Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
BECKETT
H e was going to be late for work, but for the first time in his life, he didn’t care. If he dropped dead on the street today, he’d put people in place at his company who would be able to keep Stone Investments running without a hitch. They could handle him being ten minutes late.
Of course, knowing that didn’t stop the prickles of irritation that had settled under his skin from the moment he’d gotten out of bed that morning after a night of lying awake, wondering about Ruby. Prickles that only grew sharper as he stepped into the cheerful, bustling interior of Charleston Brews.
And those prickles were not eased at all by sight of her behind the counter, her head thrown back in laughter at something the man giving his order had just said.
She didn’t seem any worse for wear after their scene, which didn’t make him feel any less prickly, but it did lighten the heaviness that had settled in his gut last night. He’d barely slept for worrying about her. How was she feeling? Had Ivy taken care of her? Given her everything she needed? Images of her crying on Ivy’s shoulder instead of his had left him staring up at the ceiling until the sun peeked through the blinds.
Hence the lateness. And the prickles.
“Next!” Ruby called, in that same lilting, cheerful voice she’d used the day before. Looking up from her register, she ran her gaze over the line that had formed with barely a second glance for him, and for a moment he thought she might be ignoring him.
But then she did an almost comical double take, her eyes going wide as they met his. The color leached from her face for a moment before it came rushing back with a vengeance and she jerked her gaze away from him to focus on the customer in front of her.
Okay, that actually did help the prickles a little bit.
As did the little glances she kept shooting his way while she waited on the people in front of him. Until, at last, it was his turn to step up to the counter. “Good morning, Ruby Red.”
The pink in her cheeks hadn’t quite faded while she was waiting on her other customers and it darkened now, making him wish they weren’t surrounded by people so he could simply yank her into his arms and kiss her senseless.
That, he was pretty sure, would get rid of the prickles for good.
“Good morning,” Ruby answered, her wide smile just a little too sparkly, like she was trying to hide something behind the flash of it. “How may I brighten your morning, um, sir?”
He had no doubt she spent her entire day calling people ‘Sir’ and ‘Ma’am’. And yet, here she was, stumbling over the word, all because of him.
Delicious.
He let his lips curve up in a smile designed to drive women mad. Especially sweet little subbies who were already a bit off balance. “You did a very good job with your suggestion yesterday. What would you suggest for me today, Ruby Red?”
Because he was watching her, and only her, he saw the way her eyes lit up at his praise. Saw the way her pupils widened, just a fraction. “The gingerbread latte. Sir.”
“Then that’s what I’ll have. Thank you.”
He’d deliberately used the same inflection on his ‘Thank you’ as he would if he’d outright called her a good girl, and judging by her sudden, sharp intake of breath, the tone wasn’t missed on her.
“You’re welcome, Sir.”
For a long moment, they simply stood there, his amusement growing with every second that passed without her making a move.
Until he finally took pity on her, pulling his wallet from his pocket and holding up a credit card.
“Oh! Right! Um, just tap the card here,” she said as she turned the screen around to face him.
He paid, taking an extra moment to add a hefty tip before tucking his wallet back in his pocket. “Have a good day, Ruby. I’ll see you tonight.”
Ruby
Jesus Christ that man was potent .
She could only hope her face wasn’t actually as red as it felt, considering it felt like her cheeks were on fire.
Forcing her attention away from Beckett and his ridiculously well-fitted suit, she turned the screen back around to ring up the next order.
And nearly choked at the figure on the display.
The tip he’d left would have been enough to pay her rent for the month if she didn’t have to split it with the other workers. Even so, it was nearly four times what they usually made in tips in a single day, even during the holidays when people were feeling especially generous.
Why would he leave such a huge tip? Was he just showing off? Trying to win her over by flashing his money in her face?
Not again, not again, not again.
Pressure wrapped around her chest, squeezing until she couldn’t drag in a deep enough breath to actually fill her lungs and her heart beat so fast it felt like it was trying to take gold at the Olympics.
“Ruby? You okay?” Jay’s concerned voice was muffled, as though someone had shoved cotton in her ears.
A glance down the counter showed Beckett waiting for his order, a smug smile on his face.
