~~~ CHAPTER 20 - DINNER ~~~

"You're here!" I cried out trying to catch my breath. I was really surprised to see Dylan Fernandez at the St. Louis Library. Of all the places, the library was the last place I expected to see him.

"I study here," he answered briefly.

"You said you're an intern," I said confusedly while I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Yeah, I report to the Sarmiento Corporation for my internship but I also come here to confer with my university supervisor every now and then and, of course, do my narrative report. It's not an easy arrangement, I'm telling you," Dylan explained while placing a book on the table. "Actually, I asked permission from my immediate supervisor at the office to give me a while so I could borrow this book from here. I was on my way out when I spotted you. I couldn't miss the chance of saying hi to you."

"Wow, it looks like you're living a busy life," I commented.

Dylan smiled as he tousled his brown hair, "Busy it is."

His smile, I noticed, was something that would summon a positive aura from anybody talking to him. I felt so at ease with him.

Dylan and I were grinning at each other when we both heard someone clearing her throat. We diverted our attention to the front of us. I saw Kara sitting across the table and trying to grasp the situation. With her looks, it was obvious that she was trying to figure out who I was talking with.

"Oh, by the way, Dylan, I'd like you to meet my friend, Kara Mondego," I said glancing at Kara who changed her expression at an instant from being perplexed to amazed. "Kara, this is Dylan Fernandez, an intern at Nigel's office," I finished the introductions.

They shook each other's hands and smiled at each other. I noticed that Kara was also in awe of Dylan's smile. She raised one of her eyebrows at me as if telling me that the guy was a good catch.

The three of us went out of the library together. Dylan went to where his car was parked to return to Nigel's main office. Kara and I headed to our class.

"He's handsome," Kara immediately blatted as soon as Dylan was out of our sight. We were now walking in the hallway towards our classroom.

"Am I sensing an instant attraction here?" I asked teasing her.

"Oh, please! Serge is going to kill me," Kara mused guiltily.

I knew she was already starting to fall for Serge. There were times that she denied her feelings for the latter but I could feel that the guy made a great impact on her. I was pleased to hear that she was concerned of Serge's feelings.

"Are you admitting now that you and Serge are already an item?" I tried to hide my happiness by concealing my smile with a serious look. My friend had just admitted that she was concerned of Serge's reaction if he would find out that I was teasing her with another guy. That made me so overjoyed because it would mean that she was finally in love.

"Of course, we aren't yet but we're getting there soon," she blushed.

"Wow, you're finally in love! Congratulations!" I teased by pinching her side.

She chuckled. "Well, thank you."

We were grinning widely as we entered our English 101 room. We were already seated side by side and the professor was already starting her lecture when Kara wrote something on a piece of paper. A few minutes later, she handed it to me surreptitiously so our professor wouldn't be notified of our little misdemeanor.

I eagerly read what she had written on that little piece of paper.

"That Dylan Fernandez has got a crush on you," it said.

I was stunned. Here she went again with her ability in reading people's feelings!

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After the amiable company that Nigel was giving me during the weekend, I became a lot happier and more optimistic. I also became more self-assured in dealing with him.

"Hi," I greeted him when he entered the main door. I came out from the kitchen wearing a tank top and capris with an apron when he arrived. My hair was tied on a messy bun, surely not the attractive look that I anticipated about myself but I didn't care for I was too excited to see him come home earlier than I expected.

Nigel smiled at me lazily. With his tie hanging loosely in his neck, he looked tired as usual after the day's work.

"Have you eaten?"

He shook his head and sat on the sofa. There were lines forming in his forehead. Oh, my Nigel! He's probably in one of those troubled days in the office.

Sensing his tiresome nature, I felt I had to tell him the news. "Suzana didn't come today. She called and informed that she's babysitting her sick sister's child and she apologized. Of course, I said she has nothing to worry. I mean, I can handle everything here. So I prepared our dinner," I announced proudly.

His astonished and disbelieving eyes lingered on me, "Dinner, really?"

"Of course! Come, dinner's ready," I cheerfully broadcasted since I was so excited to serve him what I had prepared. I proceeded without delay to the dining area. In there, I wielded the finishing touches on the table. I was too happy that everything was set just right on time.

"So, what's for dinner?" Nigel spoke from behind me. When I turned to him, I saw that his tie was already taken off his neck. His long-sleeved button down shirt was slightly opened in the upper part showing a generous sight of his lean chest.

