He rubbed her back. “You are but be careful. Do you want me to bring you a coffee in bed?”
Ruby lifted her head to look him in the eyes. “Maybe. I wanted to see that the dogs were okay. They seem to have you organized.”
A scurry of feet sounded on the tiled floor as they came running. “Hey, babies. How are you all?”
She leaned down and patted them but kept one arm around Simon. When she started to falter and gripped him harder, he walked her back to bed.
“Take it easy again today and sleep it off. I’ll give you coffee while I feed the beasts and then get you breakfast, okay?”
“Thanks. I really do appreciate it, Simon. You didn’t have to look after me.”
“Yeah, I did.” He tucked her in and leaned down. “How’s the throat feeling? I can still hear the croak in your voice. Has your headache gone?”
“Still thumping away but it’s not making me feel as sick. My throat is pretty sore but not as bad as yesterday. And I will sleep again today. I doubt I could do much more even if I wanted to.” She rubbed her throat, the talking taking its toll.
“Right. Stay here and I’ll go and make coffee.” He left her bedroom with a bounce in his step. His girl was getting better. And she was his girl. He could feel the change between them. A change he never thought would come.
He put the coffee pot on then lined up the dogs bowls and metered out their allowance according to the plan attached to the refrigerator. Ruby was organized and with so many animals coming in and out of her life, she’d have to be. Getting her to slow down at the shelter would be a major step but he had plans. Hopefully ones that she would be on board with once he’d had a chance to put them to her.
Once the dogs were fed, he poured two mugs of coffee and headed into her room. She lay with her eyes closed, a small smile on her lips. He hoped he had something to do with that look.
“Coffee for you.” Simon placed it on her bedside table and pulled up the chair to the end of the bed. He sat back with a sigh.
“Tough night?”
“I’ve slept in worse places than your couch.”
Ruby wriggled up and reached for her cup. “I appreciate you looking after me.”
A ridiculous wave of pleasure rolled over him. “It was the least I could do. Besides, the dogs needed someone as well.”
She sipped her coffee and her shoulders slumped. “That’s good. I think the reason I have half the headache I do is lack of coffee these last couple of days.”
“Quite possibly. How is the throat feeling now?”
She stroked her neck. “Sore but doable. I don’t think I’ll be eating toast any time soon but I can swallow without feeling like I have hot needles going down.” She sipped her coffee again and smiled at him over the rim of the cup.
“What?”
“Nothing. I just remembered the last time I was sick and you looked after me then too.”
It’d been worse then. Ruby had picked up a virus that had left her vomiting for days. He’d almost been ready to take her to the hospital but she’d protested and cried so he’d given her one more day to pick up and get better. Luckily she had.
“That was pretty rough. Just as well you don’t get sick often ’cause when you do, you go downhill fast.”
She shrugged. “I’m too healthy to get sick all the time.”
“You run yourself into the ground and that’s why it hits you so hard. But I’m not here to argue with you. I just want to see you get healthy again.”
“Keen for the rest of those dates, Simon?” She tilted her head sideways and stared at him.
“As keen as I am for you to get better. I love spending time with you, Ruby.” He paused, gazing into her eyes. Tension sparked between them. How was she so beautiful even when sick?
“I like spending time with you too.” She looked away, breaking the connection. She wasn’t ready yet, he guessed. Okay.
“Mom can’t wait to see you again. She’s missed you.”
“I’ve missed her too. Give me another couple of days and we can make a dinner date.” She put her cup down and opened the drawer, rummaged around for a hair tie and pulled her mass of curls up into a messy knot. “That’s better. I felt like a scarecrow.”
“I think you look amazing. Tired and sick but still amazing.”
“You say the sweetest things, Simon. Can we leave the ‘us’ talk until I feel stronger please?”
“We can do anything you want. I’m happy that you’re even prepared to do it after I stuffed up so bad.”
“Yeah, well. I can only hold a grudge for so long.” She smiled when he lifted Ziggy up onto the bed. The other dogs hurried in and all vied for her attention. Simon lifted up Honey, the old Maltese cross up as well and she huddled against Ruby’s legs. “My babies. Simon has been so good to you. I can tell.”
“They’re a great bunch. Now, Carly told me to pass on her strict instructions for you not to worry. She’s managing fine. Said something about one of the volunteers from the kennels side having great managerial skills and being keen to learn more. She wanted to bring her up to train so now was the perfect time to do that.”
“Lilly. Yes, we spoke about her. I like her a lot.” She lay back on the pillows, tired already. “I know I don’t need to worry but I will anyway.”
“I know. Let me get you something light to eat and then you can sleep again while I head to the office and deal with a few things.”
By the time he’d tidied up and taken the dogs for another play outside, Ruby was fast asleep. He got in his car and headed into town to deal with the details the lab guys had come up with regarding their latest program.
Tyler met him at the lift, hands sliding down his legs repeatedly as if he was stressed out. “Man, you’ll never guess what happened?”
Simon held up his hands hoping it wasn’t problems with the latest program from the team downstairs. “What?”
“I got the house. Holy shit, do you know how much that cost me?”