Fucking asshole.
She needed to get out of there. But if she ran now, Beckett would undoubtedly follow, and right then he was the last person she wanted to talk to.
So she forced the panic back as much as possible, forced herself to smile and nod as she took the next order and then the next. Forced herself to return Beckett’s wave as he turned to leave with his drink in hand.
Finally .
“Need a break.”
Without bothering to wait for Jay’s approval, she spun away from the register, shoving past her other coworkers as she stumbled toward the back of the shop.
Cold, crisp air slapped her in the face the second she stepped outside. The drastic, sudden change in temperature immediately eased the band of panic around her chest and she closed her eyes, letting her head fall back as she dragged in as much air as she could manage while she counted to five.
In for five. Hold for four. Out for five. Hold for four.
With each breath in and out, she focused on how the cool air felt in her nose, in her lungs. On the hard ground beneath her non-slip shoes, the sound of someone laughing in the distance.
As her heart rate slowed, she forced her eyes open, taking in the bright blue sky overhead.
I am at work. I work at Charleston Brews in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. I am safe.
I am safe.
“I am safe,” she repeated out loud, and this time when she breathed in, her lungs felt like they might burst from how much air she filled them with.
“Uh, everything okay, Ruby?”
White-hot embarrassment flooded her body as she turned to face Jay. His brows were drawn together with concern and she immediately felt like an ass for worrying him and for making a scene.
But Dr. Jenn’s voice popped into her head. Fear is your body’s way of trying to protect you from a threat, either real or perceived. Try not to attach a moral judgment to your fear. It is neither good nor bad, right nor wrong, it simply is.
Forcing a smile, Ruby nodded. “Sorry. Just needed a moment.”
Jay glanced behind him before pulling the door shut and stepping closer, but not so close as to crowd her for which she was grateful. “Did something happen with you and that guy last night? Did he hurt you?”
Warmth spread through her chest, erasing the last of the panic. “No. It wasn’t him.”
“Someone else, then.”
Normally, she wouldn’t bring her personal life to work. But seeing as how her personal life had already made a rather dramatic entrance, she didn’t have much of a choice. And she considered Jay more than just a co-worker. Hell, she’d spent Christmas with him and his husband. So she owed him the truth, or at least as much of it as she was able to give just then. “Someone else. But it was a long time ago. He can’t hurt me anymore.”
He can’t hurt me anymore.
“Okay.” Still not looking convinced, Jay took another step closer. “Will you tell me what triggered it? Is there something I can do to prevent it from happening again?”
And that was why, even if she was offered a better paying position somewhere, she knew she’d never leave Charleston Brews. Jay and the owners genuinely cared about their employees’ well-being in ways that were rare to find in the hellscape that was late-stage capitalism in America.
“The guy that was just here? He left us a huge fucking tip. Like, enough to pay your rent huge.”
It was worth telling him, just for the hilarity of watching Jay’s eyes go so wide she thought they might pop right out of his head. “Holy shit. And you’re like, seeing him? Good for you.”
“I’m not seeing him. I don’t date rich guys.” Her own rule, and she’d been on the verge of breaking it without a second thought for Beckett.
She knew better. She fucking knew better.
“Well, don’t tell him that. We just need like, five or six more tips like that.”
He smiled when he said it, letting her know she was teasing. And yet, the panic still beat at her throat, threatening to overwhelm her again if she wasn’t careful. “I can’t make any promises.”
“Ah, well. It was worth a shot.” Glancing down at his wrist, Jay grimaced. “I need to get back inside. You take as much time as you need. But seriously, if I need to put his face on one of those old-fashioned ‘Wanted’ signs and make sure everyone knows he’s not welcome here, I’ll do it. I take care of my people.”
Because she knew he’d do it in a heartbeat, her smile was less forced this time. “Thanks. I don’t think that will be necessary, but thanks.”
“All right. See you inside.”
Jay stepped back into the shop, the door swinging shut slowly behind him, and Ruby gave herself a few minutes to simply be . She’d have to face Beckett again tonight, and before then she needed to figure out what the fuck to actually say to him, but for now, she was here, and she was present.
And she was safe.