom’s. My home felt unusually quiet, and I didn’t like it.
The morning shift at the surgery passed swiftly. I had a follow-up visit from the evil parrot who’d pecked me, and he seemed angrier than he did the first time. A nervous cat had peed all down my scrubs, and a hamster took a small chunk out of my finger. All in all, it had been an eventful morning. There were no appointments between one and two, so I headed out for some lunch.
As I shut the consultation room door, I heard female laughter coming from the reception area. I wondered if I was going to receive more interrogation from my co-workers. Above all the voices, I heard Ruby’s. My heart hammered. I strode down the corridor, eager to get to her. She stood surrounded by the other women, all sighing and smiling. She looked up when she saw me, her smile growing.
“Hey, Ben.”
She walked towards me and gave my lips a chaste kiss. This earned more sighs from the women.
“Hi. What are you doing here, not that I mind?”
“Grandad and I had a cookie baking marathon this morning, so I’ve brought some in for your colleagues.”
“And they’re delicious, Ben,” Jenna announced, her mouth full of cookie.
“I hope you’ve saved me some,” I teased.
“Don’t worry, I’ve saved you some for later,” she whispered, but loud enough for the others to hear.
The space filled with female giggles, making me blush.
“Fancy grabbing a coffee?” I asked, already pulling her out of the front door.
“See you later, ladies.” She waved to them.
Once we were in my car, she pounced. Her lips found mine as I grabbed blindly for her, needing Ruby as close to me as I could get her. In the end, I had to push her away from me, both of us leaning back in our seats, our breathing heavy.
“I’m glad you pushed me away.” Ruby moved her hair away from her face.
“Why?” I asked as I switched on the ignition and began to pull out of the car park. “Have you gone off me already?”
“No, but if it had been an empty car park I’d have been tempted to sit on your lap and…”
I hit the brakes hard, knuckles going white as my hands gripped the steering wheel.
“Jesus, Ruby. Are you trying to give me a hard-on?” Although, it was too late. I was already hard for her.
“Sorry, not sorry.” She smirked at me in the mirror.
“I’ll make you sorry later, you bad girl.”
I was satisfied to hear her whimper at my words.Something to look forward to later,I mused.
CHAPTER20
RUBY
It was the week before Christmas and the whole town was buzzing with excitement. The decorations in shop windows and in the streets, added to the festive atmosphere. One of my favourite things to do was listen to all the different Christmas music playing in the shops. The scent of cinnamon filled the air from the bakery and inside the small delicatessen; all manner of festive yumminess was on show. Grandad had already put in an order for various cheeses and bought posh crackers and chutneys to go with it.
I sat in a café, drinking hot chocolate while munching a mince pie. They weren’t as good as Grandad’s homemade ones, and I wouldn’t dare tell him I’d bought one. People-watching from my window seat was a great pastime. Families hurried by with bags full of edible goodies and gifts. Men trailed behind their partners, looking bored. Thank goodness Ben wasn’t like that. He loved shopping more than anyone I knew.