Simon grinned and threw his arms around his best friend, whooping in delight. “I don’t care how much. We’re going to be neighbors. That’s all I care about.”
Tyler shuddered. “I’m freaking out, Simon. Really freaking out.”
Simon grabbed his arm and dragged him into the basement, shutting the door. “Listen to you. There’s nothing to freak out about. You have a house next door to me. A wise investment.”
“But it was so much money.” Tyler’s face was pale. “I’ve never spent that much before in one hit.”
“Seriously, Tyler. Get a hold of yourself. It’s about time you spent some of your money. Leaving it sitting in the bank is only getting you a bigger tax bill all the time. We worked freaking hard for that money. Enjoy it.”
Tyler ran a hand through his messy locks and groaned. “I don’t know how to let go of the fear. What if we lose it all tomorrow?”
Simon shrugged. “So what? We’ll start again. We’ve done it once; we can repeat that.”
“I don’t know.” He paced the office. “Do you really think I’ve done the right thing?”
“Yes, I do. Look at our past. In just over five years we’ve built on our initial program. We’re in every developed country in the world. NGO’s use our software free of charge to help countries still fighting for progress. Schools use it at hugely reduced rates and we give scholarships to kids who deserve them no matter their background. Our software is used in every rocket launch, every satellite floating around the earth. What could possibly go wrong?”
The world would need to end for them to lose everything. Simon lowered his voice understanding the fear but wanted to help his friend get past it. “Tyler, you need to let it go. Understand that nobody is going to come and take this all away from you. What you and your mom went through was tough, but you both survived. We will too. We own it, pal—we invented it. It’s ours unless we give it all away.”
Tyler grinned, a crooked smile that reminded Simon of the younger version of his
best friend. “I guess. It’s just, you know, freaking me out.”
“I get it, man. But you need to remember who you are and what you’ve achieved in the last few years. You can afford to buy what you want without worrying.”
Tyler sighed and straightened his shoulders, nodding. “Yeah. I do. I really do.”
When Simon walked in the door of her house later that day, he found Ruby curled up on the couch watching the television. “Hey, how are you?”
“I’m good. Much better I think.”
He put his keys and phone on the table and came over to sit on the edge of the couch. Ziggy immediately pawed at his leg to be picked up.
“That little lady has you wrapped around her paw.”
He smiled and stroked the silky black head. “She’s allowed. I’d do anything for this little girl because she’s had a hard time and she’s so damned cute. More to the point, what can I do for you?”
Ruby smiled at him. “I actually think you’ve gone above and while looking after me so far. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I hate seeing you ill.”
She screwed up her face. “I hate being sick too.” She shuddered. “But now I’m on the road to recovery and I have you to thank for that.”
He could hear a but coming on.
“You don’t need to sleep on the couch tonight, Simon.”
* * *
She’d said it wrong, judging by the look of desire in his eyes. A glint, a hint of a smile creased his lips.
“You can go home to your own place is what I meant. I’ll be fine.”
He blinked. “Are you sure? I don’t mind staying again. I’d hate for you to have a relapse and a tumble.”
Ruby smiled. “I’ll be fine. I feel so much better now. A little weak and shaky but I don’t want to vomit, my head feels like it belongs to me at long last and I’m starving. All good signs, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, I guess. But I’m not going until I’ve walked the dogs and fed you dinner.”
She was about to disagree when he held up his finger.
“And I’ll be here in the morning before work to take the dogs for a quick walk to the park so you can relax again tomorrow. Agreed?”
He was being so kind and sensible. She couldn’t argue with that. “Agreed.”
“Right then. What do you want for dinner? I can call and get anything you desire delivered.”
Ruby almost protested but held her tongue. Everyone got food delivered these days. It wasn’t like he was throwing money around. Uber Eats was so common it was ridiculous to even think he was showing off.
“Is there any of your mom’s chicken soup left? I could really go that with some crusty bread dunked until it’s soft and mushy.”
Simon gave her the cutest grin. It reminded her of the boy she’d first met when they were both still in high school. Fresh faced, happy and incredibly smart. She’d fallen for him back then and not much had changed.
“Soup yes, bread, no. But I can run down to the bakery on the corner. I’ll take the dogs for a walk and get some.” At the word ‘walk,’ the dogs started whining and headed to the door.
“Thank you.”
When Simon left with her brood of beasts on leads for a walk, she lay back and pondered their future. She wanted to discuss it with him. He was open to them being together again—he’d said he wanted her still. But Ruby worried that his money would come between them. Not that she cared either way if he had any or not. More the perception that she was after him for his money.
She flicked through channels, not liking anything she saw. Ruby threw the blankets off and headed for the bathroom. She needed a shower to clear her head. It was his money that came between them in the first place. How was she going to make sure that didn’t happen again?
She felt silly thinking like that but the bitterness that came with their breakup was hard to forget. Her own fault, she got that. Nobody had ever said she was after him for the money. They’d met when they were both poor so it wasn’t a good reason to hold back.
No, it was more her doubting herself. That now she was close to getting back with him, he might realize that she wasn’t the girl he’d dreamed about all these years. That she would be a disappointment to him.
