Lupin the Third: The Del Monte Ruby

Chapter 18

"Ruby?"

Lupin glanced in the direction that she was looking, only to see the trolley roll by. What had her so entranced? Lupin didn't think it was the trolley. Something behind it, perhaps? But when it passed, there was nothing – at least nothing Lupin could see.

"Hey... Whatcha lookin' at, RuRu?"

"Huh?" Ruby shook her head, as though emerging from a daydream. "Uh, sorry. I'm not sure. I just... thought I saw something. But it's nothing. C'mon!"

She took his hand in hers and tugged him down the street towards the cafe. "You said you were hungry, and I wanna try some real espresso!"

Such youthful energy in a body that was all-woman... and fully legal! She exuded an energy that was incredible; invigorating. Arousing, even. Ruby was simultaneously youthful and sexy, and Lupin was certain that she had no self-awareness as far as this was concerned. It kept him wondering just when he might have another chance at her like he had that morning.

But one thing was definite.

Lupin wanted Ruby.

Butfor now, coffee and chow.

The cafe was much like the town itself; quaint. It was warm with earthy tones, and dimly lit, and the door gave a pleasant jingle as they entered. The smell of several different flavors of coffee and steamed milk reached their nostrils like a lover's caress. Ruby's excitement was palpable.

"I've only ever had regular coffee, just black or with cream and sugar," she said conversationally. "That's all Antony ever drank, and so that's all that was ever in the house. I'm looking forward to trying real espresso for the first time."

Lupin rolled his eyes. "Jeez. The creep can't even Italian right. Espresso is literally Italian!"

Ruby laughed so hard that the patrons turned their heads towards her. "Haha! Can't even Italian right! Good one! Tony always said espresso is bad for the heart. Guess he had an uncle or grandfather or someone who died of heart stuff. So, Antony just drinks straight black coffee – ya know, the same color as his heart – which, with any luck, will go the same way as Grandpa or Uncle Del Monte's," she added bitterly.

"Far too lenient a fate for that jerk," Lupin muttered under his breath.

Ruby tugged at Lupin's arm, which made him glance down at her. In so doing, he caught an unintentional view straight down her cleavage. "What do you think I should get, Lu?"

Though he enjoyed the view from this angle, Lupin reluctantly pulled from her grasp and waved his hands in a sweeping motion across the menu board. "Welcome to the fanciful world of caffeine, dear RuRu! There are so many options. It all depends on what you're looking for. There's lattes, cappuccinos, mochas, straight espressos, frappes, iced coffees, cold brews... The wonderful world of coffee is never ending!"

"Oh man, it's going to be really hard to choose."

The barista was mildly exasperated with Ruby's dithering, but was courteous enough to conceal it behind a polite smile as Lupin helped Ruby decide. Though it might have been Lupin's presence – and his new look – which encouraged the barista's patience. She was quite smitten with him; the thief's natural charisma was simply too much for the woman to resist. But for once, Lupin wasn't even trying to flirt, as he was distracted with assisting Ruby in her decision. In in the end, Ruby decided on a 'dirty' chai latte, and they took their drinks and food to a booth in the corner.

"It's the hair," Ruby explained at the look of smug bafflement on Lupin's face over the barista's flirtations. "Ladies like a guy who looks like he's just rolled out of bed. It's sexy. The sideburns are too old fashioned – for some," she added hastily. "I think they're cute."