~Aaron~
I moved slowly to the rhythm of the soft music playing as I stirred the sauce, swaying just a little. I had left Joan in bed so I could make breakfast before she woke up. Since I hadn’t been able to get much sleep anyway, I figured I might as well make myself useful.
Joan had made it a duty to glue herself to my side, draping her legs over me and tucking her hands into my shorts. I’d just stared at the ceiling in resignation all night, willing myself to stay still.
I had a feeling she knew exactly what she was doing while pretending to be asleep. And even though my mind knew she wasn’t ready for anything yet, my body had an entirely different opinion.
“What are you doing?” Her voice came from behind me, and I froze for a moment before glancing over my shoulder. She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, green eyes sparkling with amusement.
I shrugged, masking the flicker of embarrassment creeping up my spine. “Cooking,” I said, keeping my tone neutral.
She hummed, stepping closer until she was right next to me. “Yeah, I know. I meant the other thing,” she said, glancing at me with a smirk. I avoided her gaze, already suspecting where this was going.
“Were you… dancing?” The disbelief in her voice was laced with amusement.
I groaned, shaking my head. “I wasn’t.”
“Oh, I know what I saw,” she teased, moving around the counter to peer into the pot. Her eyes brightened. “Is that pork?”
A small smile crept onto my face as I nodded. “Yeah.”
“Can I have a taste?” she asked, reaching for the pot. I gently slapped her hand away.
“No, it’s hot,” I said.
She pouted, her lips forming the perfect little curve. She had never looked cuter. My gaze flickered down her body, and I swallowed hard. She was wearing one of my t-shirts-intentionally, I was sure.
She knew exactly what it did to me. If just a glance from her was enough to rile me up, this was outright torture.
“I got a video, though,” she said casually.
I stiffened, turning to look at her. She smirked. I glared.
“What video?”
She took a couple of steps back, pursing her lips. “The staff would be thrilled to see their boss dancing shirtless in an apron and shorts. It’s cute.”
She raised her phone and winked at me.
I blinked at her, caught somewhere between disbelief and horror.
She had taken a video? How long had she been standing there?
“You’re not going to do that,” I said firmly.
“You think?” Her tone made it clear-she absolutely would.
I lunged. In one swift move, I grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her onto the counter. She squealed, lifting her phone high above her head, laughing as I pried it from her fingers. She had no chance against me.
I was about to make her unlock it when her fingers slipped into my hair. My breath hitched.
“There’s no video,” she muttered.
I pulled back slightly, searching her face. Up close, her green eyes were even lighter, flecked with gold.
“Are you kidding me right now?”
She grinned, shaking her head. “I just wanted you closer. You didn’t hold me all night.” Her voice softened at the end, and she quickly looked away. “But it’s okay, I mean… we’re not…” She trailed off, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of my shirt.
I exhaled slowly. I’d been thinking about it, too. I had planned to wait a little longer before asking her to be my girlfriend, but hearing the uncertainty in her voice, I realized there was no reason to delay any further.
Reaching up, I ran my fingers through her hair, feeling the silky strands slide between them.
“I’ll hold you every night from now on,” I murmured.
Her eyes glistened slightly, and for a moment, everything else faded. I leaned in, ready to kiss her when an acrid smell hit my nose.
Something was burning.
Something was… Shit!
I pulled away so fast I nearly stumbled. Whipping around, I turned off the stove and grabbed an oven mitt, yanking the pot off the heat.
The sauce was ruined, blackened at the bottom.
I let out a breath and glanced back at Joan, who was still perched on the counter, watching me with an unreadable expression. But something flickered in her eyes before it disappeared.
“We’ll have to get breakfast outside,” I said.
She nodded, sliding off the counter.
We got ready in minutes, heading out to grab breakfast at a nearby restaurant. And as we walked, an idea struck me.
Tonight, I was going to ask her to be my girlfriend.
And I knew exactly how to make it perfect.