Page 61 of Anything To Be With You

"You said maybe. Maybe means yes." Erin explains.

A throat clears behind me, and I turn slowly, coming face to chest with my hot boss. I lift my eyes slowly, my face burning.

"I’ll call you back." Erin’s still talking as I hang up. He hands over a bottle of beer. "Thanks." I whisper.

Erin is extremely loud when she’s excited, and I have a sneaking suspicion Luke heard most, if not all, of that conversation.

He nods and turns. "Oh, and Daniella,"

I look over at him.

"Nine times out of ten, maybe means yes," he smirks, flashing one dimple, and leaves.

"Oh God." I sink onto the floor as I down my beer. This is going to be the most awkward non-dinner date ever.

I sit in the bathroom until the sweet smell of chicken parmesan makes its way into the room. I walk into the office and peek out the door. Luke is standing at the counter, putting a salad together. He looks relax and content in the kitchen. His knife kissing the cutting board. The ropes of muscles in his forearm flex with every chop and suddenly I find cooking extremely sexy.

"You can sit at the island, Daniella," Luke says.

I jump and step out. "How did you know I was standing there?"

"Your perfume."

My brows furrow in confusion. "It’s not even that strong," I mumble and make my way over to the island, hopping up on the stool. I watch as he moves around the kitchen. Stirring the pasta, checking on the chicken and grabbing two beers from the fridge. He opens one and hands it to me.

"Thanks. Who taught you how to cook?" I ask.

"My Mother. She said every man should know how to cook, clean, do laundry and treat a lady like a queen," Luke answers.

I take a drink. "I tried teaching Mason to cook. He got bored halfway through. I was showing him how to make minute rice." I snort.

Luke chuckles as he scrapes the carrots into the bowl.

"Do you need help?" I question.

"I’m good. Relax. Let me cook for you," Luke replies.

My cheeks heat and I take another drink. He keeps this up and he could very well be getting into my pants.

The timer goes off and Luke grabs the chicken out of the oven before draining the pasta and adding it to the sauce along with the chicken covered in parmesan cheese. He packs everything up and adds it to the basket.

"Shall we?" He grabs his keys and opens the door.

I stare at him confused. "Uh, where are we going?"

Luke glances down at me and grins. "You’ll see."

I step out and the elevator door opens, and we step in. When the doors open again, my breath catches in my throat.

"Oh. Wow," I breathe.

I step off the elevator and stroll over to one of the tables. There are fairy lights hanging over a canopy, the table is set, and there’s a vase with roses and candles sitting in the middle.

I turn to Luke. "You did all this," I wave a hand at the table, "for me?"

Luke places his free hand on my lower back. "I did," he says. He leads me over to the table, placing the basket down and pulling out my chair.

"It’s beautiful. But why?" I sit and wait as Luke pulls the food out of the basket.

---