“Uh, for you? Tonight’s menu is some poison with a side of arsenic.”
“As delicious as that sounds, I was hoping for some steak, or maybe chicken...”
“Then you can cook it yourself.” I fill my arms with ingredients, moving everything to the kitchen island so I can get the pan that I need.
“You wouldn’t let me starve, would you?” He turns on his puppy-dog eyes.
“I’d watch that with pleasure. Maybe with some popcorn.”
“But then you wouldn’t get the satisfaction of watching me cry when you beat me.”
I turn on the oven. “You make a very sad but very compelling argument. You can have some of these tacos. But you can’t enjoy them.”
“Understood. I’m sure they’ll be the worst tacos I’ve ever had,” he promises with a salute.
“All right. Dial it down on the commitment to my orders. But make yourself useful and chop these tomatoes, onions, and avocado.” I start grilling the steak. “You’re making guacamole.”
“So how exactly do I...” Gavin looks at the assembled ingredients.
“Okay, this may be too advanced.” I take the avocado away from him. “Let’s just cut the tomato and onion. Take this knife and start cutting into these. And then grate this cheese.” I pantomime the movements.
“I will get right on that, once I find...” Gavin roots around the cabinets. “Eureka.” He stands up with a bottle of whiskey in his hand and a boyish smile on his face. He pours us both a glass.
“And entertain me while I do this.” Damn that’s a smooth whiskey. Rich people perks.
“Did you hear the rumors for the upcoming Sotheby’s sale?” Gavin asks, starting on his assigned tasks.
We cook the rest of the meal in amiable conversation, discussing the most recent rumors of our competitors.
We’ve got so many thoughts on the subject; we keep talking about it through the dinner itself. I was worried that without any distractions my mind wouldn’t be able to stop thinking about our kiss last night, but it’s not awkward, despite the change in our relationship.
We clean up after we’re done, helping ourselves to more of the whiskey during the process.
“Thanks for cooking. I know you don’t like doing it, but your tacos were amazing. And you saved me from having to eat cereal for dinner.”
He remembered our discussion about cooking. I change the subject to cover how charmed that makes me. “Cereal for dinner is amazing, you monster.”
We leave the kitchen, well-fed and content after a day of fresh air in nature, and then a productive evening in front of our computers.
Usually I love the constant busyness of the city. It makes me feel like I’m never alone, since someone is always doing something at all hours, moving from activity to activity and creating the city’s heartbeat. But every now and then the quiet of nature can be pleasant. For a visit.
A short one.
“Hey, Riya, check this out.” Gavin opens the door to a room and beckons me over.
“Why are you breaking into our host’s rooms?” I ask, but curiosity drives me over to the door.
“I stumbled across this room getting lost earlier. And if he wanted to keep us out, he could have locked the door.” He opens the door wider to let me go in first.
I enter but I can’t see anything in the darkness beyond the outlines of furniture. Gavin enters and closes the door behind him, leaving us in the dark, with only the soft light of the moon coming in through the window.
“Is this where you off me because you know I’m going to win?” I ask Gavin.
In response, he turns on the light and I’m shocked out of my usual sassiness.
Because I’ve never seen this many penises and breasts in one place.
Chapter Nineteen
