Page 11 of Falling for You
Evan chuckled as he opened his box. He and Max had made a new soup recipe that he brought home in the hopes of impressing Mallory. She understood why Evan wanted to find his own way, even if their other sisters didn’t. When he told her he was learning to cook, she was excited to try what he’d learned so far.
Pouring the soup into the waiting pot, Evan turned on the heat and went back to getting everything set for dinner. He carried out napkins and utensils and found CeCe clutching one of the pillows, unsure of where to go.
“This will not do,” Evan said as he propelled himself and gave CeCe a gentle shove to her shoulder. She yelped and fell back on the mattress, which bobbed with her weight.
“Hey!” CeCe’s legs kicked up, the pillow bounding across the floor.
Evan stepped around and gingerly flopped on his side of the air mattress. This time CeCe bobbed in a different direction and started laughing, a real laugh that crinkled the corners of her eyes and made Evan feel ten feet tall. “To answer your question,” he said, shifting his weight so she fell toward him. “I don’t normally live like this. I did this for Mallory. But sitting here alone would have been ridiculous, so thank you for humoring me.”
Before CeCe could respond, he stood up, letting her settle back on her elbows. “Good to know,” she said, steadying herself.
Evan’s steps faltered as he saw her, smiling, relaxed in his home. Clearing his throat, he nearly sprinted away before he said something stupid. The tips of his ears were so hot with nerves, he was surprised there wasn’t smoking billowing from his head.
From the kitchen, Evan heard CeCe unmute the TV. He’d cued up another movie before heading out for food. The familiar Chinese narration floated around the apartment, and he was glad to have already turned on the subtitles. After portioning out the soup, he carefully sat on the air mattress and handed CeCe her dinner. “You’ll have to let me know what you think.”
He trusted CeCe on a lot of issues, but being honest about food was at the top of the list. She dipped her spoon into the bowl and sniffed before taking a bite. Her eyes fluttered closed as she savored. A groan of what Evan hoped was pleasure had him pulling at his collar.
“Evan, this is amazing, truly.”
His already flushed cheeks burst into a deep crimson. “Really? You’re not just being nice?”
CeCe covered her mouth as she snorted with laughter. “When was the last time I was nice? Especially about food? I would never let anyone eat, or make, bad food if I can help it.” She drew her spoon back through the bowl and helped herself to a greedy bite.
Transfixed, Evan watched CeCe’s mouth as she chewed. He always found women’s lips captivating, but CeCe took it to a whole new level.
“Thanks,” he said as he eased back onto his half of the mattress. He tried not to shift her too much as she ate, but his weight dipped her a few inches closer. Not that he was complaining, and fortunately she didn’t seem to mind. He pointed to a plate of bread by her side. “There’s some of your sourdough. Max said I could take it home.”
Not waiting, CeCe took a slice and dropped it into her bowl. She leaned closer to Evan and stuck a piece in his. She was so close, Evan could smell vanilla on her skin. He never knew if it was her perfume or hours baking every day, but she always smelled like vanilla.
For the rest of dinner, the pair watched the movie in companionable silence. Evan could have recited each line from the subtitles and attempted half the stunts, but he found himself watching CeCe’s reactions more. She was drawn in, her eyes darting across the screen as another fight scene began. Her shoulders tensed as the fights grew longer, and he couldn’t help but smile when she sighed as the winner stood over the fallen.
“It’s addicting, isn’t it?” he asked when the first movie wrapped. CeCe’s empty bowl sat in her lap and she blinked as Evan took it. “Dessert?” he asked without waiting for a reply. He retrieved a small container of chocolate peanut butter fudge he’d made that morning. It wouldn’t be as good as what CeCe made, but when he’d been planning for Mallory, he had known she would love it.
CeCe took the small plate of fudge and rolled when Evan got back onto the air mattress. They both laughed as he took a fallen piece of fudge and held it out for her to eat. It was an intimate gesture he’d thought about doing a million times, but he was surprised by his own boldness. “Try it.” His voice came out hoarse, like it had been run over a cheese grater.
To her credit, CeCe didn’t scoff or pull back. Instead, she leaned in and ate the candy right from his fingers. He felt the heat of her breath on his thumb and had to gulp for air. Having her this close, in his kung fu fort no less, was messing with his brain. And, unfortunately, his heart.
CeCe’s eyes closed, her head falling back as the confection melted on her tongue. A moment later, she blinked and snagged another candy from the plate. Evan tossed a square in his mouth and was pleased to find the texture smooth and not grainy.
“This is really good. You made this?” she asked.
“Don’t sound too surprised.” He laughed as he handed her a third piece. CeCe ravenously chewed through the other piece in her mouth.
Covering her lips with her hand, she finished chewing and sighed contentedly. “Seriously, you made this?” she asked, pointing to the now empty plate. “Where did you learn how to boil the sugar like that? There was no graininess, and the texture was smooth and creamy.”
Evan reached back to put the plate on the floor before turning onto his side. Resting his head on his hand, he looked at CeCe as she licked her fingers clean. If he died at that moment and went to heaven, he doubted it would be better than what he saw right now.
CeCe fluffed up her pillow and mirrored his pose, facing him only six inches apart. “I mean it, where did you get the recipe?”
“I got it from one of your notebooks, actually. Mallory loves fudge, and Max suggested I check out your recipes.”
CeCe’s gaze unfocused for a moment, but she recovered quickly. “Which one?” she asked casually, her finger trailing over a pillow.
Evan scratched his chin and tried to remember. It might have been the purple one he rarely saw CeCe use. “I think it was the purple one, with the curled edges.” A shadow flitted across her face and was gone in an instant. She didn’t say anything at first, and Evan feared he’d overstepped. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to use your books without asking.”
Recovering, CeCe reached out and tucked a fallen curl behind Evan’s ear. He felt her touch from his hairline down to his curling toes. There was a strong possibility he would combust. “It’s fine,” she whispered, letting her hand slowly fall back to her stack of pillows. “You did a great job with it.”
The next movie in the cue started automatically, and a loud fight scene jolted them back to the moment. CeCe rolled onto her back, her legs fidgeting. When she couldn’t get comfortable, Evan grabbed some pillows and propped them up beneath her head. “Here,” he said as he handed her a bright pink pillow covered in glittery hearts.
