♪♪You must have been sent from heaven to earth

To change me, you're like an angel

The thing I feel is stronger than love, believe me

You're something special

I only hope that I'll one day deserve what you've given me. ♪♪

ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ [Breathless] - [Shayne Ward]

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 The evening air swept through the busy streets, people moving from their day jobs to the night jobs of fun. While some buildings still had their lights on from the engaging vibes, one particular one stood out. Though the lights were still on but void of any activity.

Kian alighted from his car parked outside Silver Palace. The lights inside should have been out long before then, this triggered warnings in his head. He took calculative steps to the building and froze momentarily with his brows arched upwards at the locked doors.

There was no reason for a thief to lock him or herself inside the building, right?

Though that thought surfaced, he still carefully opened the door with his own keys.

The cluttering resounding from the kitchen's direction let him know where the invader was. He surveyed the neat and peaceful state of the outside before proceeding carefully to the kitchen.

A slow smile wove onto his lips as the tension eased out of him once he got to the door of the kitchen.

Esmé stood there inspecting two different plates of deserts that lay on the table in front of her. With the crease launched onto her forehead, it solely fixed her entire attention on it, deciphering the code of the mystery that lay before her.

"You still nervous about tomorrow?"

Esmé yelped and jerked backwards, scanning the room with wide eyes until they settled on Kian. Her hands went up to her erratically beating heart as she let out a huge breath. She opened her mouth to talk, but with her jumbled thoughts, she couldn't make out anything.

Kian stepped further into the kitchen with an apologetic gaze. "Sorry about that. You were just too focused. I thought I'd step in before the creases became permanent."

She shook her head, chuckling as her breathing slowed down, welcoming the change from her previously focused state. "We're making jokes now, huh?" She rolled her eyes at Kian's smile. "How did you get in? I'm pretty sure I locked the door."

His keys jingled in the air as he displayed them. "I can't be the owner's son if I don't have a key myself, can I?"

Esmé tucked her lips in and nodded. "True," she said and turned her attention briefly back to the deserts in front of her.

This drew Kian's attention back to them. On one side was a brandy snap and on the other was an arctic roll. He looked up at Esmé and noticed she had turned her full focus back to them. "You know you never answered my question."

"Huh?" Esmé looked up at him, squinting her eyes, trying to remember what his question had been. "About me being nervous?" A simple nod from him gave her the answer she needed. "Well, yeah. Nervous, but that's not the problem. The thing is apart from the main course. I thought adding a nice snack would do, but I can't seem to decide between these two. They'll both add a delicate touch to the day, but which one better than the other."

"Why not the arctic roll?" Kian suggested gaining Esmé's undivided attention. "My mother said something about the main course being quite spicy. An icy desert can help cool down any residual spicy effect but also give a nice special homey aura with the right recipe."

Esmé nodded as the wheels turned in her eyes, giving the thought some consideration. "You're right. That makes perfect sense." She looked at Kian with a bright, dimpled smile. "And I know just the right recipe for it."

Kian froze momentarily. The sight of her, all giddy and pleased with herself, left him speechless for a second. He felt a foreign pull to keep that look right there for as long as he could have it. "Let me help."

His offer to help didn't shock her as much as it would have before. The filling expansion she felt within her built up a wider genuine smile on her lips as she nodded.

With the time not on their side, they set to work instantly. Kian moved over to the other side, beside her, grabbing an apron and a hairnet. Esmé briefly explained the recipe she wanted to him, guiding him through the new arrangement of the kitchen that he wasn't used to.

Soon they moved around in a perfect rhythm, making the kitchen a world of their own. They wove together the steps in a slow but precise tune, with each pace in sync with one another.

A serene smile played on their lips as they captured the richness of each flavour in its commending form. The lasting aroma that filled the air as Kian placed the final tray into the freezer was a pleasant reminder of the magical flow that occurred there.

Esmé relaxed against the counter with a satisfied sigh. "Thank you," she said to him as he stood up straight.

"I should thank you. I don't remember the last time I've had so much fun cooking before," he responded with a light chuckle.

"I believe it's said you have fun with the right person," she replied with a smile of her own, liking the fact that he enjoyed himself. It only took a minute for the deeper meaning of her words to crash down on her. Her eyes widened for a fraction before she cleared her throat, trying to send the flush that crept onto her cheeks away.

Her eyes fluttered to the side, locating the perfect distraction as a lone bag of flour they hadn't used, not too far from Kian. "H... how did we miss that bag during our clean up? Could you please help me return that bag there?" She pointed over to the shelf that held a few other bags.

Kian smiled inwardly at her not-so-subtle attempt at a quick topic change but spared her the embarrassment by letting it go, though he agreed entirely with her statement on finding the right person. He turned from her to the bag. "Sure."

Esmé moved instantly just as Kian picked up the bag, remembering the minor cut it had. The words of warning died on her lips with a gasp, replacing it when the contents within the bag poured out onto Kian's body.

Kian stood still, trying to grasp a hold of what had just happened. He dusted off his eyes and squinted at them with the corners of quirked up. "Did you do that intentionally?"

"Honestly, that wasn't intentional," she clarified, chuckling at the ridiculous sight of Kian drenched in flour. "But you do look rather floursome," she added with a lopsided grin.

He stooped, dusting off the flour from his body, and looked up at her with his eyebrows squished together. "Really?" he said. A slow smile crept onto his lips the moment an idea popped into his mind. "Well then, since I'm feeling very generous today, then I can't be stingy."

Esmé's forehead crinkled with eyes squinted at Kian.

"I have to share this brilliant flour trait with you."

Shaking her head, she shrieked with eyes as wide as saucers. "No!"

Her heart leapt into her throat as he took tentative steps towards her, his gaze locked on her, carefully waiting for the right moment to catch his prey. With her eyes focused on him, she held her breathing, waiting to dash off the moment he moved.

He bolted, and she almost missed her window, escaping his grip only by an inch but successfully making to the other side of the counter, chuckling. She turned to Kian, who had an impressed smile on his lips with a smirk. "Too slow, Doc."

Kian chuckled with a new glint in his eyes. An unfamiliar yet delightful thrill ran through him from the challenge. His lips arched upwards with his eyes narrowed on her. "Are you sure?"

Esmé's pulse quickened at how dangerously low tone his voice went. In those three words lay an unspoken promise that sent a shiver down her spine. Her feet involuntarily stepped backwards, giving him a wary look. "Come on, Kian. We're adults. This is rather unbecoming of us, don't you think?"

Kian cocked his head to the side. "But all I want is a hug and to share with you this floursome trait you awarded me. It's only fitting. After all, sharing and caring is something adults do."

That was all the warning he gave her before he darted towards her.

A squeal escaped her lips as she dashed in the opposite direction. His hands reached forward to grab a hold of her but just as he got close to her but they froze mid-air. A stern voice cut through the moment like a sharp glass shard.

"Is this what happens in my kitchen when I'm not around?"  

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☺️☺️☺️☺️

Sweet Holly Molly

I'm literarily crying. My sweet children are having unrestrained fun with each other. Who would have thought we'd see the day.

I know it might seem like things are going slow but the pace of this book has always been just that. So bear with me, y'all, the romance will be blooming soon.

Exams are done finally! I'm really exhausted but this just means, I can write freely now with no guilt trapping me. Yah...💃🏽💃🏽

But without being too excited, my utmost love for your thoughts on this chapter? (Because I haven't got a penny but I've got all the love for you.)🥰🥰💭👉🏽

Till next time!💕