SLOW HANDS

He didn’t know how to reply. The truth was that now that he was here, he wasn’t quite sure how to explain himself. He had just gotten into his car and drove off, driven by his need to see her… To talk to her… To touch her again. He shoved both hands into his pocket and looked around the living room. The way she was staring at him was making him very uncomfortable and he knew he had to say something to fill up the awkward silence between them. Maybe after that, then he would be able to put his words together and explain what he was doing in her house, but for now he had to say something else.

“This is nice” he managed to say as his gaze found hers again. “I mean… Your apartment. It’s beautiful. I love how you arranged it… So elegant and simple. But then I shouldn’t be surprised. You have always been that way… Simple and elegant… Charming…Sexy”

Chloe felt her cheeks grow hotter, and she knew he could see her face turn red, because his lips curled upwards as he grinned at her, then he took a step towards her. Chloe fought the urge to take a step backwards. This was her house. He was in her territory right now, and if there was anyone who should feel nervous, it was him, so she fought within her to stand her ground.

“Thanks” she said, unable to say anything else.

“Look, I know that it’s crazy for me to show up in your house like this, but I needed to see you before I leave. And before you remind me, I know what I said before and I’m sorry. I was overwhelmed by the fact that I was still so…. attracted to you and I just felt like I had to fight it” Timothy said as he finally came to stand in front of her. He took a deep breath before he added. “I would completely understand if you don’t want me here or if I’m interrupting something, I could leave… I just…”

“You are not interrupting anything” Chloe said, cutting him off. “And believe it or not, I’m glad you decided to pay me a visit. I could actually use the company. I was going to make dinner when you arrived so I will just get back to that. You can sit here in the living room and I will just hurry things up in the kitchen.”

“Nonsense” said Timothy, as he shoved his phone and keys into his pants pockets and began to roll up his shirt sleeves up to his ankle. “Of course I’m not just going to sit here watching TV. I would be bored out of my mind. I can help you make dinner. I don’t mean to brag but I’m a really good cook”

“Excuse me?” Chloe piped. “You can’t be serious”

“The hell I am” came his reply. “Why does it sound so strange that I want to help?”

Chloe lifted her hand to her forehead and rubbed it. “Ermm. It’s just… You are.. You know…” she stammered as she tried to put the words together.

Timothy raised an eyebrow. “No I don’t know” he said, grinning mischievously at her. “I honestly don’t know so you tell me. I’m what?”

That look wasn’t helping matters, Chloe thought, but if he wanted to help, who was she to stop him? Everyone needs help, right?

“Fine” she said as she turned and headed for the kitchen. She desperately needed to put some distance between them. “You can help me cook if you want to. But be warned, I tend to get a little bossy.. Just telling you so you’d know what to expect.”

Timothy contemplated telling her that he would love to see her get that way with him… And maybe not just in the kitchen, but he decided against it. He didn’t want to say anything to spook her or make her put any guards up. He wanted her this way. Free, open and willing to say anything that came into her mind… The way she had always been with him. So he kept his mouth shut and let her lead him to her kitchen. She could be bossy all she wanted. He was fine with that.

“So… What are we making?” Timothy asked, rubbing his palms together when they entered the kitchen.

“Just simple fried rice” Chloe replied as she moved to the sink to rinse out the pot. “Quite easy to make actually. The real challenge is slicing up all the veggies”

“Okay… And what would you like me to do”

Chloe paused and pointed at the vegetables on a tray. “Well,” she said as she moved away from the sink. “You can start by washing those… And then after that we gotta slice them up” she paused when he didn’t move then added. “You know what to do, right? I mean…. Can you really cook? You look a bit confused”

Timothy grinned at her. He seemed to take her question as a challenge. “Of course I can… Seriously” came his reply. “If you let me, I’m sure that I will be able to handle this without your help, but this is your house and your kitchen so you are the boss of me for now. I will settle for taking orders. Anything you want… ”

Chloe couldn’t help but grin back, and she tried not to dwell on his comment about her being the boss. It wasn’t his fault that she was incredibly attracted to him and everything he said seemed to sound sexual to her. She wasn’t even aware that she was staring until he raised an eyebrow.

“Well, are we going to do this or do you just want to stand over there?” he asked her. “I’m okay with that too… But it means you might have to go to bed hungry”

Chloe shook the thoughts away. “Fine… You start with the onions and the carrots and I will handle the green beans and cucumbers. Will be faster if we just split the work”

Timothy laughed and watched her as she washed the vegetables at the sink and put them in another tray, then he stood at the long table, cutting up the onions as he watched Chloe move around the kitchen. She looked up to see him watching her and smiled.

Gosh. He was smitten. Gone. Besotted. As she leaned over, the singlet she wore rode up to reveal a band of smooth skin. He felt his whole body tighten as he dragged his gaze away.