10
If she thought she couldn’t sleep in her own apartment, it was pure hell trying to do so in his. The entire place smelled like Seth. She had no idea what cologne he wore, but it lingered long after he was gone.
Charlene took a hot shower, and dressed for the day. She had no idea what the plan was, but she was just looking forward to doing anything. The weekend was half over and all she’d done was lay around or sit on her butt. Granted, it was basically what the doctor had ordered, but that didn’t mean she enjoyed it.
When she came out of her room, it wasn’t Seth’s cologne that greeted her. Bacon? Where most people ran out to work with just a cup of coffee, Charlene loved breakfast. It was probably her favorite meal. She could make one mean mushroom and Swiss omelet. She didn’t expect to see that, but bacon was also on the top of her list of things she loved.
Seth was standing at the stove, a grey apron tied around his waist. He hadn’t even gotten dressed yet and was still wearing a pair of flannel pajama bottoms, with a t-shirt. She liked the relaxed look on him. Thus far she’d seen him in various business suits. Even the night he came to dinner, the only thing he’d done was take his suit jacket off. Taking another moment, she admired his backside. Even in PJ bottoms, she could tell he had a nice ass. Bet he looks real hot in jeans. Obviously he didn’t spend all of his time sitting behind a desk because their little tickle fest last night had revealed what she already suspected. Hidden beneath those stuffy suits, was one well-built man. And I wouldn’t mind running my hands over those abs again either.
The clanking of the pan snapped her out of her sweet morning daydream. “Good morning. Tell me what I can do to help,” she offered.
He shot her a quick wave with the spatula over his shoulder and said, “Orange juice is in the refrigerator, if you can pour us some. The rest is just about done.”
Charlene passed the table and her mouth watered. “You did all this?” There were eggs, toast, sausage and hash browns already on the table.
“I enjoy cooking.”
Great. Sexy as hell and can cook too.How was it someone like Seth was still single? Then she remembered, he was married to his job.“I guess so,” she said totally impressed. Then a bit mortified. When she cooked for him, it was practically a disaster. “But I know one thing, that won’t happen again.”
“What is that?” he asked.
“I’m not ever cooking for you again. You must’ve had to take a bottle of antacids after my meal.” She grabbed the juice and filled their glasses.
Seth brought the bacon to the table and said, “You’re not a horrible cook.”
“Nor am I a good one. I fall somewhere in the middle.” A step above tossing it in the trash.
“I’m not dead, so quit beating yourself up,” he teased. “But if you want, we can cook the next meal together.”
As they sat down she asked, “Are you serious? You want to teach me how to cook?”
“I never said anything about lessons. But I find cooking…relaxing.”
Charlene laughed. “I find it a necessity. You know when I’m hungry and want to eat.”
“I taught myself because I hated eating out.”
“Really? With all your money, I’d thought you’d have just hired a cook,” she stated.
“I could’ve done that. But then I need to tell someone else what I want, when I can just walk in the kitchen and make what I want. Eliminate the middle person.”
Sounded very logical, but if she hadn’t seen it for herself, she’d never have believed it. “Well it all looks delicious.”
“Then I suggest we eat before it gets cold.”
As she scooped up some eggs she asked, “How did you sleep last night?” Hopefully better than me.
“I couldn’t.”
Probably not for the same reason as me. “A lot on your mind?” she asked. Charlene couldn’t stop thinking about him. Yes his touching her feet was slightly annoying, but also playfully fun too. Seth seemed to always watch what he said and did. It was so nice seeing Seth let loose, even with something as ridiculous as a tickle fight. Which of course, she won.
“This hasn’t been what I’d call a normal week.”
“That’s true. You never told me what happened regarding my phone line. Did Sal find out what the issue was?” Of course right now Sal seemed to be very busy, all things seemed to have one common denominator, her. Was she like a bad luck penny for Lawson Steel? She hoped not, because if so, they might want to give her a pink slip and send her on her way.
“It’s still being looked into. And actually right now, not my major concern,” Seth answered gruffly.
Was Seth noticing the pattern as well? He definitely didn’t seem to want to discuss it. That wasn’t going to make it go away. “I wish there was something I could do to help,” she stated.