Ruby
“Yes, and when I hold the leash, I take charge. He feels the difference in pressure.”
“Depending on when you know your way around… Fascinating.” Part of her was glad that Morgan couldn’t see her staring and lusting over him.
He just looked so damn good. Tattoos peeked out from beneath his V-neck and when he rolled up his sleeves?
God those veins bulging from his muscles…
His ass popped as well, his cane folded and peeking out of his pocket.
“Is there anything people do that really bothers you? I mean, besides petting Blue.”
“Assuming my brain function went down the drain with my eyesight. Oh, and acting like I’m helpless.”
“But you also seem like a man too proud to ask for help.”
Morgan just shrugged and gave her one of those breath-taking smirks. “I don’t like asking strangers.”
“Would you ask me?”
“Yes.” Blue halted by a crosswalk and Morgan surprised her by dropping Blue’s harness handle and taking his leash. He then offered a hand to her, palm up. “Lead the way, darlin’.”
Ruby’s knees felt awfully weak for the nickname he’d chosen for her. She swallowed and tried to steady her voice—along with her knees. “Would you like to hold onto my elbow?”
“If you feel comfortable with it, yes.”
“However’s best for you.”
Morgan hooked his hand into her elbow, and Ruby blanketed it with her own.
He stayed a step behind her, and she made sure to slow for each elevation change to the ground.
How embarrassing would it be for her to make him trip on their first date—well second if she counted crashing his dessert.
As soon as they had gotten their tickets—Morgan had insisted on paying—and entered, Ruby beelined for her first of many hot chocolates.
From their first step, they were surrounded by colourful, twinkling lights. The path they followed was illuminated by thousands of lights above them, leading them to a display of moving animal sculptures.
“Oh, that’s pretty,” Ruby marvelled, immediately snapping a picture to show Morgan. “Zebras are my favourite.”
He took her phone, his eyes turning soft and his brows denting oh so slightly over the ridge of his nose, giving him a bashful, adoring appearance. “Why don’t you stand over there and let me take a picture of you with them.”
She did as asked, unsure of how to pose. In the end, she clutched the purse hanging from her shoulder. She wasn’t a very slim woman and having him see her for the first time made her nervous. The woman who’d dumped him was a bombshell, which made her afraid of his rejection.
“You look gorgeous,” he said as she stepped back next to him. “Do you always get dolled up like this?”
“I thought after our last date, I should step it up a little.”
He zoomed in and then held his hand out to her. “You got your nails done. Let me see.” Rolling her lower lip between her teeth, she laid her hand in his. “The red matches your dress.”
She’d spent all day trying to decide on an outfit and after deliberating for hours, she’d landed on a burgundy sweater dress with thick black tights. “I thought if not now, then when.”
Then when Morgan gave her that signature grin and dusted a kiss across her knuckles, her legs damn near buckled. “You got dolled up for me? Thank you.”
Oh god, if he only knew she’d even matched her underwear to the outfit. She never did that.
“So, tell me, Ruby, how is such a stunning woman like you single?”
“I could ask you the same, Mr. Handsome,” she teased, stealing her phone back.
Chuckling, Morgan took her arm, letting her guide him through the sparkling lights surrounding them. “I have a valid excuse.”
“Well, I believe men can be idiots.”
“Clearly, if they pass you up.”
She squeezed his hand, letting her head rest against his bicep for a moment. “I was in a relationship for a few years, but then realised I was only with him because I was too afraid of being alone. We lived together and shared most of our lives so breaking up felt daunting.”
“When did you realise you could do it on your own?”
She sighed and let her gaze wander. “There wasn’t really a clicking moment, but we got into one of our usual arguments and I made a nasty comment.
When he asked if that was it, I said it outright.
It was a little difficult because well, we couldn’t just leave so there was this whole living and despising each other phase while I shopped for a place of my own. ”
“Why do you think it didn’t work out?”
“Honestly? It depends on the day you ask me. Sometimes I think it was because I wanted to change him. Then again, I often think if I loved someone, I would put effort into that relationship and make it about more than splitting bills and sex.”
“Is there anything you’d do differently after that experience?”
“Mmhmm…” She liked his questions; they seemed so mature compared to the conversations she used to share with Rick.
“Better communication. Looking back, I always felt as if I couldn’t talk or speak my mind to him without being afraid of being judged, misunderstood or even belittled.
We always either agreed or disagreed, but it never felt like compromise was an acceptable goal.
You can agree to disagree.” She slowed down then.
“There are strings of lights hanging in front of us—chest high. So, it shouldn’t bother Blue. ”
As they stepped into the tunnel, she realised they had glowing butterflies attached to them. Morgan took one and brought it closer to his face. “Butterflies. Are they all like that?”
