Five days after their dinner she walked home from Watery Lane, tired and exhausted. She stopped at the grocer's shop and bought oat flakes, two bottles of milk, a loaf of bread and a very small piece of cheddar - dinner for next five to seven days. Ruby sighed and tried not to think of Billy Kimber, who'd send his thugs not later than Friday, to collect the next rate. Finally at home, she trudged upstairs and stopped in the middle of the staircase when she noticed Arthur Shelby in front of her door.

"There you are, Ruby," he said. "I'm waiting for half an hour already."

"I ... I was at the grocery shop." She answered. "Do you need me at the office?"

He shook his head and took the few steps down the stairs to grab her bag, gentleman he was.

"No. But I need to talk to you. In private."

"Oh. May I offer you a cup of tea?" She said, pulled the key out of her handbag and opened the door.

Arthur grabbed a big black leather bag from the floor and followed her into her flat. He placed both bags on the kitchen table and answered: "I'd love some tea, thank you."

Ruby gave him a smile, lighted the stove and filled water in the kettle. His behaviour in the last few days had been totally normal, professional, no sign of attraction towards her.

"Oh, please, take a seat," Ruby said and placed two cups on the table.

The atmosphere turned into something tense and uncomfortable, and she wondered if this was because Arthur watched her closely, his facial expression unreadable.

"Did I ... did I do something wrong?" She asked after serving the tea and taking a seat, not longer able to bear the silence and his stare.

"No."

"Oh, good. So, what is it you wanted to talk about?"

Arthur cleared his throat, opened the leather bag and pulled a piece of paper out of the bag.

"About this."

Reluctantly Ruby reached for the paper. "Ruby Madison (debtor: Bobby Whitman). Your payment of 942 Pounds has been received. Actual balance: 0 Pounds. Billy Kimber," she read under her breath and looked up: "What ... what did you do? Did you pay Bobby's debts?"

"Aye." Arthur nodded and gave her a smile.

"So I owe you now." Ruby answered after a moment of silence and folded her arms.

"Somehow." Once more a nod, and this intense stare that made her jumpy. "Contrary to Billy Kimber I won't charge you with interest rates."

"That's very generous, Mr. Shelby. What's your payment schedule?" She asked and took a sip of tea.

"Bloody hell, Ruby, stop calling me Mr. Shelby." Arthur said with a sigh and continued: "You're gonna give me the half of what you've left at the end of the month, after eating good and enough, after buying new dresses, whatever shit you need. The other half you save. For later."

"Can I have this offer in written form?"

"If you want. But there's no need for this."

"I'm sorry but I have to ask, if you ... if you ..."

"Aye?"

"Do you want ... another type of repayment?" She asked and looked down on her lap.

"No. I dinna pay Billy Kimber to make you my whore, Ruby. I did it because I wanna make your life a bit easier." Arthur stood up and opened the leather bag he brought, placing beetroot, thyme, a big piece of cheddar, some ham, a packet of sugar, a bottle of whiskey and a box of chocolates on the table.

"I ... I don't know what to say, Arthur, I'm ...," Ruby stammered and started to cry.

With one step he was at her side, pulling her up in his arms. His hand petted over her back and his voice sounded strained and raspy when he started to speak: "Don't cry. I dinna do all this shit to make you cry."

"I ... know. I'm sorry. But ... I ..." Ruby sobbed helplessly.

He held her until there were no tears left, until she was silent and calm. It felt so good to be held, to smell him and feel his warmth. She enjoyed the gentle, comforting touches so much that she instantly felt ashamed again. This wasn't right, it was indecent and condemnable, but it felt so good. It needed all her strength to break the contact.

"I need a drink." He mumbled after she took a step back and blew her nose.

"Here," she said, pointing to the whiskey he brought. "Help yourself, Arthur. I just ... need another moment."

"Alright." He answered and filled two glasses to the half, handing her one. "There you go."

"I ... I've never had alcohol," she whispered, looking down on the glass in her hand.

"Never?" He asked, his facial expression giving away his surprise.

"My parents were teetotaller. Tim never drank, too."

"I see. He was a good man, Ruby." Arthur nodded and took a sip of the whiskey. "Try it."

Carefully she took a sip and started to cough right after swallowing. Arthur grinned and encouraged her to take another sip.

"Oh, my god!" She gasped, after trying again. "How can you drink it without batting an eye?"

"You'll get used to it, Ruby." Once more he grinned and took a seat again. "So, uhm, may I stay for dinner?"

"Yes, of course. That's the least I can ... oh! I ... I didn't even say thank you so far. God, I'm sorry, Arthur. Thank you a thousand times and ..."

"It's alright. Don't mention it. Tomorrow at the office we'll write it down, if you want."

"I do."

"So, it's a deal," Arthur stated and she nodded.

While cooking she started to feel the effects of the alcohol and was able to loosen a bit. She was even able to laugh and was taken aback by the fact that Arthur refused a second glass of whiskey for her.

"Why not?" She asked, and pouted like she never pouted since she had been about five years old.

"You're not used to it. You're gonna feel like shit tomorrow morning."

"I don't care about tomorrow morning. I have something to celebrate." She smiled and tried to grab the bottle.

"No." Arthur said. "Listen. If you drink another glass you're gonna be ... needy. We're gonna end in your bed and fuck like there's no tomorrow, because I'm not able to resist you. And you're not gonna be able to resist anymore, too. But there will be a tomorrow and I don't want you to feel shame and remorse."

Ruby nodded slowly and took a step towards him, entering his personal space. She caressed his cheek and looked into his eyes.

"Ruby ...," he said under his breath. "What are you ..."

She closed his mouth with a kiss, sweet and slow, but enough to make him pull her closer, to kiss her back.

"I don't know," she whispered after ending the kiss. "I'm sorry. I ... I guess dinner's ready." She cleared her throat and pointed to the table: "Please."

"You'll never have to say sorry for kissing me," Arthur answered. "I'd love to stay after dinner, but I guess I better go."

Ruby nodded and turned around to the stove: "Will you come back tomorrow? For dinner?"

"Of course I will. How about green beans and mint?"

"Whatever you want, Arthur." She said with a smile.

"Feels good. Hearing these words and getting dinner served," he mumbled and closed his eyes for a second.

Ruby nodded and her imagination came up with the picture of a dim bedroom. She watched Arthur's slim and brawny form moving. Loving. Fucking. His sometimes so scary stare focused on her face, concentrated and stern.

She felt her blushing and tried to concentrate on the dinner. She didn't know if it was the whiskey or something else that made her think of a naked Arthur Shelby penetrating her. The thought itself was shameful and she was thankful that Arthur stopped her from doing something stupid.