'Oh no!'

Erisha grabbed the handle of the pan, that had just boiled over, and yelped as some of the sauce spilt over her hand.
'Damn!'
Putting her hand under the water tap immediately, Erisha rolled her eyes.
'What is wrong with me?'

Erisha had left work early, in order to ready dinner for tonight. She had taken a detour to buy the things she needed, and had reached home on time.
But, normally an adept cook, Erisha felt like she had two thumbs today.
Nerves had her high strung tonight, and she wanted to scream now.
In an attempt to have things ready on time, she had been making silly mistakes.
'Why am I so on edge? It's not like I invited him myself! Damn you, Treyton Elrod!'

A glance at the clock had her shake her head.
Stop thinking about him! Or you will end up greeting him looking like this!
She looked down at her faded skimpy top and short shorts, and shuddered.
And with no food!
As she saved the vegetables from burning, preventing one more disaster.
Scolding herself, she hurried to finish her cooking.

An hour later, her food was ready, but she was not!
All the heat in the kitchen had left her sweaty and grimy, and she desperately needed a shower.
Erisha rushed into her room, thanking the heavens, that she had cleaned and dusted just a day before, so everything was spick and span.
Calm down, woman! It's just one man coming to dinner..but what a man! He had the most weird effect on her..

Erisha had just come out of the shower, when her intercom buzzed.
'Oh, shit! Now what to do?'
She looked down at her towel clad figure, and reached for the receiver.
'Yes?'

'Treyton..'

'Uhh..'

'Let me in!'

'Uhm..yeah, okay!'
Erisha buzzed him in, and quickly slipped on her dress.
Opening her hair from its' knot, she gave it a brush, leaving it to fall in tresses over her back.
As she looked in the mirror, to put on some lip gloss, the  look seemed too over to her. You look like you are offering more than dinner like he said!
She quickly tied up her hair in a low knot with a hairstick, and stood back to see her reflection.
Too businesslike?

Before she could open her hair to make it again, she heard a knock on her main door, leaving her no option but to leave her hair as it was.
A flutter of excitement pitted in her tummy, as she squared her shoulders, and left her room.

The knock came again, louder this time, as she ran towards her door.
'Coming!'
She called out, and after taking a deep breath and sending a prayer heavenwards, she opened the door.
'Sorry, I..'
She stopped, as her breath decided to hold itself at the sight that met her.
A freakingly good looking Treyton, dressed in a casual t-shirt, jeans, and leather jacket, made her swallow..hard.
The olive green shirt, made his eyes look even greener, as her gaze finally reached them. She saw that he had been checking her out the same way, as she had, and blinked.
'Hi..come in..'

'Thought you might have changed your mind..'
Treyton drawled, as he moved towards her.

Thinking he was going to hug her, Erisha moved forward without thinking, just as he handed her a bottle of wine he had been holding.
Erisha halted, her eyes flying to see a knowing look in his. Clearing her throat, she took the bottle, and moved aside to let him in.
'Thanks..'

Treyton entered in a whiff of cologne, dwarfing her and her lounge.
Erisha watched him, liking the way he had combed his hair tonight.
It should be a sin to look this good..

'Erisha? Are you alright?'

Erisha blinked, realising that she had been standing at the door holding the bottle, and still staring at him.
She quickly shut her door, and lecturing herself for lack of control, headed towards him.

Treyton watched her walk towards him, and his heartbeat picked up pace.
She looked beautiful, almost delicate, in a wine red kaftan style dress. The fabric stretched over her breasts, a V neckline hinting at her cleavage, tapering at her hips and flaring down to below her knees.
Her hair was tied at her nape, and his fingers almost itched to set them free, to cascade down her back.
Resisting the urge to do so, he raised his eyebrows at her.
'I thought maybe you had stood me up..'

'Stood you up? You wangled this invitation yourself..'
Erisha began.

'Yes! That's right! But you didn't cancel either..'
He watched her face..closely.

'Uh..I..'
Erisha flushed, realising that he was right.

'So, I could only take that as an agreement..'
There was something like smugness in his eyes and tone.