“Yes, different colours though.”
Morgan peered up, rotating in a slow circle. “It looks cool.”
The way he admired his surroundings and let his fingers run through the strings made her heart lighter. She pulled out her phone and snuck a picture of his mesmerised face illuminated by the lights.
“Can I pet the dog?”
She turned to the girl that had approached them from behind and softly smiled. “I’m sorry, but he’s working right now. You see the harness? It means he can’t be distracted.”
“What does he do?”
“He’s a guide dog,” Morgan chimed in. “He helps me see better.”
“Oh, okay.” Disappointed, the girl turned and walked back to her parents.
“Thank you.”
“What for?” she asked, looking up at him confused.
“Helping me explain that to that little girl.” Morgan wrapped the hand holding Blue’s leash around her wrist while the other felt up her arm and to her shoulder. “Come here,” he husked, his fingers firmly around her neck, gently tugging her closer.
With a racing heart, she obeyed. His lips twitched, eyes sparkling and his mouth curling into that intoxicating smile.
Soft, tiny wrinkles formed around his green orbs, his full brows fusing as if he had to focus his vision.
He leaned down slowly, his eyes flickering over her face as he took her in.
“You’re not wearing makeup.”
“I wouldn’t know how to use it.”
“You’re gorgeous.” He let out a breathless chuckle. “And that natural blush makes you even prettier.”
As if to soothe her flushed cheeks, he brushed his fingers over the hot skin before he took a step backward.
She needed a moment to collect herself, then cleared her throat and guided him farther through the tunnel.
They wound through the paths lit up by different displays until they came to a sitting area.
With no better time than the present, she suggested a break for more hot chocolate—after all, she was obsessed.
As Morgan found their seats, she grabbed the drinks.
“Should we offer Blue something to drink as well?” she asked as she sat back down. But when Morgan indicated a bowl under the table, she ducked to hide her flushed cheeks. “Of course, I didn’t mean to imply you don’t know how to take care of him.”
“I’m flattered, actually. I like that you think about him too.”
She sat Morgan’s drink in front of him, holding onto the cup until he found it. “I remembered to get a lid this time.”
“Thanks.” He reached for it and felt for the opening.
“So, Morgan, what do you do for fun?”
He took a sip and then rolled his cup between his palms. “Currently, I’m obsessed with Legos.”
“Are you hiding a whole tiny city in your apartment?”
“Not quite, but only because I’m kind of slow.”
“I used to do puzzles a lot, but never made the jump to Legos because I was terrified that I might spend my entire earnings on them.”
“Maybe if you ask nicely, I’ll let you have a go with mine.”
She gasped playfully. “Oh, what an honour. May I please come over for a playdate soon?” The words left her mouth before she could think of what she was saying, and she couldn’t help but hear the dirty undertones in them.
Morgan rose his brow, that crooked grin tipping up the corner of his mouth. “And what would I get in return?”
Cheeks on fire, she bit down on her inner cheek. “I could cook you dinner.”
“That just sounds unfair—I get the better end of the deal.”
She giggled, trying not to let on how nervous she suddenly was. “Wait until you taste it before you judge.”
Morgan paused for another drink, his grin widening into a full smile. “When is this date?”
“I have the early shift on Wednesday—I can be over by five.”
“Only if you let me buy groceries.”
“I’ll come up with something and let you know on Monday.”
“Something to look forward to.”
“For both of us. Do you have any allergies?”
“Nope, my brothers usually call me a human garbage disposal because I can and will eat anything.”
She sputtered on her hot chocolate. “True brotherly love.”
Not long after they continued, she had to pull both of them to a halt.
Glass splinters littered the middle of the path.
“There’s some broken glass.” She quickly switched to his left and guided him and Blue around the splinters.
“We don’t want Blue to end up in the ER. I’d never see either of you again.”
“Woman, do you really think you can get rid of me that easily?” Suddenly, the roles were reversed, and she needed him to keep herself steady. He chuckled and that signature half smirk of his made her even weaker in the knees. “I did try putting shoes on him—I don’t think he was a fan.”
“Oh,” was all that she could manage.
His grin deepened and those cute wrinkles around his eyes returned. “I wouldn’t blame you if Blue got hurt. It happens and I would never hold you accountable.”
“Okay.”
Morgan paused and faced her, leaning in until he brushed her cheek again.
“I find your concern for him endearing, but I’m his handler.
If something happens, I’m the one who’s responsible.
I’m not saying I don’t appreciate you looking out for him, but he is my responsibility, and I don’t want you to feel as if you are at fault for anything. ”
“Why does that not make the potential guilt go away?”
“Because you are a caring person. I just needed you to hear that.”
“Thank you.”
Holding onto her arm, Morgan let her continue to guide him through the sparkling lights.