Page 32 of One Hundred Desires

She stared at him. “Have you ever told Sarah you weren’t interested in her?”

“I told her to leave my house. That should be pretty clear.”

She scrunched her nose. “Yeah, you’d think, but not everyone hears the same message. Maybe when she comes back, the thing to do is to tell her you’re not going to be her friend, fling, or fiancé.”

“I told her you were my fiancée. That should be pretty clear.”

“Maybe, but now she just sees me as an obstacle.” She pointed to the kennel. “What’s he watching?”

“Survivor. He’s a fan.”

“Aren’t we all?”

“Dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes. Help yourself to whatever you need.”

Red eagerly awaited her return, and when she did, he was awestruck. The oversized T-shirt hung off her shoulder, revealing a glimpse of her sun-kissed skin, while his boxers hugged her hips, showcasing her curves. Her wet hair flowed down her back in golden waves. He didn’t think. He acted. He rushed over and pulled her into his arms, kissing her like she was the only thing that mattered in the world. The intensity of the moment took their breath away, and Red knew that this was something special. As she pulled away, he looked into her eyes and saw a reflection of his feelings staring back at him until she punched him in the jaw.

CHAPTERTHIRTEEN

The soft morning light filtered through the curtains and woke Viv from her sleep. She was in a much better mood than she had been in days prior, feeling relaxed and refreshed. As she stepped out of her bedroom, the house was silent so she tip-toed down the stairs and into the kitchen. Red was still asleep, and Viv didn’t have the heart to disturb him.

Her stomach grumbled which sent her searching through the cabinets and refrigerator like a treasure hunter seeking buried gold.The kitchen was as empty as a barren desert—no cereal, toaster pastries or convenience food in sight. Being the only girl in her family besides her mother, one would expect that she’d know how to cook but it had never interested her. The only thing about food she enjoyed was consuming it. People liked to tease her about her ravenous appetite, but they don’t think about how much fuel it takes to maintain all that muscle, she mused, growing even hungrier.

She found some eggs, cheese, and a few slices of bread, and decided to make some simple scrambled eggs.

As she cracked the eggs into a bowl and started whisking them, she couldn’t help but feel self-conscious. She had always been the underdog, and cooking was just another thing she felt inadequate about. Even her brother had cooked a dinner that would have made Martha Stewart proud.

Just as she was about to put the eggs in the pan, Red walked in holding Lucky. “Good morning,” he said as he made his way to the coffee maker. “What’s for breakfast?” He popped in a K-Cup and pushed start.

“I was just about to make some scrambled eggs,” Viv replied, trying to sound confident. “I could use a cup of coffee.”

“I got you.” He waited for the first cup to finish brewing and handed it to her before he started the next. “Cream is in the refrigerator. Sugar is in the bowl.” He pointed to a simple white dish on the counter. “What kind of eggs are we having?”

“Kind?” She looked in the bowl. “Chicken, I think? What did you buy?”

Red laughed and walked over to her, putting his hand on her shoulder. “Let me help you,” he said, putting Lucky on the floor and taking the bowl of eggs from her hands. “I make a mean scrambled egg.”

Viv watched as he expertly cooked the eggs, adding cheese and some herbs, and served them up on a plate with a few slices of toast. She leaned against the counter and took a bite. The eggs were fluffy and delicious, and Viv couldn’t believe how good they tasted.

“Wow, these are amazing,” she said, taking another bite. “How did you learn to cook like this?”

Red’s smile faltered for a moment. “I had to learn how to cook to survive. I picked up a few things from my dad, but most of what I know, I taught myself or learned from cooking shows. The trick with eggs is to go slow, not too much heat all at once.”

Viv felt a pang of sympathy for him. “You’re a natural,” she said, trying to lift his spirits. “Maybe you can teach me a thing or two.”

He waggled his brows. “I’m happy to teach you everything I know in the kitchen and beyond.”

She walked past him. “Your problem is you have a one-track mind.”

Lucky barked frantically, desperation seeping through his eager eyes. She sighed and scolded him. “You’re as bad as he is. You’re both looking for the quick fix.” She felt bad for bundling them together. Lucky was hungry. He couldn’t help himself. Red on the other hand could, or could he? He was hungry for love, but indulged in sex like people eat junk food. It fills you up for a while but doesn’t nourish your body or your heart, and it gets old really fast. “Let’s finish eating and then head to my brother’s. I can’t live in your T-shirts and boxers forever.”

“I’d argue that, but I know I’d lose,” he muttered, forking his scrambled eggs with a vengeance.

“I’m glad. It’s important to recognize one’s limitations,”

“I suppose… but if you don’t mind, I think I’ll stay here.” His voice wavered and he looked away from her.

She shook her head and crossed her arms. “Don’t forget, when I took this job, you agreed to do what I said—and I say we’re both going.” No chance for negotiation here, no matter how much he pleaded silently with his eyes.

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