The timer on her oven went off, giving Erisha an excuse to move away from his piercing gaze.
'Excuse me..'
Erisha went to her kitchen, putting the wine bottle on the table.
Why is he staring at me like that? Does my hair really look bad? My dress? Why..

'Something smells really good..'

His voice startled her, and she turned to see him standing inside her kitchen, leaning against her table, hands folded across his chest. He had chucked off his jacket, and his toned biceps could be seen bulging through the short sleeves of his t-shirt.
God, help me!
Erisha put on her mittens, and bent to take out a dish from the oven.

Treyton watched, unable to look away from her slight form, as she carried it to the table.
'Looks yumm..'
Her eyes shot to his, in time to see something flare in his eyes, confirming the double meaning of his words.
Erisha quickly moved back to the counter, to pick up the rest of the food.
As she brought it to the table, Treyton's eyes widened.
'You cooked all of this?'

'Yeah!'
Erisha checked everything.

'Wow!'

'I didn't know what you liked, so..'
Erisha shrugged, before gesturing for him to take a seat.

'I'm not very picky, as long as it tastes good..'

Erisha had made a lasagna, salad, chicken steaks with mashed potatoes, and dumplings with a spicy dip.
She offered him those.

'What is that?'
Treyton looked curious.

'These are steamed dumplings called momos..very popular in India..'

Treyton took a bite, and chewed.
'Interesting..'

'We usually have it with this chilli dip..it adds flavour..no, wait!'
Erisha told him as he dipped his momo into the dip, and took a huge bite.
'Don't do that..'
She finished, already pouring him a glass of water, and rushing to his side.
Treyton went all red, unable to utter a word, as the spice stung his mouth.
'Damn! I'm sorry! I should have warned you before. I made the other things for you with less spice..here!'
She put the glass to his lips, and he took a huge gulp.
Some of the water fell onto his cheek, mixing with the tears already rolling down.
'God, Treyton! I'm so sorry..it's my fault..'
Erisha put down the glass and wiped his cheeks, lips and eyes with the tips of her fingers.
She was so busy feeling guilty, that she didn't notice when his expression changed, and he went still. She suddenly realised, that she had been stroking her thumb over his lips again and again, and his eyes had darkened.
She moved her hand as if stung, and stepped back, looking everywhere but at him.
'Uhm..uh..try the lasagna..my grandfather loves..'
She stopped speaking, and he raised his brows.
'Here! This is not spicy at all. And neither is the steak..'
She cut him a slice, and served him, hoping he would let it pass.

But Treyton did not.
'Your grandfather? How come you never talk about him? You lived with him for several years..'

Erisha busied herself in cutting a slice of the lasagna for herself.
'Should I pour the wine for you?'

Treyton watched several emotions cross her face, none of them too pleasant.
'Did you not get along with him?'

Erisha took a bite of her food and chewed. Just when he thought she wouldn't reply, she spoke.
'Gramps was my best friend! We shared each and everything about our lives..but then..'
She stopped, as if unable to go on.

Remembering Julian Finn telling him about her grandfather living in the city, he opened his mouth to ask.

'Can we not talk about it? It's a bit painful for me..'

Wanting to continue, Treyton however nodded.
'Okayyy..this lasagna is really very good! You must give Gordon the recipe..'

'Does he do all your work? I mean, you live all alone in such a big place..'
Erisha opened the wine and poured him a glass.
When he gestured to her, she shook her head.
'I'll pass..'
I need a clear head with you around..

'He is an all rounder, but a maid also comes for the cleaning and all..they manage..'

There was silence for a while, as they ate their food. But they were both aware of the other, as their knees brushed several times under the table.
Erisha got up to clear away the table, and he came to help.
'Please! I'll manage..why don't you go into the lounge..'

He looked at her walking back and forth to stack the dishes by the sink, before nodding.
He left, and Erisha felt lighter.
He affects me too much..
'Would you like coffee?'
She called out to him from the open counter.

'Sure..'
He had settled onto the sofa, as if he planned to stay for long.

