Later that evening he drove home, and the scents that hit him the moment he entered the house made his mouth water. There were onions, garlic, and he was sure beef was in there as well. Dropping his bags off at his in-home office, he found Hadley in the kitchen with a spatula in hand, running it around the edges of a large chocolate cake.
“You’re back early. It’s only a little after five.”
“I wanted to come home, and make sure you’re okay with tonight.”
“Tonight? What is happening tonight?” she asked, frowning. “Oh, you mean the dinner, and company?”
“That would be it.”
“You don’t need to worry about that at all. Dinner is in the oven cooking low and slow. I’ll finish off with the pasta when you’re about ready to eat, and all is good.” She held up a finger. “Before I forget, I baked you these.” She placed the spatula on the side, and he couldn’t resist picking it up and licking off the chocolate frosting that still coated the back of it.
She turned toward him, holding a large tin with the word “cookies” on the side. “This is for you, and I figured you could, I don’t know, take it into work or something.”
Shoving the spatula in his mouth, he lifted the lid, and inside were cinnamon snickerdoodles, his favorite.
She took the spatula from his mouth, and shook her head. “I hadn’t finished with that.”
He took a cookie and shoved it in his mouth. They were beautiful, melting, and utterly divine. “Marry me?”
Hadley burst out laughing. “They’re just cookies.”
“These are my favorite.” The flavor burst on his tongue, and he closed his eyes, as they took him back to his childhood, and the bakery he used to visit.
“I had no idea.”
He opened his eyes, and watched as she dumped the spatula he’d been licking in the sink, and grabbed another one.
“I had no idea you liked to cook, and you liked to bake. Are you sure you’re okay with handling tonight?” he asked.
“Totally. I don’t mind. It will be nice. Arnold, he’s the guy that interviewed me, right?”
He nodded. “Don’t worry, and don’t be nervous around him. He’s a good guy.”
She went back to finishing off the cake, and once it was smooth, she grated some white chocolate over the top, and then placed a dome on top to cover it.
Easton couldn’t look away as he watched her. This was her domain, and he saw how much she enjoyed it.
“So, what did you do today?” he asked.
“I went grocery shopping. I hope you don’t mind, but I filled your pantry, fridge, and freezer with stuff you could enjoy eating.”
He put the lid back on the cookie tin, and moved toward her. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her close, and pressed a kiss to her lips. “I’ve got no problems at all. I don’t cook.”
“I can tell. You heat everything up.” She shrugged. “No worries, I will take care of you.” She patted his chest and went back to cleaning up.
Something warmed him from the inside out while watching her. It was so natural to sit at the counter, and watch her. There was no rush inside him to get back to work. Hadley was already changing him, and he wasn’t stupid. He saw it.