The next day Ashton was too busy to check up on Hayley. Derek Miller kept him on his feet all day and he hardly found time to take a lunch break. By the time he returned to his cottage, he was totally drained. His eyes popped out to see Hayley sitting on his front porch, waiting for him. All his tiredness evaporated at the sight of her! His eyes roamed all over her and he couldn’t help but check her out before she noticed him. The semi-formal beige trousers paired with a royal blue chiffon top made her look so mature. Even in the light of the setting sun, she glowed like a million neon bulbs as she sat on the steps, checking her mobile phone.
“Hey! Sorry to keep you waiting. Why didn’t you call me?” he asked, stopping in front of her. She looked up and slipped her phone into her pocket.
“Hi! I didn’t want to disturb you at work.” She stood up with a shy smile on her face. “Where’s your puppy?” Ashton grimaced at her question, pulling out the keys to the cottage.
“I thought you came here to see me!” he unlocked the door with a small smile playing on his lips.
“Of course, I’m here to see you. I just wanted to cuddle the little guy. What’s his name?” she asked, following him inside.
“His name is Buzz but his dad is still at work and he is at his grandparent’s house. You can see him after an hour, maybe.” Ashton switched on the lights and Hayley looked around his home. It was cozy and romantic, but she couldn’t tell him that after the argument they had the last time. She could spend her life with him here!
“So? Do you like the place?” he asked expectantly, wanting to hear her call it romantic. Ever since their last conversation about romantic places, he too started considering his quaint little cottage as the most romantic place in the entire world. Wedged between two maple trees with colorful blooms all around, the whitewashed cottage with its small porch was picture-perfect and very romantic. He would love to build such a home for himself one day!
Yes, it’s cute!” She flashed him a smile, wandering about, exploring the place.
“Just cute?” He felt somewhat disappointed, but shuttered his feelings and went into the kitchen.
“Umm, not exactly. You’ll mock me if I call it romantic,” she said, following him to his kitchen. He smiled, satisfied at last. So she found his place romantic! “Do you want me to make dinner for you?”
Ashton turned to look at her with surprise. With so many chefs in her house, he hadn’t expected her to know how to even hold a spatula straight. “You can cook!” he gasped, with a goofy smile on his lips. He was sick of cooking for himself and for Madison for the last four years. When at home, it was usually the housekeeper who cooked rather than aunt Jodie.
“Yes, why? What would you like to have, Mr. Manager?” she said, donning his huge apron that almost drowned her. Ashton couldn’t take his eyes off her and his whole body felt alive with excitement. Having someone make his meal for the first time made overwhelmed him.
“I’m not the manager yet, but soon will be!” he said, leaning towards her. She smiled, appreciating his confidence, and walked over to the refrigerator, with him following her about. “What can you make for me?” His gaze held hers and she couldn’t miss the magical charge emanating from him. It lured her into him, making her a mere puppet in his hands. The wish to please him with her culinary skills was too much to ignore. After all, a way to a man’s heart was through his stomach! Was it applicable to Ashton Pierce as well?
“Anything you want me to. I can make a roast, casserole, pie, chops, steak, pasta, rice, stew, spaghetti.” Ashton laughed at her tone. She indeed sounded like those servers at a highway diner, only she was ten times more gorgeous than them.
“I love pork chops, but you can make whatever you’re comfortable with. I’ll eat anything you make for me.” Hayley smiled shyly, her young heart already charmed by his flirting.
“I’ll make pork chops, potato au gratin, and sauteed baby vegetables. Will that do?” she asked, taking out the ingredients she needed. Ashton gasped, hearing her grand menu.
“Wow! So much? You’ll take all night to make those. I usually make some tacos or a sub for myself.” Hayley laughed as she brought the ingredients to the counter.
“It’ll be done in a jiffy.” She started her preparations, expertly seasoning the chops and leaving them to marinade. As she sliced the baby vegetables for sauteing, Ashton pulled a stool and sat down to watch her. She was indeed a sight to behold! He had never seen someone look so elegant and efficient in the kitchen, that too, not her own. Clad in formals, she effortlessly made the food for him. Unable to stay away from the mouthwatering delicacies, he got up and went towards her.
Hayley was immediately on high alert. What was he up to now? As if staring at her like a hawk for the last five minutes wasn’t enough! Now he had to hover around her!
He came up right behind her to steal a piece of the sauteed vegetables. “Looks heavenly! I’m so hungry that I can eat all of this right now.” Hayley rolled her eyes when he stole two pieces.
“Mmm, I should kiss your hands for making this for me. On second thoughts, I think I’ll keep you imprisoned here in my cottage.” He chuckled at his own joke while Hayley’s heartbeats sped up on imagining herself tied to the bed as his prisoner! What was wrong with her?
“My dad will hunt you down! Your life will be finished, Mr. Manager. So don’t even think of it,” she added with a grin, as she prepared the gratin. With his hot breath fanning her neck, it was almost impossible to concentrate on the food.
“He can’t find me. Don’t underestimate my powers,” said Ashton with a chuckle, deriving a strange thrill from the idea. If he could, he would have kept her imprisoned in his bedroom, not for her culinary skills, but for his sinful pleasures. He knew she was too young for him, but it wasn’t usual for Ashton Pierce to react to any girl. He wanted to explore this fierce need he felt for her. While the sane part of his mind urged him to stay away from her, the rest of his body and heart battled with that urge, refusing to listen to any reason. He wanted Hayley Barclay and no one else!
He watched her cook for him, his nose tingling with her refreshing fragrance. If he could, he would have already sunk his teeth into the soft, delicious neck, or plunged his tongue deep into her delicious mouth.
“Umm, Ashton. Can you get me a bottle of water, please? I’m parched,” she asked, eager to keep him engaged rather than breathe down when neck. His nearness was affecting her a lot and she couldn’t do justice to the first dinner she was making for him.
“Sure.” He winked, his gaze dropping to her mouth as he walked away with a smirk, as if he knew what was going on in her mind. He returned with a bottle of water and handed it out to her. “At your service, mademoiselle! What else can I do for you?”
“You can lay the table. The chops are almost done.”
He bowed dramatically as he carried the plates and cutlery to the glass dining table. It was good that the cottage was already furnished since he hardly possessed much household stuff. He wasn’t a homely type of guy and preferred eating pizza straight from the box or grabbing a sandwich to eat on the go. For the first time with Hayley around, he loved doing these refined household chores with her.
“I’m laying the table for the first time.” Hayley emerged with the food and gave him a look of surprise.
“Really? How do you dine then?” she asked, placing the food and arranging the table the right way.
“From the box or pan. I don’t make such elaborate dinners at home. Who wants to do the dishes?” he sat down to devour the delicious food, his stomach rumbling more at the sight. He knew it wasn’t about the dishes but about Madison. He purposely refrained from making elaborate meals for fear of having them disappear into Madison’s stomach. She never helped, yet always landed up at his place during meal times.
“I can’t possibly eat sandwiches for dinner. My dinner has to be grand, whether home-cooked or ordered.”
“Noted, mademoiselle!” he said with a smile, making her blush. Would they repeat this?
“Mmm, this is the best I’ve ever had!” he said, tasting the food. “I’m now seriously thinking of keeping you with me.”
“As what?” she blurted out before she could check herself.