Chapter Sixteen
Garett
I walk into the cookery class an hour early because I want to spend as much time as possible around Ruby. Proximity is dangerous, yet talking to her in the van last week and laughing with her at the classes this week have been the happiest moments I’ve had in months.
Or you fancy her and are making excuses for seeing those hold ups again. I grunt at my inner voice, which has a valid point. I want to see her costume. I hope she likes mine.
“Nice costume,” Kath says with a smile. If she’s surprised I’m here early, she doesn’t let on. “I’m guessing it’s for Ruby’s benefit. If I’m not wrong, you’re dressed as her favourite animal.”
In the two months I’ve been here, I’ve learnt that Kath is never wrong, but I reply with a shrug. “I don’t know what you mean.”
I'm busy in the kitchen, so she can’t see my grin. At the end of one class, Ruby mentioned that she loves pandas and wishes she could go on a panda cuddling trip.
When I first saw Ruby this week at our foraging and feasting class, I was suave and nonchalant, and I barely looked at her, though her hips called out for my touch. I was a badass chef until she made me laugh so hard at her impression of a baby chick that I spat out my tea.
I also fixed the cover on her car’s light when she was busy tidying up after class. I don’t think she knows it’s me. I didn’t do it for a thank you. I just want her safe.
“She knows you fixed her light, by the way,” Kath comments, reading my thoughts. I smile to myself. “It’s lovely that you care about her so much.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” I repeat. “Besides, I only did it because the clocks have changed, and I want her to be safe driving in the dark. I’d do it for anyone else, even Wicksy.”
I gaze at my lying reflection in the oven window. Big black ears peek out the top of my hood, and white patches of fur cover my body. I’ve barely got anything on under this costume, and I’m already overheating. I crank up the air con.
“Of course you would.” I know Kath is smiling even without seeing her. “Could you get the wine out, Mr. Formerly Grumpy Chef?”
Kath has entered into the spirit of this adult Halloween party with a long purple witchy wig and black cobweb dress. Cookie would look fabulous as part of the group, running with his six waggling legs. He’d be chasing me if he saw me in this panda onesie. The pain in my chest at not having him with me hits hard as I rip open boxes and start pulling out bottles of wine. As much as I’m excited about the food we’ll be preparing with the clients today, which will include a marshmallow cheesecake and mini spinach and feta pies, I would give it all up to have him by my side.
My phone buzzes with a reminder that Flora is popping by after class to get her onesie so she can lend it to another friend for their Halloween night. Maybe she’s shown the contract to her friend and has ideas on how to make Cookie mine again, too.
We spoke the other night, and she told me Clive is barely walking him and not spending any time with him. He’s cooped up in the apartment all day except for occasional walks with her.
I stare at the lock screen photo from last Christmas of Cookie wearing antlers. His beaming smile gives me a glow, and I sigh happily. I’ve no idea when I became the kind of guy who dresses up his dog. I used to be a lad who partied until morning and then dragged myself out of a stranger’s bed to prepare lunch for a collection of upscale clients. Cookie has taught me that there’s more to life. It’s a shame I’ll never be the kind of guy someone other than a dog could love.
Kath comes up behind me. “Are you done with that wine yet? Where is your head? I meant to add that I’m glad you and Ruby aren’t fighting anymore. I wonder what brought on that change.”
She smirks as I point at her. “I’ve got a bone to pick with you. I know why you avoided me at the cooking class this week. Apparently, the wine merchants were open all week. What was with making me and Ruby go there last weekend?”
Kath’s eyes twinkle as she holds her hand to her mouth. “I must have made a mistake. I am getting so forgetful these days.”
“The cheeky smile that you’re badly hiding isn’t fooling anyone. You’re trouble.”
Kath chuckles. “If only you knew. I have ways and means of making my work environment happy and ensuring that good people get good things. You’re good people, Garett, even if you pretend you’re not.” The corners of my lips tease up in a wry smile. I’ve been told my whole life that I’m not a good person, and Kath barely knows me. “I was wondering if you could use your good side to help me with a surprise I’m planning for Amber.”
This is significant. I try not to let my emotions get the better of me, but my grin gives me away. Kath trusts me! I nod and open my mouth, but she looks over my shoulder and puts her finger to her lips. “Later.” And with that, she disappears into the back kitchen.
Big thumping boots hit the tiled floor behind me, and the scent of passion fruit envelops me.
“You forgot this, Mr. Angry Panda Chef Who Fixes Car Lights.” Ruby’s voice tickles my ear. “Bend a little, you bloody giant.”
I bend. I’m too afraid to turn, and I can’t understand why. A part of me doesn’t want to see her face and realise she’s embarrassed about dancing like a knob in front of me or doing chick impressions this week. What will she think about me fixing her light? I still remember that kiss on my cheek from last weekend, and I hope my kindness will earn me another. That kiss has made me smile as I’ve tried to sleep every night since.
Ruby pops something on my head. “We’ll have to tape it on, or it will fall off.”
I reach my hands to hold it. It’s a chef’s hat. I roll my eyes and turn. I stifle a gasp. I’m not prepared for Ruby or her costume.
“Do you like it?” She holds her hands out and twirls.
The cutest woman in the world stands in front of me, dressed in a checked green shirt, blue jeans, and an apron, with stubble drawn on her face.
“Please tell me you didn’t.” My accent comes out strong and booming.
“Please tell me you didn’t,” she repeats, husking her voice and adding the warmth to her words that my accent sometimes brings. She takes my chef’s hat off my head and puts it back on hers, although she’s cocked it to the side. “Are you sad because I’m not wearing the sexy maid costume?”
