The hairpin rested at the corner of Jessica’s mouth, revealing a flash of pearly white teeth, her cherry red lips curling into a smile.
She lifted her slender hands, gently twisting her hair up, leaving a few loose strands brushing
her ears.
Zachary watched her and thought she looked like a woman who stepped right out of a painting.
She was stunning.
Her white silk blouse caught the sunlight streaming in, glowing faintly. It was only then that he noticed her outfit was made of shimmering brocade. The collar and sleeves had a traditional flair, and the fitted waist highlighted her slender figure.
Paired with that high–waisted, long pencil skirt, her shape was simply flawless. There was no denying it.
He had already known that the night he first saw her.
Seeing his distracted gaze, she quickly spoke. “Smells amazing.”
“Have a seat.” He pulled out a chair for her, then calmly brought out the pre–cut steak from
the kitchen.
On the table, he’d set out two small dishes of sauce, one with black pepper, one with
mushroom.
She speared a piece of steak with her fork, dipped it in the mushroom sauce, and took a bite without considering table manners.
Her eyes lit up. It had been so long since she’d had steak this tender and juicy.
“You’re pretty skillful.”
“In what way?”
He calmly took a bite himself, looking at her seriously.
In what way? What else could she mean?
What on earth was he thinking?
And did he actually just go there with that innuendo?
She hesitated, then clarified, “I mean, your steak–cooking skills are good.”
“If you want to know more, I’m pretty skilled in other areas, too, “he said, as if it were the
most normal thing in the world.
She could now be sure he wasn’t lying. That night, it had definitely been him who crossed the
line first.
“So, what do you want for dinner tonight?”
“If Lask for it, will you actually make it?”
“Go ahead.”
“I want lasagna and grilled salmon.”
He gave her the opening, and she smoothly went along with it. She was trying her best to keep the conversation normal.
“No problem.”
She hadn’t expected a CEO to actually cook. It was surprising, to say the least.
“Is there only one bedroom at your place?” she asked curiously.
This huge apartment unit had been designed for multiple functions besides the massive
master suite upstairs. There was a gym, a study, a theater, a coffee corner, a karaoke room…
and yet, no extra guest room.
He chuckled lightly. “So when you said you’d leave a light turned on, you meant to leave it on for me?”
“That’s not…” she stammered.
He pressed, “Don’t you want to sleep with me?”
“No…” she protested.
“Does that mean you want to sleep with me?” he asked.
“No…” she whispered, voice dropping.
Their eyes locked.
He was seriously tempted to work up a sweat with her right there in the kitchen.
Good heavens, what kind of questions was he asking?
“What I meant is, if your relatives or friends come over, where would they stay…” She forced two small pieces of steak into her mouth.
“If friends come, the upstairs room can be freed up. You can decide, and I’ll follow your lead.”
Joshua had once said that Zachary liked being alone. Besides the bodyguards and the maid, not
many people had entered this apartment before, not even Joshua.
She certainly didn’t dare bring guests here.
“I’ll be back at the Jones residence for a while in early February, so things will be busy for now, ” he said.
“So… should I leave the door unlocked for you tonight?”
He looked up at her slightly.
Her fingers gripped the knife and fork so tightly that they were slightly pale, and a hint of shyness lingered in her eyes. Her cheeks flushed a soft pink.
The blush had been on her face since she sat down, making her all the more irresistible. She reminded him of that night, when she had curved against his neck, telling him what she
wanted.
His eyes darkened, and he paused thoughtfully for a moment. “It’s fine.”
She let out a relieved breath, the corners of her mouth curving into a small smile.
He noticed the subtle change in her expression but didn’t call it out.
Impatience couldn’t rush perfection. The flower he nurtured was finally beginning to bloom.
