Ruby’s face lit up. “I didn’t know you were English. I’ve always loved English accents. They’re so proper, you know?” Ruby’s smile melted off her face seeing Bennett’s steely-eyed glare. “Oh…um…anyway,” she said, forcing her smile to return. “I know it’s…it’s junk mail, but…but I read somewhere that it’s illegal to toss out someone else’s mail, and since I pass your apartment on the way to mine, I thought I’d drop it off.”

Bennett looked at the sales ad and then back at Ruby. “I see.”

“And speaking of that,” Ruby said, holding out her hand. “I’m Ruby Miller. I live in 4A.”

“Bully for you,” Bennett said, closing the door in Ruby’s face.

***

“Wow, that was rude,” Doreen said before chomping into her chili dog.

“You’re telling me,” Ruby said, snagging one of Doreen’s French fries. “For a few seconds, I stood there like a moron with the door an inch away from my face. I mean, she didn’t even say thanks. Just bully for you and then slam.”

“Then I say you cross that bitch off your list.”

“You think?”

“Don’t you? I mean, come on, Ruby. She’s obviously not interested.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t see her.”

“What do you mean? I saw her on the stairs.”

“No, I mean up close. She’s gorgeous.”

“How gorgeous?”

“Gorgeous enough for me not to take no for an answer,” Ruby said, thinking back on that night. “I mean, she was giving me a look that could have buried me, but it just added to her beauty. It defined her face and cheekbones, and her eyes…her eyes are dark orangey-brown with this thin band of black around them. It was like…like she had flames in her eyes.”

“Sounds like they matched her attitude, if you ask me.”

“Yeah, I suppose,” Ruby said, taking a taste of her soda. “Did I tell you she has an accent?”

“Everyone in Boston has an accent.”

“No, she’s English.”

“Really?” Doreen squeaked. “And here I thought Brits were supposed to be all polite and proper. Guess she didn’t get the memo.”

“Maybe she was having a bad day. Did you ever think of that?”

“Why are you making excuses for her? You don’t even know her.”

“I’m not. I’m just not willing to give up yet.”

“Well, then you better come up with a better excuse than delivering a piece of junk mail.”

“There’s always a cup of sugar.”

“Didn’t you just say she was giving you a look that could kill?”

“Yeah. So?”