Every Beauty Deserves a Beast

Chapter 8

Chapter eight

I bit into another warm white chocolate and strawberry muffin moaning when the white chocolate melted on my tongue and I could swear I died and ended up in muffin heaven. Sandy was an amazing baker, and I assume cook, and I eyed the plate of different flavoured muffins, but took my time with this one so I didn’t look greedy.

“These are delicious Sandy” I complimented her after swallowing a bite of pure heaven.

“God I miss these” Ray mumbled with his mouth full and grabbing another muffin. Sandy tutted him and smacked the back of his hand with her wooden spoon.

“I taught you better than that Rayray” she threw him an amused stare, “Don’t talk with your mouth full” Ray swallowed and grinned childishly. I couldn’t help but admire the sharp contours of his face and wait in anticipation for his dimples to peek through his cheeks everytime he chewed or spoke. “I’m so happy you came by Shell! I wanted to see how you were”

My heart constricted at how kind this woman was and I smiled warmly at her. “I was going to come by today even if I didn’t bump into Ray this morning. I needed to bring your clothes back” I leaned down to snatch up my bag and eased Sandy’s clean clothes out before showing her.

“Oh thank you! I completely forgot about these” Sandy walked around and I handed her the clothes. She excused herself and soon it was just Ray, Tom and myself sitting around the kitchen bench.

I wasn’t sure if it was just me, but the silence was a little deafening and the short distance between Ray’s arm and mine seemed to be electrified. What the hell was this feeling? It was so odd. I eyed the muffins again but decided to pass and instead spread some butter and jam on a croissant before biting into the soft bread.

Despite the booming business with the gym, I hadn’t been able to spare much money for small luxuries like croissants and delicious tasting muffins. The money made from the gym went towards salaries and keeping everything spick and speck. The majority of the equipment was only a few months old and anything that wasn’t was on the way to being replaced. I barely had money to do a big grocery shop let alone hire someone to fix up the house.

I would’ve been more than happy to play Miss Fix-It but I knew jack all about fixing a leaky roof and sealing cracks. I noticed Ray rub at his leg again and I felt guilt bubbling inside again. “Is your leg okay Ray?”

He turned his light brown eyes, the colour of autumn leaves, to me and smiled. “Yeah, a bit stiff and sore but nothing I can’t live through”

Across the counter Tom snorted, “Bro, this is you living through it. You look like an old man when you walk. Get something done about it or suck it up man, I want you back at the base as soon as you can! The newbies were driving me nuts man!” Ray just rolled his eyes.

“I know a bit of remedial massage. I could help you out with it? It could help with the scar tissue as well” I nodded down at his muscled thigh.

“Damn! If I knew you were offering massages I’d have injured my groin” Tom joked while winking.

I saw Ray stiffen and threw Tom a menacing look. Tom smirked and shrugged his shoulders before going back to stuff another muffin into his mouth. Ray turned to me and offered me an apologetic smile. “Uh... It’s okay Beauty. You don’t have to, besides I’d normally have to pay for something like that”

I rolled my eyes. “Look, I’m feeling guilty okay? The swimming today, you having to carry me when I was unconscious... let’s just call this me paying you back”

He was already shaking his head. “That’s not something to have to be paid back for. I’m more than happy to have fun in a little competition and saving you doesn’t require payment” he looked completely serious as he spoke the last part. “Besides, saving people is instilled in me”