One Hundred Humbugs (Aspen Cove #25)

Chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Ruby closed the garage door behind them, the coziness of the house a welcome relief after tending to the goats. The morning’s excitement with Cade’s visit and the delivery had left her stomach growling. She was struck by how naturally she’d adapted to this new routine, a stark contrast to her life in Chicago just a week ago.

“I don’t know about you,” she said, turning to Becket, “but I’m starving. We never got around to breakfast. How about I make us something?”

Becket’s eyes lit up, and a spark ignited in Ruby at his boyish grin. “Breakfast sounds amazing. What can I do to help?”

Ruby was about to answer when a loud crash from the garage made them both jump. They exchanged alarmed glances before rushing back to the door. The concern in Becket’s eyes mirrored her own, and a surge of protectiveness rose in Ruby for the goats she had come to care for in such a short time.

“Houdini,” they said in unison, already knowing the culprit.

The scene that greeted them was one of utter chaos. Somehow, Houdini had managed to knock over a stack of boxes, scattering their contents across the floor. The other goats were taking full advantage of the situation, nibbling on papers and investigating the newly exposed treasures.

“Oh no,” Ruby groaned, taking in the mess. “Uncle Peter’s stuff. I hadn’t sorted through these boxes yet.” A pang of guilt hit her as she realized how much of her uncle’s life she’d been planning to simply pack away and sell.

Becket was already moving, shooing goats away from the debris. “Come on, let’s get this cleaned up before they eat something they shouldn’t.”

As they worked to contain the chaos, laughter escaped Ruby at the absurdity of it all. Here she was, in her deceased uncle’s garage, rescuing his belongings from a group of goats. The laughter bubbled up from somewhere deep inside her, a release of tension she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

“What’s so funny?” Becket asked as he wrestled a soggy newspaper away from one of the smaller goats.

“All of this.” Ruby gestured around them, her eyes dancing with mirth. “A week ago, I was sitting in my apartment in Chicago, wondering how I was going to pay my rent. Now I’m here, playing goat rodeo with a bunch of escaped farm animals and a sexy stranger.”

The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. Ruby’s cheeks heated as Becket stared at her. She’d been trying so hard to keep her growing attraction to him under wraps, and now she’d gone and blurted it out like a teenager with a crush.

“Sexy stranger, huh?” he said, a teasing look in his eye that made Ruby’s heart skip a beat.

Ruby opened her mouth to backpedal, but was saved by Daisy, who chose that moment to let out a loud bleat. Grateful for the distraction, Ruby turned her attention to the pregnant goat.

“Hey there, Daisy,” she said, approaching the animal. “How are you feeling, mama?”

As she stroked Daisy’s side, feeling the slight movements of the kid inside, Ruby was struck by a wave of emotion. She’d never considered herself an animal person, but there was something about these goats, about Daisy in particular, that touched her heart. The idea of leaving them when she sold the house seemed unbearable.

“She likes you,” Becket said, coming to stand beside her. His proximity sent a shiver down Ruby’s spine that had nothing to do with the cold.

“Yeah, well, the feeling’s mutual,” Ruby admitted, surprised by the thickness in her voice. “I never thought I’d say this, but I’m going to miss these guys when...” She trailed off, uncertain.

When what? When she sold the house and left? The thought, which had seemed so certain just days ago, now filled her with an unexpected sadness. Ruby pushed the feeling aside, focusing instead on the task at hand.

As they continued to sort through the scattered items, a glossy magazine caught Ruby’s eye. She picked it up, her eyes widening as she realized what she was holding.

“Um, Becket?” she called out, her voice full of disbelief. “I think I just found Uncle Peter’s dirty little secret.”

Becket made his way over, his eyebrows rising as he saw the Playboy magazine in Ruby’s hands. “Well,” he said, clearing his throat, “I guess your uncle was a man of ... varied interests.”

Ruby snorted, already digging through the box for more. “Varied is one word for it. Holy cow, there must be dozens of these. And look at the dates! Some of them go way back.”

