The coy smile he gave me before responding sent shivers through my body.
“I’m already addicted to your sweet aroma. I may never wash my face again.”
He entered the hallway and waited for me to follow him. After he made sure the door was secure, he took my hand, and we headed down the hallway.
“Do you know what you need?” he asked a few minutes later when we were on the road.
“Oatmeal raisin cookies are my favorite, so I can make them with my eyes closed. Do you like cream cheese frosting?”
“I do.”
“I usually make it with my oatmeal raisin cookies. If you’ve never had the combination, it’s so good.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
I pushed thoughts of what had transpired between us to the back of my mind and focused on the task at hand. We weren’t at the store very long because I knew what I needed, and he knew where everything was. About fifteen minutes after leaving thegrocery store, we turned into a gated community, then onto a long driveway.
“This is where you live?” I asked in awe.
“It is. The side entrance leads straight to my apartment.”
I was quiet for the next few minutes, taking in my surroundings even though it was dark. The garage was huge, with enough space for six cars, workout equipment, and room for other items, like a riding lawnmower and a snowblower.
“Why do you keep a gym bag in your car if you work out at home?” I asked.
“Sometimes I need a change of scenery, so I keep my bag in my car in case I want to work out at the office.”
“Oh. I guess that makes sense.”
He retrieved the bags from his trunk, and I followed him to the house. Once inside, we went down a flight of stairs that led to a spacious kitchen.
“Wow. This kitchen is almost as big as my old apartment,” I said.
“It’s a nice-sized kitchen, but you’re exaggerating a bit.”
“Maybe a tiny bit, but not much. Oh my God! You have a double stove. Do you even cook like that?”
“Honestly, I never cook unless it’s a frozen pizza or something similar. If I eat at home, I eat upstairs.”
“I’d be in heaven if I had access to a kitchen like this on a regular basis.”
“The one upstairs is twice the size.”
“I can imagine.”
I moved slowly through the space, rubbing my hands along the countertops, opening and closing cabinets, and looking inside both stoves and the refrigerator while Kenzo unpacked the groceries.
“You want a quick tour before you get started?” he asked.
“Of course.”
Aside from the gorgeous kitchen, which was large enough to fit a table that seated six, there was a living room furnished with a large sectional and the biggest TV I’d ever seen, two bedrooms, each with a full bathroom, a laundry room, and another full bathroom.
Off the living room was a walkout patio that led to the backyard. I peeked behind the shades but couldn’t see anything because it was dark. I imagined the backyard was as big as a football field.
“I understand why you chose not to move out. This is really nice.”
“Thank you. I don’t need much. I don’t plan to stay here forever, but I don’t see any reason to move out right now. You ready to get started?”