I gulped the saliva in my mouth. The sight of him was enough for my dinner this evening. I brushed away that crazy thought in my head and met his eyes that had still those unbelieving looks. "I cooked your favorite," I said.

I hope I did justice to your favorite food or else this is going to be a disaster, Nigel. Well, wish me luck.

"Paella?" he asked in amazement.

"Yup, you got it right. What else is it?" I smiled widely and wished to myself silently that he would appreciate my effort. I even surfed the internet for the recipe and ran to the groceries for the lacking ingredients in the pantry the moment I arrived from St. Louis. I always helped Clara, the palacio cook, everytime she prepared the special dish for Nigel but I somehow couldn't still get it. I really hoped he would find my own version savory.

Nigel cast his eyes on the table. I felt proud within when I saw him smile at himself. He must be pleased with the table setting. I made it sure that the long-stemmed roses in the vase at the center of the four-seater table accoutered a romantic touch. I sensed Nigel's approval as he sat on his seat. A smirk formed in his lips.

"Ready?" I asked for his cue so that I could already served him the paella.

He nodded his head concealing the smug look off his face. I went to the kitchen to serve my paella dish on a beautifully decorated platter. Content with its appealing plating with the seafood --- prawns, mussels, and clams --- and veggies on top of the rice and its delicious smell, I took the apron off me and put it on a hook in the wall. Then, I held the platter and stepped carefully back to the dining area.

Geez, Nigel, you have to love this! I poured all my love in this dish, if you only know!

"Here it is," I uttered placing the platter on the vacant portion of the table. "But wait, there's a side dish for that," I said and went back to the kitchen. When I returned to him, I was bringing the Spanish mixed green salad that I also prepared. Nigel was just looking at me with an amused smile.

Fully inspired by his smile, I dug out a part of the paella with a serving spoon and placed it on his plate. "Go ahead, dig in."

He moved his nose closer to the food in front of him as if smelling its aroma. "Well, not until you sit down and serve yourself," he said a second later.

"Of course." I sat down opposite to him. Shortly, I scooped some portion of the paella into my plate.

Nigel was the first one to dig in the food. I watched his facial reaction after his first fork. He didn't show any apparent emotions, instead he forked again and ate. I was kind of disappointed with how he reacted for I was half-expecting that he would express his appreciation.

When he noticed that I wasn't moving a bit, he raised his right brow. "You're not eating."

"Oh, yeah, yeah, o-of course," I stammered and began digging in my part.

In fairness, the food was delicious. Well, that was how I found it. Deep inside, I was battling with enthusiasm as to what he was going to say about my big efforts. Sensing that he wouldn't say anything, I just concentrated on the food and enjoyed every bite of it. Much to my surprise, Nigel went on for a second serving and, take note, consumed all of it. Wow!

"Wait, I'll serve the dessert," I said when I saw him already done with his food. Not waiting for his reply, I strode again to the kitchen.

Just when I was about to open the refrigerator door, Nigel, who secretly followed me, caught me by surprise when his hand quickly opened it right before me. I stood perplexed closer to the opened fridge while he leaned his trunk towards my back. His right forearm brushed my right elbow making me jolt like crazy. The sudden contact of both of our bodies brought different kinds of emotions in me.

"The dinner won't be complete without this," he whispered in my right ear as his hand searched a wine bottle inside. Again, his contact to me gave such gaucheness in my supposed to be actions. It felt so awkward that I managed to step to my left side to let him have the fridge for himself. When he finally has the wine in his hand, he turned to me. "Where's the dessert?"

"I-it's in there," I spoke shyly as I pointed where my dessert was placed. It was a combination of flan and citrus curd with the best caramel on it!

"Bring it, then," he said as he stepped back to the table in the dining area.

When I arrived there with the dessert, I promptly served the both of us. The look of him as he delved a small portion into his mouth was priceless. I saw him licked his upper lip to wipe the caramel in there. That made him very, very sexy especially when he gulped the wine in his glass. He was actually tasting the flan and curd like he was enjoying it. I was speechless as I sat in front of him.

"You also did this?" he asked.

I nodded. He didn't know I experimented a lot on baking when I was in The Fields. Elena was my assistant everytime I had a crazy idea on what to bake. I had actually kind of perfected this craft. Oh, I was totally smitten with cakes but, for tonight, I had to prepare the flan and curd for I learned that it was the best dessert to be paired with paella.

"Not bad," he muttered and had another bite of it.

I smirked. Can your Stella do that for you? Wait 'til you taste one of my cakes pretty soon!

