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“What’re you doing here?” Nancy, a middle-aged woman, calls over the sound of gushing water and clinking porcelain. “Aren’t you supposed to be at some fancy banquet dinner tonight?”
“Yeah, but I missed you guys too much,” I say with a wink.
“Always a sweet talker,” she says with a chuckle.
“Is he in there?” I gesture toward the kitchen.
She gives a nod.
My gaze falls on Ethan the moment I step inside the kitchen. A worried expression mars his face as he stares at a dish on the counter before him.
“You finally made it,” he mumbles, running fingers through his tousled dark hair.
“Did you expect me to teleport here?” I say, dropping the bouquet and my jacket on the counter.
He perks up at the sight of the flowers. “Are those for me?”
I chuckle. “They’re for D. I never got a chance to give them to her.”
He frowns. “Why not?”
I shrug. “She was too busy. Anyway, what’ve you cooked for me?”
“It’s a fusion dish,” he says. “Saffron-infused wild rice served with prawns in a creamy, tomato sauce.”
“Looks amazing,” I say, leaning over the counter to gaze at the elegantly plated dish.
“I’m not sure the prawns work with the sauce. Can you give it a try, please?” He looks like he’s on the verge of tearing his hair out.
Grabbing a spoon, I eagerly dig into the rice. The waft of saffron hits me before I take a bite. “Mmm,” I moan, chewing the perfectly cooked and seasoned rice. “This is delicious.”
“Try the prawns,” he urges. “They’re the fickle things I’m worried about.”
I scoop out a prawn with a generous amount of the sauce.
Ethan stares at me as I slowly chew, savoring the delicious bite. “So?”
A laugh escapes me. “You’re such an idiot! It’s delicious.”
His breath leaves him in a rush. A hint of a smile comes on his lips. “Really?”
“Yes! It’s like an Italian version of curry and rice. Amazingly delicious and comforting at the same. People would love this for dinner.”
Ethan closes the distance between us and wraps his arms around me. I catch a waft of his woody scent and smile.
“Are you crying?” I ask with a chuckle.
He lets go and steps away immediately. Scratching the back of his head, he smiles. “Thanks for coming in this late.”
“I was serious about being paid,” I say in a mock grim tone.
“I told you it’s no problem.”
“You’ll go bankrupt if you pay your employees so freely.” I take a deep breath. “Lucky for you, I want payment in terms of food. Can I eat the whole plate? I’m starving.”
He chuckles and gestures at the plate. “Go on, then.”
Grabbing a spoon, I dig in, shoveling the delicious rice in my mouth.
