7. Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Elena
B oy, was I in big trouble. Now that Hunter is being nice to me, he looks ten times more delicious than he did before. Every smile he sends my way makes me feel hot all over, and I keep crossing my legs to relieve the need that is building between them.
The problem is, though, I’m getting my hopes up. That’s a bad, bad thing. It would be so easy to fall in love with a guy like Hunter, but I'm pretty sure he's just being nice because he feels sorry for me. I take a quick shower while he reads his daughter some bedtime stories.
I put on the warmest clothes I can find in my suitcase and then go to the kitchen to start with the food. I love Italian food, so I make lasagna often. Hunter's kitchen is quite modern, and there are some appliances I don't really recognize. I find an apron and put it on. It's quite big on me, but I don't mind.
Hunter's voice trails from the other room, soothing me. I let myself relax and start cutting vegetables while the water for the pasta boils. This feels right somehow, and I mentally berate myself again for getting my hopes up.
I'm not cooking for him to impress him. Not really. I mean it. I'm not trying to impress him. Okay, fine. I want him to go gaga over my cooking. I want him to fall for me as fast as I'm falling for him. After a while, his voice cuts out, and I wonder what they're up to.
I don't have to wait long to find out. Hunter walks into the kitchen and sits down on a stool facing the island where I'm putting together the lasagna. He doesn't say anything, so I continue what I'm doing. Well, that's not entirely true. I can feel his eyes following me as I move around in his kitchen.
"I thought you said you didn’t cook?”
"Oh, I'm good at following directions."
One of his eyebrows goes up, making him look like a cartoon character trying to waggle his eyebrows, but only one moves up. I try to contain my smile and keep layering ingredients on the baking dish.
"What else can you make?"
"I can handle most Italian dishes. Do you like Italian food? You didn't say anything at the store while I was getting the ingredients."
"It's my second favorite after Mexican food."
"Oh, I know a few recipes you might like." Tacos. I can manage tacos.
"Are you going to be my cook while you stay here?"
He's smiling, so I know he's joking, but the idea has merit.
"Perhaps I should."
"I was just joking, Elena. That looks great, by the way."
I put the finishing touches on the lasagna and cover it with foil paper. The oven is preheated and ready to go. I go to grab the baking dish when Hunter steps in front of me.
"Let me. This oven gets really hot."
He places the dish in the oven, and I set the timer for forty-five minutes. I have a few more things to prepare—like a salad and some bread spread with garlic butter. I begin to do just that while Hunter sits back down on his stool.
"Are you going to sit there and watch me all night?"
"You seem to have made yourself at home in my kitchen."
His words send a chill down my spine. I'm almost afraid to look up at him, but I have to be brave. The smile plastered on his face seems genuine, but I guess I just don't get this man's sense of humor.
"You almost scared me for a minute."
"Why?"
"Thought I had already worn out my welcome in your home."
"You're always welcome here."
A noise comes from the baby monitor on the counter, and Hunter quickly checks it.
"I don't think she's going down any time soon. Let me go get her."
After I finish my prep, I start rummaging through the kitchen for things to set the table. I find some placemats and cutlery and get to work. Hunter comes out of Evie's bedroom with a very alert toddler. He sits on the floor with her and pulls the toy basket close to him.
He's so gentle with her and makes her laugh so easily. Their bond is strong, and I say a small prayer for her mother up in heaven. Could I be a mother to someone else's child? I ponder it for a minute and decide that a mother's love does not need a blood bond.
The thing is, will Hunter allow me to be a mother to his daughter? He has built a life for himself in this small town with her. He has support from the community and seems to be handling things quite well. Either way, I need to remember that I'm not here to become this little girl’s mother.
I want a family, and I will get it. I just have to give the agency a chance to find me another match. When I finish setting the table, I take a seat in one of the comfy armchairs. Then, I pick up my phone and send an email to The Perfect Bride Agency.
I'm almost afraid of what the owners will tell me. I think they will offer me a refund, but I don't want a refund; I want a husband. There's a lot of laughter around me, so I look up from my phone.