As they continued to sort through the magazines, Ruby’s mind began to race. She’d heard stories about vintage magazines being worth money. Could these be valuable? Hope ignited in her chest.

“Becket,” she said, an idea forming, “do you think these could be worth something? I mean, they’re in good condition, and some of them are old...”

Becket nodded thoughtfully. “It’s possible. Collectors pay good money for vintage magazines, especially if they’re rare issues. We’d need to do some research to be sure, but...” He trailed off. “Ruby, this could be the solution to your decoration problem.”

Excitement coursed through Ruby’s veins. This could be it—the answer to her promise to replace the town’s Christmas decorations. She looked up at Becket, finding his eyes already on her, filled with something that made her breath catch in her throat.

They just stared at each other, the air between them charged with unspoken words and growing tension. Ruby leaned in, drawn by some invisible force.

A loud sneeze from Houdini broke the spell. Ruby blinked, suddenly aware of how close she and Becket had gotten. She cleared her throat, taking a step back, her heart pounding.

“Right,” she said, her voice breathless. “We should, um, finish cleaning up. And then maybe we can start researching these magazines?”

Becket nodded, a slight flush on his cheeks. “Yeah, good idea. I’ll take care of the goats if you want to gather up the goods.”

Once the garage was under control, Ruby quickly scrambled some eggs and made toast. They ate in a hurry, their conversation circling back to the newly unearthed Playboy collection. Between bites, Ruby found herself sneaking glances at Becket, surprised at how easily she felt at home around him, despite barely knowing him.

After breakfast, they gathered Uncle Peter’s Playboy collection and brought it into the living room. As Ruby spread the magazines out on the coffee table, she realized that she wasn’t just solving a problem for the town. She was, perhaps, finding a place for herself in this wonderful community. The thought both excited and terrified her.

The rest of the day passed in a flurry of activity. Ruby and Becket set up a makeshift research station, poring over collector websites on Ruby’s laptop while sorting through the magazines. She enjoyed the easy camaraderie between them, the way they worked together seamlessly as if they’d known each other for years.

As evening fell, they sat surrounded by stacks of organized Playboys , a notepad filled with potential values and buyer contacts. Ruby leaned back on the couch, stretching her arms above her head, feeling a sense of accomplishment she hadn’t experienced in a long time.

“I can’t believe it,” she said, a note of wonder in her voice. “If these estimates are right, we could have enough to replace all the decorations and then some.”

Becket nodded, looking equally amazed. “Your uncle’s, uh, hobby might just save Christmas for Aspen Cove.”

Ruby laughed, the sound full and genuine. “Who would have thought? I come here to sell a house and end up saving Christmas with vintage porn.”

Their laughter mingled in the warm air of the living room, and as Ruby looked at Becket, his eyes crinkled with mirth, a wave of affection washed over her. Without thinking, she reached out and placed her hand over his, marveling at how natural it felt.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “For everything. I don’t know what I would have done without you these past few days.”

Becket’s hand reached for hers, intertwining their fingers. The contact sent a shiver up Ruby’s arm. “You’ve given me and my goats a home when we needed it most.”

The air between them grew thick with unspoken words and restrained desire. Ruby’s gaze dropped to Becket’s lips, her breath catching as he moved closer. The space between them shrank with agonizing slowness, Ruby’s heart pounding harder with every passing second.

Just as their lips were about to meet, a loud sound from the garage shattered the moment. They jumped apart, both laughing nervously, the tension broken but not forgotten.

“I better go check on them,” Becket said, running a hand through his hair. Ruby found the gesture endearing.

Ruby nodded, trying to ignore the disappointment settling in her chest. “Yeah, of course. I’ll ... I’ll start on dinner?”

As Becket headed out to the garage, Ruby leaned back on the couch, her heart racing. She touched her fingers to her lips, imagining what it would feel like to kiss Becket.

With a sigh, she got up and headed to the kitchen, her mind swirling with thoughts of goats, Playboys , and a certain handsome goat farmer who was becoming much more than just a sexy stranger.