Chapter 17
“You don’t need to be nervous. You’ve known them for years.” Simon pulled up in front of an old restored Victorian he’d bought for his parents.
Ruby smoothed her hands over her dress and glared at him. “Guys know nothing. Seriously, Simon. I haven’t seen them for years. I have no idea what they think of me these days.”
He put his hand out and touched her arm. “Ruby, I’m the one they were pissed at, not you. Mom’s been at me for years to try and fix things between us. Dad didn’t want to forgive me for being so damned stupid. He refused to talk to me for weeks apart from a grunt and a groan.”
“So why didn’t you listen to your mom then?”
He had and they both knew it. She ignored him but now wasn’t the time to remind her. “Because I figured that you needed space to think things through. I wanted to come riding in on a white horse and take you away but I figured you’d hate me for that kind of treatment.” He shrugged. “I hoped that time would throw an opportunity my way. Some little lifebuoy that would bring me back to you. The fundraiser was it.”
She stared at him, ready to give him a piece of her mind when the door opened and his mom came hurrying down the path toward the car.
“Ruby. How wonderful to see you.” She reached the car and grabbed the door handle.
Simon winked and whispered. “She means well. I think she really missed you.”
The door was yanked open and Mrs. Benson reached in, pulling Ruby into her arms in an awkward hug.
“Mom, let her out of the car before you squeeze her to death.”
“Sorry.” She wiped at her eyes. “I’m just so excited to see you, Ruby. Missed my girl so much.”
Ruby got out and she was pulled into her embrace again, her eyes watering with emotion. “I’ve missed you too.”
Once they’d made up for lost time, Simon took her arm and guided her up the path to the house where his father stood waiting at the door.
“Ruby. It’s good to see you again.” He gave her a more sedate hug. “I can’t believe it’s taken Simon so long to bring you back. Boy needs a lesson in looking after his lady if you ask me.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Simon rolled his eyes at Ruby and she laughed.
“It’s good to see you again, Mr. Benson”
“Call us Bob and Margaret. You’re not a teenager anymore.” He led the way into the lounge.
“This is a lovely house. Such pretty furnishings, Margaret.”
“We’ve been slowly finding pieces that fit the period. When Simon bought us the house, we didn’t know how it was going to turn out. All our furniture was chain-store fashion and didn’t really suit the style.” She paused for breath.
“You’ve chosen some lovely pieces.” Ruby ran a hand over the back of a spindle chair, loving the curved shape of it and the dark glossy wood.
Margaret smiled. “Bob fixed up that one. It was in pieces when we found it. He set up a workshop in the basement because that’s what he’s always wanted to do and it’s been our hobby to restore pieces we find when we’re out and about. It’s fun working together on projects.”
“Well, you’re doing a lovely job.” Ruby ran her hand over the polished surface of an old cabinet topped with family photos. She noticed one of her, Simon and Tyler from school. A lump of emotion rose in her throat.
Bob spoke up. “Can I get you a drink, Ruby?”
“Sure.” She cleared her throat. “Can I have a beer please?”
“Of course. Simon, same for you? Marg, a glass of wine?”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Come and sit down, Ruby, and tell us about your shelter. I hear you’re doing wonderful work these days. Manager now, Simon tells me.”
Ruby took a seat n
ext to Margaret and told her all about the shelter and how well they were doing rescuing dogs from local pounds and kill shelters as well as those surrendered directly to them.
* * *
During dinner, Simon watched Ruby relax as they all got back onto familiar ground and she slotted back into the old way they behaved around his parents.
“It must be so nice having a new place for your shelter that you’re not going to lose,” said Simon’s father. “I couldn’t imagine having that over your head all of the time. Hard enough dealing with daily issues, I would’ve thought.”
“No, it was pretty rough. I mean, it’s not that I blame our old landlord. He owned the land and had every right to raise the rent as he saw fit. Sadly, it didn’t make things easy for us.” She took a sip of her beer, marveling at how their lives had changed in such a short time.
“I can imagine. Well now you don’t have to give it another thought. Such a generous man, Graham. He was always a lovely lad growing up.” His father smiled at Ruby and his gaze met Simon’s before he gave a brief wink. Obviously he thought Simon had this all sorted out. Little did he know that they were still on rocky ground. There were still things he hadn’t told her and he needed to rectify that.
“When he told us what he had planned, I was thrilled to bits.” Margaret smiled and passed the salad encouraging Ruby to eat up. “You’re still a little pale after being ill. Simon needs to look after you.”
“I’m sure Ruby can look after herself, Mom.” He didn’t blame her for fussing because he’d do the same thing given the chance.
“I know but I like the two of you together.” His mom put a hand on Ruby’s arm. “I was so happy when Simon told me he’d let Graham buy that land for you. He’s been so stubborn about helping you himself in case you got upset. Wanted to let you build the shelter on your own without interfering. I’m glad to see that everything is working out.”
“What do you mean? Simon used to own that land?”
His dad glanced over at him, a look of concern in his eyes. “You didn’t tell Ruby, son? Oh dear, you may have spoken out of turn, Marg.”
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