"You two seem to be having a lot of fun."
"Evie is smart, and she likes to learn new things. She seems to be starting to wind down, though."
"Do you want me to help you put her to bed?"
"We've got a routine."
"Maybe I should learn it. I could help if I have to babysit while I'm here."
"I'll do it. You've made me dinner. I think that's enough."
The baby does look a bit sleepy, so I watch from my chair as he gets up and takes her back to her bedroom. When he returns, there's tension between us once again, and I don't know how to break it.
When the timer sounds, I almost jump out of my skin. Hunter laughs at me and signals me to stay seated.
"I'll get it out of the oven."
"You need to put the bread in for a few minutes."
"I can handle that."
I decide to write a small note to my friend Jenny back in the city. I haven't really had time to update her on my adventure and tell her how I was almost sent back. Being rejected by Hunter hurt a lot, but I understand where he was coming from.
Jenny responds almost immediately but does so in a voice message. I don't dare listen to it now because I know she will have questions. My phone vibrates in my hand.
Jenny: Hello???
Jenny: HELLO?!
Me: I can't talk right now. I'll write more when I can.
Jenny: You can still come back home.
Me: I'll talk to you later.
Yeah, she's going to be pissed at me for brushing her off. The truth is that I really need some time to gather my thoughts about Hunter and his attitude towards me. Hopefully I can do that during the next few days.
"Dinner is ready."
His voice startles me from my thoughts, and when I look at him, so handsome and with a caring smile on his face I can't keep myself from fantasizing about a life with him and Evie. I take a seat at the table and wait for him to take a bite.
He bites, chews, and moans. The sultry sound hits me in the core, and I fidget in my chair.
"I'm glad you like it."
"I might never let you leave."
The words send a chill down my spine, but I know he doesn't truly mean them the way I wish he did. After we finish our meal, I ask him if he’d like some coffee with his pastries.
"Don't go to any more trouble, Elena."
"It's no trouble at all."
I walk into the kitchen and place the Moka pot on the stove for the coffee to brew. I'm surprised he has one, but many things about Hunter seem incredible. I arrange the pastries on a plate and bring them to the dining room. Hunter is just standing there, seemingly lost in thought.
"Have you tried their pain au chocolat?"
"No, did you get some?"
"Oh, yes. I've been dying for another taste."
I lift the pastry from the dish, and I don't know what comes over me, but I tear off a piece of the sweet treat and lift it to his lips for him to take a bite. His gaze grows heated as he accepts the bite I offer. His eyes close in bliss, but all I can see is the piece of chocolate now sticking to the corner of his mouth.
When he opens his eyes, eager to take another bite, I lift my other hand and wipe the offending piece of chocolate from his mouth with my thumb. I don't know why I do it, but I put my thumb in my mouth and suck the chocolate off as if it's the most delicious thing I've ever tasted. And it just might be.
The look Hunter gives me is scorching hot, and I'm paralyzed by it. He lowers his face to mine until our lips are just a breadth away from touching.
"Elena…"
"Kiss me."
And he does. His warm lips touch mine, and my body reacts as if it has come into contact with a live wire. Every part of me is electrified from that single point where we connect. His kiss starts off tender but soon ignites into passion, fire, and pure lust. I've never experienced this before in my life.
I start to melt in his arms when his tongue finds its way inside my mouth and begins an erotic battle with mine. I grab onto his shirt because I'm scared my legs will give out with the intensity of feelings I'm experiencing when a shrill noise starts and breaks us apart.
Hunter is faster than I am and rushes to the kitchen. There's a fire, and he quickly grabs the fire extinguisher. I didn't even know he had time to replace the used one. When I look closer at what is burning, I see that I left a towel too close to the coffee maker which has caught fire.
I turn to look at him and notice how pale he is. He's a firefighter, and he's scared? I open my mouth to speak, but he just holds his hand up to silence me. A few minutes pass, and I start to feel embarrassed. Hunter won't move to let me out of the kitchen. His next words leave me in shock.
"Elena, you are an amazing person, but I think you are a fire starter."