With that triumphant feeling, I stuffed my mouth with the sweet. If I hadn't impressed him with my paella, I just knew that I definitely killed the dinner with this dessert. Of course, you could see the pleasure in his eyes!

Congratulations, girl! I felicitated myself.

The next thing I knew, he was already offering me a glass with wine. He just filled the glass with a shot and pushed it on the table towards my direction.

"Sorry, I don't drink," I refused as I pushed the glass back to him. He instantly grabbed it so that my hand holding the stem of the wine glass was under his palm. His warm touch ignited goosebumps in my arms and neck.

And why did my stupid eyes cast a stare on his flaunted chest? Geez...

"Come on, it's not like it's going to intoxicate you. Besides, you've been drunk once so don't play innocent," Nigel said rolling his eyes and squeezing my hand with his fingers.

Ouch!

"I'm not playing innocent..."

"It's just a shot," he stated trying to challenge me.

Afraid that I might ruin the evening with my refusal, I replied, "Okay."

"It's dry rosè. It's my wine when I eat paella. And it's best when it's chilled. You'll like it." He then released my hand.

Just like an obedient kid, I took a sip from it. No matter what the flavor was, I couldn't still appreciate it. A grimace appeared in my face.

Nigel chuckled as he looked at me. "Somebody's acting naive," he said teasing me.

"I am not! I'm just not used to this!" I exclaimed gulping everything in the glass I was holding. The cold liquid passed through my throat irritatingly yet produced a hot tingling effect in my neck. "I just don't want to get drunk 'cause the first and last time that I was---" I spat out after I let out another ugly grimace in my face.

"Yeah, how could I forget?" Nigel immediately butted in, "You vomited, passed out, and ended up with somebody putting some fresh clothes on you."

Oh, my God! Talking about reminiscing the past...

I quickly felt that I blushed big time. I bowed down my head to conceal my face turning into one ripened tomato. Who could ever forget that? I had been actually trying to pretend the whole time that I didn't know about him changing my clothes on that fated night. But, with how I reacted now in front of him, he would definitely detect that I knew it all this time!

"What's with your lip buttoning, Althea?" he asked mischievously at me when I didn't say a word at all.

"Y-you... you're teasing me," I said with all honesty still trying not to meet his eyes because I felt that his gaze was boring a hole in my face.

I heard him swallow another shot of the wine. "I love it when you blush like that, princess."

I didn't answer him. I blushed more.

"No, I won't ever allow you to get drunk tonight... I might again end up changing your clothes for you. I can't anymore allow that to happen, do you know that?"

Those words were like daggers thrown to me. I couldn't help myself but blushed even more. However, I chanced to meet his eyes with mine. The world seemed to stop as his eyes drilled my very soul. Oh, my! His stare became serious and meaningful. Nigel was sending a very important message to me... He had seen me naked and there was no way for me to alter that fact... Well, that was how I read it by the look in his eyes.

As I could no longer hide the shame that I felt, I stood up kind of shivering. That fact happened months ago but it still surprised me until now.

"Excuse me..." I blurted out. I just needed to take a breath of fresh air. God help me.

"You're not even done with your dessert yet, princess," he reminded me before he sipped the contents of his glass. All along, his eyes didn't leave mine.

"I'm already full," I said convincingly.

He stood up and started to clear the table.

"I'll do it," I sighed deeply after. I was glad that the topic about him changing my clothes was just broken off.

We both did the cleaning up anyway. Still feeling awkward, I went to the kitchen first bringing some of the silverware to the sink. Again with my apron on, I began to wash the dishes and secretly thanked that I was alone. I still couldn't get over with Nigel's gazes and teases. Yet, I barely had been there for two minutes when I heard his footsteps at my back.

Oh, God! He's coming! Brace yourself, Althea!

He pushed his way towards my side as he placed the dishes he brought for washing. As he did it, our arms made some electrifying contact that, again, made me jolt. The fact that I was on a tank top and my arms were completely bare, it made me felt giddy with... I couldn't even describe what I actually felt. It just made me go so stupendous; my head was spinning.

"Your paella's addicting, princess," he tickled my neck with his hot breathing that made me jolt again.

Wait... what? Addicting? My paella?

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A/N

Looove the fact that you guys are reading this! I'm so addicted to your support, too! I'm so inspired that I had to finalize this chapter right away and so you get to have two updates this week from me. Ladies and gents, come on then, hit that star and leave a comment!

Always,
(sapphiregirl22) ~_^