Everyone was enjoying Zach"s birthday party…
But unfortunately, May had to leave early. She bid her farewell to everyone and pulled Riley along with her.
"Is it necessary to live with you, miss May? I don"t want to be of an inconvenience, and I can a.s.sure you that I can find my own place and still report to work early…" Riley rambled as they walked toward May"s car, which was parked inside the military base.
"Here, you drive!" May answered by throwing her car key to Riley.
"Nice catch," May commented with a grin as she stepped into the front pa.s.senger seat. Riley scratched his head as he got into the driver"s seat.
When Riley was already inside the car, May looked at him and said, "Stop adding "Miss" to my name. Just call me May. How many times do I have to repeat that? And the most essential part of your job is to protect me at all times. Now how would you do that if you don"t stick with me? So, yes, you must live with me."
"Let me make it even simpler for you. Riley, the only place you need to be is with me, alright?" May added with a grin, which made Riley blush.
"I will be your home now!" May excitedly mused. She did not voice it out loud because she was afraid it would only scare off the already timid Riley.
She did not know why, but there was something about Riley that got her interested. She did not usually pay attention to the opposite s.e.x because food had always been the most attractive to her. That was until Riley came along.
She liked it whenever she saw his shy and timid att.i.tude only to her. Cobra told her that Riley was usually a chatterbox, but not in front of her. It made her feel special.
They finally arrived at her place, and she immediately led Riley to the room next to hers.
"Are you living alone, miss... Uhm, May?" He asked and quickly changed the way he was addressing her when he saw May narrowing her eyes at him as soon as she heard the word "Miss."
"Yes, I am living alone now. My parents moved out of the country a few years ago, but I chose to stay here. My nanny is with me, but she"s currently off for a week to spend some time with her family," May explained as she opened the door to his room and turned the lights on.
"Help yourself, Riley. I"ll just finish some work, and then I"ll cook our dinner," May said, but Riley quickly countered, "No, let me cook instead. I feel bad to always eat the food you prepared, so from now on, let me at least prepare the meals when you have to work."
May was a bit surprised, but her lips curved upward as she said, "Alright, then make yourself at home. Everything you need is in the kitchen."
Then she went to the study room to finish the cookbook she was writing. She was already late with her schedule, and her editor would definitely roast her alive soon.
But she couldn"t concentrate, as she was antic.i.p.ating the result of Riley"s cooking. "Darn it," she cursed as she looked at her laptop, trying to focus on her work.
She timed herself. She would want to finish the pending work an hour before dinner, so she could watch Riley cook.
After two hours, May stretched for a bit before she went down to check on Riley in the kitchen. "Are you done with your work?" Riley asked as he chopped the onions.
"Hmm, not yet, but my fingers are hurting from typing too much. So let me relax a bit by watching you cook. By the way, let"s buy you more things tomorrow, like a mobile phone and some clothes," May suggested with a smile as she sat in one of the kitchen island counter stools.
"It"s okay. I"ll do it once I drop you off at work, miss... Uhm, May," Riley declined, as he felt that May had already done too much for him. Besides, he still had enough money that he got from Field Marshal Chan. He had given both Cobra and him more than enough money to start a new life.
He left the military base, as soon as it was deemed safe for them to leave the safe house, while Cobra chose to stay to become a soldier. Cobra wanted a stable and secure life, while he desired to explore the outside world because he felt he was too naive and ignorant, as Cobra would often say.
"Hmm, don"t worry, I"ll have enough time tomorrow as long as I finish my work tonight. I will deduct the expenses from your salary, of course," May said with a grin as her eyes followed Riley"s every move.
She squealed inside as she watched Riley cook. He looked so s.e.xy in her eyes right now. His movements were so precise, it was a posture of a man who absolutely knew what he was doing.
"Where did you learn how to cook?" asked May as she smelled the nice aroma of the ingredients Riley was mixing right now.
"Oh, from my master… I learned a lot from him, and he was really a good cook," answered Riley with a smile.
May stared at Riley with adoration on her face. "Effortless," she gushed because Riley seemed to be an expert in the kitchen.
He was making lobster rolls and fire-eater chicken wings. "I"m not sure if you will like it, but I hope you do," murmured Riley. He was a bit nervous as he sensed May"s eyes following his every move.
"Nah, I"ll like it for sure," May rea.s.sured him because she could tell just by the smell that it was going to be a tasty meal. As a matter of fact, she was already drooling…
Drooling over for the meal and the man who was making it…
After a few more minutes, May could not wait anymore. She stood up and walked toward Riley, and forked one of the chicken wings to taste. Then her eyes widened as she exclaimed, "Oh my! It"s so delicious. Gosh, I should keep you by my side forever!" Then she grabbed a plate and took some more chicken wings before she went back to her seat.
Riley blinked his eyes and stared at May nonplussed. He didn"t know how he should interpret May"s words.
"What does she mean she should keep me by her side forever?" Riley thought with a puzzled look all over his face.