One Hundred Humbugs (Aspen Cove #25)

Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Becket grunted as he heaved another shovelful of snow from the driveway. The morning air was crisp and biting, his breath forming small clouds with each exhale. He’d been at it for over an hour, first cleaning up after the goats in the garage, then tackling the snow-covered walkways.

As he worked, his mind wandered to Ruby. He’d heard her moving around the house early this morning, the soft padding of her footsteps and the gentle click of her laptop keys. Whatever she was up to, it had her excited enough to forgo sleep.

Becket realized how attuned he’d become to Ruby’s presence in such a short time. The way she hummed absently while lost in thought, the scent of her shampoo lingering in the hallway, her laughter echoing through the house—all of it had become as familiar and necessary to him as breathing.

He was so lost in his thoughts that he almost missed the creak of the front door opening.

“Becket!” Ruby called out, her voice brimming with excitement. “Come quick! I’ve got something to show you! ”

Propping his shovel against the porch railing, Becket jogged towards the house, his heart racing—though whether from the exertion or the thrill in Ruby’s voice, he couldn’t be sure. Stamping the snow from his boots, he stepped inside, instantly greeted by the comforting scent of coffee and something distinctly Ruby.

He found her in the living room, laptop open and a triumphant grin on her face. Her hair was mussed, and Becket had to resist the urge to run his fingers through it. Instead, he focused on the excitement radiating from her eyes.

“What’s got you so worked up this early?” he asked.

Ruby’s grin widened. “I’ve been up all night working on this,” she said, turning the laptop towards him. “Take a look.”

Becket leaned in, his eyes widening as he took in the eBay listing on the screen. “You did all this overnight?”

Ruby nodded, practically bouncing with excitement. “I photographed and cataloged every single issue. My uncle had some seriously rare editions. There’s one from 1953 that’s apparently worth a small fortune on its own! It features Marilyn Monroe.”

Becket shook his head in amazement. “Ruby, this is incredible. You must be exhausted.”

She waved off his concern. “I’m running on pure adrenaline right now. Besides, this could be our chance to help the town. It’s worth losing a little sleep over.”

As they scrolled through the listing together, Becket was drawn in by Ruby’s enthusiasm. Her dedication to helping Aspen Cove, a place she’d only just come to know, was just one of the many things he admired about her. He found himself stealing glances as she spoke, captivated by the way her eyes lit up and her hands moved animatedly. “So, what now?” he asked, leaning against the desk.

“Now, we wait,” she said. “And hope that collectors are early risers.”

The next few hours were a lesson in patience. They tried to distract themselves, Becket insisting that Ruby eat something and Ruby forcing Becket to take a break from his chores, but they both found their eyes drawn back to the laptop screen every few minutes.

“This is ridiculous,” Ruby laughed after catching herself refreshing the page for the hundredth time. “We’re acting like we’re waiting for lottery results.”

Becket moved to stand behind her chair. “Well, in a way, we are. This could change everything for you.”

Just as the words left his mouth, a notification pinged on the laptop. They both froze, eyes locked on the screen.

“Is that...?” Becket started.

Ruby nodded, her hand shaking as she moved the mouse. “It’s an offer. A big one.”

The next hour passed in a blur of emails and phone calls. The buyer, a collector from New York, was eager to secure the entire collection. By the time they hung up the phone, the deal was done. The payment had been transferred, and all that was left was to package and ship the magazines.

“I can’t believe it,” Ruby said, her voice filled with wonder. “We did it, Becket. We did it!”

Without thinking, Becket pulled her into a hug. Ruby stiffened, then melted into his embrace. As they stood there, her body pressed against his, Becket knew he couldn’t fight his feelings any longer.

He pulled back, his hands coming to rest on Ruby’s shoulders. Their eyes met, and the world seemed to stop spinning.

“Ruby,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “I...”

But words failed him. Instead, he leaned in, giving her time to pull away if she wanted. But Ruby met him halfway, her lips pressing against his in a kiss that set every nerve ending on fire.

It was soft at first, tentative, but deepened as days of pent-up longing and attraction poured out. Becket’s hand cupped Ruby’s cheek, while hers tangled in his hair. He pulled her closer, eliminating any space between them, reveling in the feel of her body against his.

Ruby’s lips parted on a sigh, and Becket took the invitation, deepening the kiss. She tasted of coffee and something sweet, and Becket knew in that moment that he would never get enough of her. His hand slid down to the small of her back, pressing her even closer as Ruby’s fingers tightened in his hair.

The kiss seemed to last forever and end too soon all at once. When they broke apart, both breathless, Becket rested his forehead against Ruby’s.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for a while now,” he admitted, his voice husky.

Ruby laughed, her eyes shining. “Me too. I was beginning to think you’d never make a move.”

Becket grinned, feeling lighter than he had in years. “Well, I aim to make up for lost time.”

He leaned in for another kiss, but a noise from the garage cut him off. They both burst into laughter.

“I swear, those goats have the worst timing,” Ruby said, shaking her head.

Becket stepped back, though reluctantly. “I’ll go see what they’re up to. But we’re not done here,” he added with a wink that made Ruby’s cheeks flush.

As he tended to the goats, Becket’s mind was already racing with plans. With the money from the Playboy sale, they could replace the town’s decorations and make them even better. He found himself imagining future Christmases in Aspen Cove, with Ruby by his side. The thought filled him with a warmth that had nothing to do with the afternoon sun.

When he returned to the house, he found Ruby on the phone, discussing rush shipping for new decorations.

“Yes, overnight delivery would be perfect,” she was saying. “We need them as soon as possible.”

As she hung up, Becket admired her resolve. In just a few short days, she’d gone from a reluctant house-sitter to the town’s Christmas savior.

“So,” he said, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her against him. “What’s the plan?”

Ruby leaned back into him, her voice filled with excitement. “What if we surprised the town? Do you think we could decorate while everyone’s asleep, and they wake up to a winter wonderland?”

Becket raised an eyebrow. “So, you’re suggesting a stealth operation? Sneak in under cover of darkness and transform the place overnight?”

Ruby grinned, even if he couldn’t see it. “Do you think we can pull it off?”

“Pull it off?” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I think we’ll make the best midnight decorators this town has ever seen.”

She gave a contented sigh, excitement humming between them. “It’ll be like Christmas magic, but with more ladders and less Santa. ”

“Sounds like a plan,” he said, already imagining how the town would react. “Just say the word, and I’ll gather supplies and keep the goats occupied.”

Ruby laughed, leaning up to kiss him again, her lips soft and sweet. “It’s a deal. Let’s make Aspen Cove sparkle.”