AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“The meeting will still take place tomorrow,” Ivan says. When I hear his deep voice, my chest flutters and a warm wave of emotion flows through me. It’s the same voice he uses to order me around in bed. Rich and subtle, yet so commanding.
Holy shit, I want to hear my name whispered in that same voice.
***
“This is your house?” I ask a couple of hours later when the car turns off onto a long driveway leading to a big farmhouse. The house is up in the hills, in the distance you can still catch a glimpse of the city lights.
“Yes. I own a few around the States and then a few in various countries overseas. Unofficially, I have also access to others in case we need to hide out somewhere for a while.”
I smile and think now would be the time to tell him. But instead, I try to take in every detail of the white farmhouse in front of me. The clay-colored roof stretches high into the sky and the huge windows offer a view of the beautiful land that surrounds the property. Wildflowers grow at the front of the house, adding a splash of color against the white facade.
“It’s a beautiful house.”
The corner of his mouth curves upwards as he squeezes my thigh. I flinch and goose bumps spread across my skin at the mere touch. That’s enough of a promise for what's to come later.
“I don’t have a housekeeper or a chef here,” he says as the car comes to a stop. He gets out and rounds the car, opening my door for me. “We’re too far from the city to order food, but I had the fridge stocked yesterday. I’m going to need you to make something for us to eat while I make some more phone calls.”
I nod and follow him into the house as the driver gets the bags from the trunk. Ivan shows me through the bright and airy house to the kitchen. It’s a vastly different house from the one back home. There’s something calm and relaxing about this one. His main house is like a warm hug while this one feels like someone opening their arms wide and telling me to be free.
“I’ll be back in an hour or so.” Ivan raps his fingers on the white countertop before pulling out his phone and heading outside.
He paces back and forth across the patio, looking out at the open land that stretches into the distance. With a sigh, I look around the massive kitchen, wondering what to make. As I open the cupboards and rummage through the fridge, I’m at a loss. The problem isn’t that there’s not enough food, but rather that there’s too much. I have no clue where to begin as I pull out a can of roasted tomatoes.
I’ve never cooked for him before. I don’t even know what he likes to eat.
The sun is dipping toward the horizon and bright colors stretch across the sky. Ivan is going to come inside in less than an hour, expecting food, and I still haven’t figured out where to begin.
Anna would know what to make him.
I pull out my phone, listening as it rings and rings before it finally connects. “Hi Anna, I have a question for you.”
Anna chuckles. “Hello to you too. What’s the question?”
“Do you know what Ivan likes to eat? I would call the chef, but I don’t want to bother him on his vacation. I’m supposed to be making dinner and I have no clue where to start.”
“Just do something easy, miss. Ivan loves simple but tasty dishes. He’s not a fan of spice, so stay away from anything with more than a teaspoon or two of black pepper in it.”
I glance at the container of roasted tomatoes in my hand. “Does he like pasta?”
“Loves it.”
I toss the can onto the counter before going back into the fridge and searching for the ingredients for my favorite penne dish. “Thank you, Anna.”
“You’re welcome, miss.”
We bid each other farewell as I pull out some bell peppers and ground beef. Ivan continues to pace outside, the phone pressed to his ear with one hand, the other flailing in the air, he seems to have a heated discussion.
Before long, the aroma of an Italian restaurant engulfs the kitchen. The mix of basil and browned beef is enough to make my mouth water. The door to the patio opens as I scoop the pasta into bowls and top it with freshly grated asiago. He nods to me as he heads for the stairs, his phone ringing with another call.
A few minutes later, he comes down the stairs in an elegant gray suit The suit is tailored to perfection, hugging his buff body. He is sexier than the pasta I have just made, rustic and smooth, cool, and hot.So damn hot.
“Dinner is ready,” I say, looking up and taking in his appearance. “Are you going somewhere?”
“My meeting got rescheduled.” He comes over and takes one of the bowls waiting on the counter and sits down at the kitchen island to eat. Ivan scrutinizes the pasta in the bowl and looks back at me with a wry smile before picking up a fork and tucking in.
I finish rinsing the pot and put it on the drying rack before grabbing my bowl. I stand on the opposite side of the counter to him, eating and watching him devour most of his dinner.
Ivan glances up from his meal and checks his watch. With a sigh, he pushes back from the counter and smiles. “Well, you didn’t try to kill me this time. That’s an improvement. It was delicious. You will have to make that again for me sometime.”