I won’t admit that truth or that I love that she’s dressed as me. I chose my costume for her, and maybe she decided on hers to get a reaction out of me.
“I’ve never been more attracted to myself,” I reply, causing her to roll her eyes. “If you’d dressed as a maid, you would have looked hot, but now you’re dressed as the sexiest person that ever lived.”
She shoves me as Kath returns. Kath stares at Ruby, throws her head back, and laughs, causing her witchy nose to fly across the room. This starts Ruby off, and soon, the two of them are gasping for breath as they scrabble on the floor, looking for Kath’s nose. I’m falling in love with this cookery school. I need to remember it’s a stopgap, but as a very sexy version of me bends over with her curvy ass in the air, I’m not sure how easy it will be to leave when the time comes.
◆◆◆
“Ruby was the best dressed,” Wicksy comments after helping the rest of the clients out of the building with all their cooked goodies. They stayed an extra hour because we were having too much fun.
“We all know what you think,” I grumble as I tidy up the candy we used for Halloween cocktails. I yank one of the eyeball-shaped sweets stuck like glue to the countertop, nearly falling back. Sweat collects under my arms, and I curse my costume for the umpteenth time.
I reach for the air con, but Kath shouts, “Don’t you dare. The rest of us have shivered most of the night because of you. Take off a layer.”
“But—”
“Take off a layer,” Ruby calls out. “You’re amongst friends, Mr. Angry Panda.”
I grumble loudly. I’ve been like a human radiator all night, but with only boxers under my costume, I don’t want to undo it. “I’ll get my change of clothes out of the van.”
“I wouldn’t,” Ruby warns, “unless you’re after a hookup.”
I lock on her stare, and my forehead hurts from how hard my eyebrows furrow. “What do you mean?” My pulse races with hope.
“A woman out there wants to get in your panda pants.” I offer my fakest grin. Shit. Of course Ruby isn’t offering to spend sexy time with me. “Do you remember the woman dressed as a sexy nurse?”
I shake my head. She sounds like my perfect woman.
“Seriously? The beautiful blonde who was confused about the cheesecake base a lot.”
“It’s not ringing any bells.”
Wicksy and Kath are silent, their heads moving back and forth like they’re at a tennis match.
“She was slim, beautiful, legs up to here.” Ruby points above her head. She’s too bloody cute. “She laughed at your jokes all night.” I cock my head to the side. “There were sixteen people here tonight. How can you not remember her? She was gorgeous.”
Because I only had eyes for you. I grit my teeth, thankful that I didn’t say that aloud. How am I this into Ruby already? Misplaced loneliness. That’s all.
“She was the one who said my cocktail class was a silly idea.”
“Oh, her. I didn’t like her. She was mean about your strawberry cocktail idea.” It was a great idea. All of Ruby’s ideas are excellent. She made this evening what it was.
Ruby palms her face, but she’s badly hiding a smile behind her hand. “Whatever. Anyway, she gave me your number as I walked her to the car park, and she hung around, hoping to see you.”
I shrug. “I’m not going out there now.”
Her smile broadens at my answer, although it quickly disappears. But I saw it. “You’d best take off a layer, then.”
“But losing a layer means standing here in my boxers.”
“Stop being such a prince. You’re bright red, and I’m not giving you mouth-to-mouth if you faint.” But the smirk she gives me suggests otherwise. Rein it in, Garett. “How about we all look away? Or you can go outside and hook up with the nurse.”
“Fine.” Ruby’s face falls, and Wicksy and Kath stare at me until I add, “Look away, then. I’d rather be semi-naked in front of you three than hook up with the mean nurse.”
Kath and Wicksy busy themselves, and Ruby turns around, but I swear she’s looking at me in the oven’s reflection as I undress. Get over yourself. She thinks you’re funny and nothing more. No woman who dresses up as you for Halloween fancies you. She thinks your grumpiness makes you the scariest thing in England.
I unzip my onesie and then yank the whole thing off. I look again at the oven door, and Ruby’s eyes widen before she suddenly looks down and back up. My boxers are tight enough to show what’s typically hidden beneath my jeans. It’s like the temperature drops suddenly by ten degrees, and I throw my head back and let my tension out with a loud sigh.
“Oh my,” Kath says, staring at me as she tidies up.
Wicksy grumbles and throws an apron at me.
But none of the reactions compare to Ruby’s. Her chest flushes beneath the V of the open checked shirt. She bites her lip, and her gaze travels down my body. She hums as her stare reaches my boxers. Suddenly, her wide eyes dart to mine. She’s ruby red.
“I’ve suddenly remembered I’ve got to be somewhere.” She stumbles through her words.
“Where? You can’t get out of clearing up that easily,” Wicksy says.
“Where have you got to be, Ruby?” I say her name slowly as I cover myself up with the apron. I want to pump a fist in the air. “I thought you were here until the climax of the evening. Surely, you can’t go until you’re satisfied. Do you need help finishing?” It’s like my whole face twinkles.
Her chest rises and falls dramatically. “I’ll tidy tomorrow.”
“Don’t worry. We’ve got this sorted,” Kath adds with a smirk. “Some nights, we just need to get off.”
I glance at Kath. She didn’t just say that.
Ruby makes a choked noise. She’s still staring at me as if all her Christmases have come at once.
“Yeah, you go and do whatever you need, Rubes.” My eyes track her body. “And make sure you do it exactly how you need to.”
I barely blink before she rushes to the door. She crashes through it and is gone. Did I push the joke too far?
“Now, let’s get this done,” Kath says, not allowing my thoughts to linger on a flushed Ruby.