Chapter 67 - Sixty Six - The Way To A Woman’s Heart (2/2)

”Lunch was good,” he said, aloud, trying to make conversation.

Autumn felt her lips curve as she mentioned; ”Just tinned soup, nothing more than heating required.”

”True, true,” he replied. ”But, you made the bread.”

”Yes, I did,” Autumn answered. She looked over with a touch of shyness and a blush blossomed as her eyes met his, which then flickered away first due to his nervousness.

”There's something I've been meaning to ask you,” Dexter scratched his forehead then grimaced as he realised his hands were wet and covered in bubbles. Autumn turned around to chuckle, quietly, before clearing her throat quietly and saying;

”Go ahead.”

”You can turn me down,” Dexter began to prattle on a bit, as he attempted to steal towards what he was trying to say, ”so don't feel like it's a big issue and don't feel like, you know, you have to or anything, just because I asked...” Autumn felt his nervousness within her own belly and remembered the way Monika teased her the other day. Her heart skipped and her palms began to feel sweaty. Would he really ask her...? Her of all people? Dexter took a deep breath; ”Do you wanna... would you... ah...” he grabbed a tea towel, wiping his hands before stepping in front of her. Perspiration began to bead on his forehead. ”Autumn, I like you. Would you go out with me? Damn, that seems a weird thing to ask in the circ.u.mstances.”

”It does,” Autumn agreed, shyly, glancing down, suddenly interesting in her feet.

”Still... would you?” Dexter asked once more, quietly and gently. Her head rose and her eyes met his... She'd never been asked out before, not seriously anyway and even though it briefly crossed her mind that he was only asking as she was only one of two single women in the house, the thought left as quickly as it came. There was no desperation of that sort, just honest affection...

Voices began to echo in the hallway, increasing in volume as they approached the kitchen. Dexter stepped backwards, reactively, while Autumn spin to stir the soup at that same moment. Monika glanced over the 'guilty' pair with a grin, before sitting at the table besides Arthur. Chang Min entered a moment later. ”So....” the woman was tempted to ask just what was happening, but upon seeing Autumn's blushing expression, decided to alter the question; ”What's for lunch?”

”Um, there was only carrot and coriander left,” Autumn replied. ”I hope that's okay.” She poured the soup between three bowls. It was not much, but these tins of soup stretched only so far. The three offered smiles as they broke the offered bread between their fingers and began to eat. Autumn took the pan to the sink, where Dexter had continued to wash the remaining bowls.

The woman glanced over her shoulder to make sure the others were busy with their meal rather than watching what she was doing, before standing on tip toes and whispering ”Yes.” Dexter barely paused in his scrubbing, but a large smile nearly split his face in two.