Morgan
Ignoring the call he got immediately, he trudged into the kitchen to start the coffee. He knew they only wanted to look out for him but fuck they shouldn’t have gone behind his back.
“Is that coffee I smell?”
He turned towards Ruby’s sleepy voice and greeted her with a smile. “It is. How do you drink yours?”
“In a large cup and with lots of milk.”
He carefully sifted through his mugs, withdrawing one that he hoped fit the bill. “Something like this?”
“It’s perfect.”
“I have to take Blue out but maybe after, we can go to the café across the street for breakfast.”
“I assume since you are your own boss, you’re taking the morning off?”
He gave a nod and filled his cup, holding it up to his line of sight so he didn’t flood the counters.
“Would you mind if I took a shower first?”
“Not at all. Towels are in the bathroom behind the door. There should also be new toothbrushes under the sink somewhere.” A surprise kiss to his cheek had him almost spilling his coffee.
“Sorry.”
“That bubbly tone says that you’re anything but sorry,” he tsked.
Ruby’s steps disappeared, so he called for Blue and took him downstairs. Once back in the apartment he fed his furry companion and changed into a sleek black polo and dark jeans.
“You don’t happen to have a hair dryer, do you?” Ruby asked as he stepped out of the closet.
With his free hand he ran over his stubbly scalp. “I’m sorry to disappoint.”
“I’ll just have to live with the frizz today.” The sheet’s ruffled. “Bathroom is all yours.”
When he finished his morning routine, he emerged into the living room to find Blue’s harness. Ruby let out a low whistle, and heat rushed to his face. “Handsome.”
“Was that for me? Because the last time I wanted to take a compliment, it was meant for the furry, four-legged jerk who stole you right out of my arms last night.”
The bench gnashed as she sat down. “Just to be clear, last time I threw out compliments it was for the both of you.”
“What about this time?”
“Are you fishing, Mr. Gorgeous?”
Wetting his lips, he tried to hide his smirk and fastened Blue into his halter. “Clearly it worked.”
As they walked to the café, Morgan demanded that she take his hand, entwining his fingers with hers.
Blue already knew the way by heart, so he took advantage of being able to hold her hand like any other person would.
Angelo gave him his usual seat, off to the side of the patio where Blue could tuck away and rest without having to squeeze to avoid being stepped on.
“I guess you come here often?”
“Yeah, my life basically happens in this square. Even my gym is here.”
“No wonder you’re packing all those muscles.”
Fuck, his cheeks hurt from all the smiling and his soul could barely deal with all the positive energy she emitted. “I’ve already told you you’re not getting rid of me. There’s no need to twirl me around your pretty little finger even more.”
“Well, you’re cute when you blush.”
He leaned in and curled his finger for her to do the same. Once the cloud of colours cleared and her eyes beamed over at him, he cupped her cheek and ghosted his thumb over that lower lip. “Just wait till I have you back in my bed, you’ll be the one flustered.”
She was saved by Angelo, who set down their order, but Ruby hadn’t been able to hide the heated desire swirling in her eyes before she pulled back.
Angelo knew how to set down his plate and coffee so that Morgan could find them easily.
It was why he hated going to new places—they just didn’t get it.
“When would you like to go ice skating?” she asked between bites.
“Whenever you’re free, darlin’.”
“I might be able to switch my shifts to be free Saturday evening.”
“Will I have the honour of another sleepover?” Oh fuck, he sounded desperate, didn’t he?
“I thought you’d never ask.”
They sat out in the sun, enjoying the mild weather before she had to go to work. He walked her back to his apartment to collect her things, then said goodbye with a far-too-short kiss.
Only once the door had closed behind her did he pick up his phone to see an urgent message from Alexander.
His brother picked up right away when he called. “Look, I know you’re pissed, but I need you to look at the proposal I sent to you.”
With a sigh—and shoving aside the guilt he felt for setting work aside over personal issues—Morgan went to his computer and checked his inbox. He gave his input, with Alexander making small changes as he did so.
When Morgan tried to end the call, Alexander stopped him. “Can we talk?”
“Fine,” he snapped.
“We shouldn’t have gone behind your back.”
“No, you shouldn’t have. What you should have done was wait for her to agree to meet my family. We barely had one date and you two show up at her work unannounced like fucking pricks, giving her no choice in that matter.”
“Well, is there going to be another date?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re not in the mood to tell us about it.”
Was he? Not really, but then again who else did he have to talk to about these things. “We’re going ice skating.”
There was a pause—quite a long one—but Morgan didn’t feel like explaining himself any further. “You’re messing with me.”
“I’m not.”
Another beat of silence. “Would you allow us to come along to meet her officially?”
“You don’t want to meet her. You just want to see me land on my ass.”
“Well, that is a plus.”
“I’ll ask her.”
With that, he hung up before he could agree to anything else.
That same evening, Ruby called, excitingly exclaiming she was able to switch schedules.
“My brothers would like to join,” he reluctantly explained.
“So, you three are talking now?”
“Not of my own choosing, but unfortunately they’re as much my boss as I am my own.”
“Maybe my brother and sister-in-law could join too, if you’re ready for that?”
“I am if you are.”
“I have been. I know it’s kind of early, but they’ve known about you since the evening I met you. You don’t have to if you’re not ready.”
“I would love to meet the people you’re so close with.”
“The Memorial Mall one is the nearest. Do you want me to pick you up or will your brothers bring you?”
“If you’re leaving straight from work, I would prefer to spend the ride with you.”
“You’re such a sweet talker. I’ll pick you up around three.”
“Perfect.”
“I’m super excited.”
“I’m fucking nervous and it’s not because I’m being introduced to my girlfriend’s family.”
“Your girlfriend?”
“Yes, darlin’, ‘girlfriend.’”
Ruby let out a shy little giggle that made him weak in the knees. “I have a boyfriend.”
“And that boyfriend’s going to tell you to lay down and rest up now.”
“Fine.”
“Look at you, listening so well.”
He blew her a kiss and hung up, only to receive pictures and videos soon after of the ice rink they’d be going to.
Damn, how had he gotten so lucky?