Part 36 (1/2)

I didn't know how I knew, but somehow I knew that I liked to cook.

”I've got this. Mr. Kelley said to tell you that you could go for the night.”

”He said that I was only to leave if he himself told me to go,” she countered, afraid of losing her job.

”I would kind of like to have Mr. Kelley to myself tonight,” I smiled. ”I want to cook for him myself. I promise you won't be in any trouble.”

She smiled, knowing why I wanted my husband alone. ”I see. Well, I wouldn't want to stand in the way of romance,” she stated, drying her hands on a towel before leaving for the day.

I got right to work with my salad. I almost bought stuff to make spaghetti, but for some reason, I knew that Drew hated spaghetti. I didn't know how I knew that, but I did or at least I thought so anyway, maybe I would ask him.

It was almost six o'clock. I was starting to wonder if Drew and Derik were going to stay in his office all night. My Swiss steak had been simmering for over an hour, not that it would hurt anything. They were actually better the longer they simmered. It was the mashed potatoes warming in the oven that I was concerned about.

Derik walked into the kitchen and took a bottle of water from the refrigerator. He twisted the cap and scanned my body with his eyes. I self-consciously pulled down on my cami.

”You're treading on thin ice,” he boldly stated.

I didn't have time to respond when Drew was right there.

”Derik,” he reprimanded.

Derik toasted his bottle of water toward me and left. ”I'll see you in the morning.”

”What are you doing?” Drew asked.

”Cooking. What did he mean by that Drew,” I asked.

”Don't worry about it, Morgan. Just ignore him.

Why are you cooking? Where is Marta?”

”I sent her home. I like to cook. Don't I,” I decided to ask. ”Did I cook for us before?” I wondered out loud.

”Yeah, sometimes. Marta left?” he asked. I could tell he didn't like it.

”I told her to, Drew. She didn't want to go because she said she was told not to leave unless you told her to. I just wanted us to have the house to ourselves for once. It seems like there is always someone here.”

Drew walked closer to me. ”There is. This house is huge. Did you forget that too? Where are your shoes?”

I was still feeling extremely apprehensive about the overheard conversation. I wanted to lean into him and make him touch me, but I didn't. I couldn't quite read his mood, and I was afraid to.

”I know how big the house is, my shoes are upstairs, and I don't like people always around here. Why can't I do the cooking?”

”You don't belong in the kitchen. I'm going to shower,” he said, turning to leave.

”Drew.”

He turned without speaking. ”Hurry, I'm going to set the table.”

He smiled. Yes...he smiled. It might have been a small victory, but at least it was something.

My jaw dropped when I watched Drew stroll into the dining room. He was wearing jeans with a knit s.h.i.+rt that had three b.u.t.tons at the top, all unb.u.t.toned. I had never seen him in anything but suits. Well, not that I remembered anyway. He was hot. s.e.x appeal was dripping off of him, causing me to feel like I might drip a little too.

”Earth to, Morgan,” he said.

I shook my head trying to come out of the trance.

”Sorry, you just, never mind,” I said. There was no way that I could say anything without it sounding ridiculous.

”What?” he asked, taking the head of the table with a smirk.

”Do you hate spaghetti?” I asked.

You idiot. You should have just commented on the jeans.

”What?” he laughed.

”I was just wondering. When I was trying to decide what to cook, I thought about making spaghetti, but for some reason I knew, well I thought, you didn't like it.”

”You remembered right. I do hate spaghetti.”

Drew praised my cooking, but then we ate in silence. I don't think either of us knew what to talk about. I was fighting with what I had overheard, and trying not to be afraid of him. I could tell that he was fighting something too. I had a good hunch that it was his new found attraction to me. I was sure that we hadn't had that before. I also had a pretty good feeling that I was a weak, pathetic, sad human being when I was there before. Before I ran away to G.o.d only knew where.

”I have to leave tomorrow for a few days,” Drew finally said, breaking the stillness between us.

”Where are you going?” I asked, and I thought I caught a hint of irritation for asking, but he quickly replaced it.

”Montreal, I have a very lucrative prospect there that could turn into a major purchase.”

”Is Derik going?”

”No. Why do you ask?”

”What if he comes here while you are gone? I don't trust him.”

”He won't come here. I promise.”

”But what if he does? How would you know?”

”I would know. Don't worry about Derik. He won't come here.”

”Take me with you,” I threw out. I didn't know why. I didn't even know that I was thinking it.

He snickered. ”You can't fly yet. Remember? Dr.

Tharp doesn't want you in the higher alt.i.tude for six months.”

”Let's clean up,” I said, looking away from him. I felt sad. I didn't want him to leave me, and I was terrified of Derik even though I was sure that Drew was telling me that he would know if he was there because he had cameras in every room of this house. What the h.e.l.l was wrong with me? I was sure that when I overhead Derik saying that they should stick to the plan and get rid of me that he was talking about killing me. Why? I didn't know.

That was why I had to continue to get inside of Drew's head. I was just having a difficult time controlling my feelings for him.