Chapter Seven

Leaning an elbow on the beige marble counter separating them roth smiled at her. His sweet, seductive smile helped melt the icy mood she'd been in, up until that point - slightly. "So, come on, tell me what's bothering you? Where’s that beautiful smile you usually present me with?” He had a warm yet concerned look on his face.

“Oh I got it! Your boss is being a jerk?" he teased lightly.

A smile began to lift the corners of Ruby's lips for the first time that day as she shook her head. "No."

He raised an inquisitive brow at her. "Oh I definitely got it now. Boyfriend troubles, right?"

Her smile widened. "Hardly." Grabbing a large paper cup from the dispenser she began to pour his coffee.

"The usual?" she asked, ignoring his question. She didn't want to be spilling her financial woes to customers - not even Roth, And as for her non-existent love life - she really didn't want to be spilling that to him.

Roth nodded. “Okay I’m done guessing,” he gave a little chuckle. “Then tell me? What's wrong?"

Ruby secured the plastic lid onto the cup and sighed, sliding the cup across the counter to him. Crossing her arms over her chest, she leaned her hip against the counter and caught his gaze. "Do you really want to know or are you just being polite?"

Damn, he looks good today. The top button of his off-white shirt was undone. His black satin tie hung loosely around his neck. He looked as though he could have just walked off the pages of 'GQ magazine.' He was, without a doubt, one of the hottest men she'd ever met. His easygoing demeanour and sinfully sexy smile complimented his good looks perfectly. Does he even know how hot he is? She found herself wondering, Of course he does... How could he not?

Roth chuckled. "I really want to know. Wouldn't have asked if I didn't."

Ruby huffed. "Well, the problem is that I just can't catch a break."

"Can't catch a break?" Grabbing a bill from his trousers pocket he passed it to her as he accepted the coffee. "Why do you say that?"

Accepting the payment she rang in his total and proceeded to give him his change. When she offered it to him, as usual, he waved it off so she dropped it into her tip jar. The tip equalled roughly three times the cost of the coffee; he was easily the best tipper to walk through the doors of the coffee shop.

"Well, I'm halfway through college and there is no way I'm going to afford to be able to go back next year. I can barely pay my bills even with all the overtime I put in this place. Like, take this week for instance. I have a choice... do I pay my electricity or my telephone bill?"

Roth nodded appearing grim, but amusement gleamed in his eyes as she continued on. All of a sudden the dam broke and the need to purge her grievances was too overwhelming so she continued her rant, the words falling from her lips like verbal diarrhoea that she was helpless to stop. "So that means I'm stuck here. At the shitty dead end job for another year. Hell, maybe even the rest of my life! I'm twenty-three years old and facing a lifetime of being the donut girl. It wouldn't even be so bad if I had a boyfriend, or hell, got laid once in a while. But no. None of that either. The only men I seem to attract are criminals, married men or unemployed losers." Ruby huffed and shook her head in defeat. "Just can't catch a break..."

Nodding, a smile spread across Roth's lips as he raised a brow at her. "Well as far as the telephone and electricity issues go I might be able to help you there."

Frowning, Ruby caught his eyes. Her heart stopping for a moment and her face flushed. Oh-my-God. She groaned inwardly. Now he thinks I'm some sex starved charity case. She prayed for death at that moment. Though looking at him, his dark eyes burrowing into hers, she knew she'd have told him anything he wanted to know. Somehow she doubted many women could resist answering any questions or fulfilling any request he may send their way.

Feeling the heat rush up to her cheeks, Ruby shook her head. "No. No, I wasn't implying or hinting. I-"

Roth's grin widened. "So you don't want a better job?'' He shrugged, "Or at least a better paying job. Not sure if I would say better."

"W-well. No, I do. I mean, I didn't mean to be looking for handouts. I just-"

"Can you cook?" Roth asked laughing outright as he reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket and producing a business card which he passed to her.