“The frosting is quick to make. I want to get dinner started. Anything in particular you want?”
He licks his lips. “Whatever you’re willing to give,” he says before handing the spoon back to me.
Is he flirting with me? Can you flirt with someone while blackmailing them? The thing is, I’m not so sure I believe he’s really blackmailing me. I don’t know why, but I don’t think Clause is a snitch. However it pulls at my heartstrings to think about him being out here all alone in a home that’s built for a family. While it’s beautiful, I think it would be a daily reminder that it’s only him here.
There I go again making up my own storyline for him. He could be hooking up with every woman over in Westchester. You know who could find that information for me? Tinsel. Too bad she’d be all up in my business if I asked. For now, I’m going to keep my mouth shut and hope she doesn’t notice my nightly trips out here. She’s so wrapped up in Jack that she might not, but the girl can spring up out of nowhere.
“I’m a far better baker than chef, but I can make a stir fry from what I see in your fridge.” The thing is fully stocked, and so is the giant pantry.
“I’ll eat whatever you make,” he grunts.
“You have a lot of food for a single man out in the woods. Are you a doomsday prepper? Is that why you’re out here in the middle of nowhere with all the goods?” I tease.
“I wouldn't say I’m a doomsday planner, but I am always prepared.”
“What do you do out here besides wrestle bears?”
“I don’t wrestle the bears. In fact, some of that meat in the fridge is for Maggie and her cubs.”
I stop cutting the bell peppers.“You feed bears?” I whisper like one is coming up behind me.
“If she’s around.”
“You’re serious!” I gasp with excitement. I know we have bears because everyone else is always spotting them, but I’ve never seen one, and I grew up here. “Will she come tonight? Can I see her? She has cubs? How many?” I fire off one question after another.
“I fed them tonight already before you came, but tomorrow I’ll wait.”
“No, don't make them wait. I’ll get someone to close for me tomorrow so I can be here to see them.”
“Okay,” he agrees, leaning back in his chair as he goes back to watching me.
I know I’m here to cook for him, but it’s something more. Maybe he wants something romantic. So I do what I do best and I talk as I cook, telling him random stories. I think he’ll grow tired and make an excuse to leave and come back when the food is done so he doesn’t have to listen to me ramble. But instead he listens to every word I say as I fill the silence and tell him more about me.
“You don’t have a Christmas tree,” I point out once I have the stir fry going and get to work on my frosting. “I can’t believe this is a home in Troping. I bet you’re breaking a few laws out here because from what I’ve heard, I think decorations are mandatory.” I’m teasing him again.
Clause glances around his home to where the kitchen opens up into the living room. He gives one of his grunts, but I’m not sure what that one means. Either way, maybe tomorrow I’ll get him to share something, anything, really about himself. Now more than ever I want to know who Clause is.
Even if he is blackmailing me.