Treyton waited, watching her from the lounge.
What is it about her, that I'm unable to stay away? Despite all my doubts about her, I'm here..having dinner with her. Did I believe her the first time when she said she had nothing to do with the kidnapping? Or after I discovered that she hadn't been lying? Why else would I be here, wanting this to be a real date, instead of just a mean to get answers?

'Here's your coffee.'
Erisha placed a tray on the low table in front of the sofa and stood up, wondering if she should take a seat on the same sofa as his, or the one seater adjacent.
She glanced at him, and saw him give her a look, as if he knew her dilemma.
Deciding not to let him have his fun, she sat on one end of the same sofa as him, and immediately regretted it, when he gave a small smile at her decision.
The plush cushions dipped in the middle, making her feel as if he was right next to her instead of a seat apart.
She saw his gaze shift to her legs, as her skirt rode up, on sitting. She quickly put her legs beneath her, hiding them from his gaze.

'Too late.'
He drawled, as he lifted the coffee mug from the tray, and settled back on the cushions to drink it.

'Excuse me?'
Erisha moved her mug away from her mouth to ask.

'I've already seen..and touched those gorgeous legs..so you can try and hide them, but I have a great memory..'
There was mirth in his tone.

Erisha flushed, remembering her behaviour in his office.
She shook the image that flashed through her head.
'Uhm..Treyton..i have something to say to you..'
She hurried to change the dangerous topic.

'Sure..'
His tone was still amused.

'I want you to know, that I had nothing to do with your kidnapping. In fact, I never even knew that David had people watching after you..believe me, the day I rescued you, I overheard him talking on the phone..that's why I followed him..I couldn't let him..'

'I know..'

'Keep you..what? You know?'
Erisha looked surprised.

'Yes! David confessed in front of the police. He told them that he had initially just planned to obtain some important projects of mine. It was entirely his idea. But when I found out about it, he got me abducted, so I could  sign away my company in his name. And when I refused, he got really angry..'

Erisha was shocked to hear all this.
She had actually trusted David, had even helped him out several times. He had also returned the favour, whenever she had needed it.
And all because of her..
Erisha stopped her thoughts, as something else registered.
'You knew all this?'
She sat up, dangling her legs down and putting her untouched coffee mug back on the table.

'Yeah! The police keep me informed of all the activity in Huber's case..'

Of all the..
Erisha stood up and glared down at him.

'What?'
Treyton raised his eyebrows.
'Why are you looking at me as if you want to strangle me?'

Erisha began to pace the floor of her living room.
'Great! Just great!'

'It must be..but what is?'
Treyton was laughing at her building fury.

'You! You..aargghh!'
Erisha fisted her hands in frustration, looking upwards.

Treyton put down his mug, and straightened up.
'Lost for a word to describe me, again?'

'Don't mess with me!'
She pointed a finger at him, moving towards him.
'All this time! You knew all this time, and led me to believe otherwise!'

'What are you getting so worked up about?'
He looked up at her, as she came to stand next to the sofa.

'I have been going crazy with  worry, that you think the worst about me, that you don't believe me, and how to get you to trust me..and here, you had a confirmation of the same. You knew I had nothing to do with the entire mess. Still you led me to believe that I was in the wrong..'
Erisha was furious as she ranted on.

Treyton couldn't help it. A smile broke his lips, and widened.
Which was entirely the wrong thing to happen, because it only served to infuriate her more.

Erisha caught his hand to pull him up.
'That's it! Come on! It's time for you to leave, you..you exasperating man!'
She tugged, but Treyton didn't budge.

'Oh, come on! We can surely talk about this..'
He let her pull his arm, but she couldn't move him, as he stayed put.

'Inviting yourself for dinner, messing up with my head, taking over my thoughts all the time, making me want you..'
She stopped when she saw his expression change, realising just what she had been revealing to him.
'Uhm..I mean..I...'
She let go of his hand, as if she had been burnt, and made to move back.

But Treyton was quick. He caught her wrist and tugged. Unprepared as she was, Erisha was jerked forward, and before she knew it, she fell on top of Treyton, sprawling onto his lap.

To be continued...