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Half an hour later, I walk back into the living room and find Trent organizing placemats and cutlery on top of the breakfast bar. The tantalizing aroma of rich curry and creamy coconut wafts through the air, causing my stomach to growl.
“That smells delicious,” I praise, taking a peek at the dish on the stove. My mouth waters at the mound of fragrant white basmati rice, complemented by a vibrant medley of diced vegetables and succulent white shrimp, and generously drizzled with a velvety curry cream sauce. “I had no idea you could cook.”
“I had to learn if I wanted to eat growing up,” he says dismissively as he swiftly prepares my plate. “Of course, back then, I didn’t have the means to be very creative with my meals. Sliced hot dogs with spaghetti and ketchup were considered fine dining at my house.”
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, hating that he was left to grow up all by himself, with no one to look out for or even care for him.
“Don’t be sorry, kitten. It is what it is,” he says with a comforting smile before placing my plate on the placemat. “Do you want anything to drink?”
“White wine would be lovely,” I reply, and before I have time to tell him there’s a bottle in the fridge, he opens it and grabs it for me.
“Well, you sure seem to already know your way around my house.”
“You’re not the only one who pays attention to the little details.” He winks.
“So I’m starting to realize.”
He throws me another warm smile, making me hate how they always do something to my heart, making it rattle inside my chest as if it wanted to leap out so Trent could catch it in his hands. Not wanting him to see how his endearments do something to me, I lower my head and start eating, only to moan out the minute I taste his exquisite dish.
“This is amazing,”
“I’m glad you like it.” He smiles, kissing the side of my head before sitting down beside me.
“So, is this your plan? Do you think you’ll win our bet if you cook me a few meals? Sure, I’ve always heard that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, but I’ve never heard the same being said about a woman.” I giggle between bites. “Maybe diamonds. They do say they are a girl’s best friend.” I wiggle my brows.
“Kitten, if I thought diamonds would win your heart, you would have been draped from head to toe with them already. Besides, when I do give you a diamond, it will be the only one you’ll ever need to wear.”
I quickly grab my wine glass and take a full gulp of it just so I don’t have to reply to that loaded remark.
It’s thewhen—notif—that really does a number on my nerves.
Thankfully, Trent sees that I’m uncomfortable with the topic of conversation and gives me a few minutes to recover before pushing it to safer territories.
“So, how was work today?”
“Calmer. Almost uneventful. Boring even. Aside from a pesky website trying to defame one of my players, everything is good,” I reply, thankful for talking about anything that doesn’t pertain to us.
“Are you talking about Wilder?”
I nod.
“Yes, I’ve seen the website you’re referring to. Our in-house publicist isn’t happy about it either.” He frowns. “It’s a good thing that the media outlets have picked up that he’s dating Riley Griffin. She’s good for his image.” As my frown deepens, Trent’s curiosity is sparked. “You don’t agree?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure what’s going on there. I actually thought Nathan was starting to catch feelings for Lottie,” I admit.
“Lottie? As in your best friend, Charlotte?”
“Yeah.” I nod. “Caleb kind of insinuated that Nathan might be interested in her, and for a second, I thought she might feel the same way. I guess I was wrong if he’s dating Riley.”
“Hmm,” Trent hums pensively, as if he knows something that I don’t. “Now that you mentioned it, at the Winter Ball, I would have assumed that he and Charlotte were a couple. Especially with the way they looked at each other.”
“How did they look at each other?” I ask, curious.
“Like I look at you, kitten.”
Damn it.
I almost fall off my stool with that one.
