Do Friends Know How Each Other Taste?

Rose was busying typing into her Surface Book 2. She had her back facing the entrance when Paul entered with a man trailed behind him. Jude gestured Paul to leave them alone with a stern look on his face. Paul bowed his head and swiftly left them.

Jude walked towards her. His stepped solid and firmed but Rose definitely oblivious with her surrounding as she kept on typed the document. Looking at the way she worked, Jude sighed. It was only then he realised she was a workaholic. He had yearning look when he saw how immersed she was in her task at the moment. It had been days since the last day he saw her.

"Hmm… This scent smelled so much like Jude Townshend," she mumbled to herself, eyes still glued on the screen while stretched up her arms and shoulders to ease the burden she felt at the moment. Jude who stalked behind her stunned. A while later, his lips twitched. So, she missed me too…

"Hmm… I wonder how is he doing right now. It has been days since I have last seen him." she kept on blabbering while one hand instinctively touched her nape and another grabbed the little vanity mirror next to her laptop to check on the kiss mark.

Gasped! Uh… Is it just my imagination? Am I missing him too much to the extend where I could conjure him right in front of me? But why did it feel like something was wrong? She said out loud that Jude gave out his muffled laugh upon looking at the way she react.

She was definitely cute in her own way. Oh, how he wished to wrap her in his hug!

Rose turned around on her chair, her eyes greedily marvelled the man in front of her. No way… I must be too tired and this is just a figment of my imagination! She practically drooled. Damn! She reluctantly closed her eyes hoping when she opened her eyes later, he will still there.

Ten…

Nine…

Eight…

Seven…

Six…

Five…

Four…

Three…

Two… She inhaled the air as deep as possible as she counted the magical numbers in her heart.

But - wait a minute…

Why did Jude's scent become even stronger than earlier? Ah… I love the smell… a woody and heady, with a tint of roses, jasmine and patchouli… Hmmm… there's a little bit of oakmoss, ambergris and a touch of vanilla - Ah… it is indeed a sophisticated scent, befitting him. Jude Townshend. She mumbled softly with her eyes still close. She had yet finished her counting but her thinking was too occupied with the scent that she inhaled.

Jude who listened to her blabbering had his mouth curled up into a fond smile. He never thought she had a strong smelling sense. He leaned towards her, both hands on her chair armrests and planted a kiss on those seductive smoking red lips that had mumbling nonsense earlier.

"Damn! I must miss him too much even imagine his kisses right now…" she muttered. Eyes still closed as she tried to cherish the taste. She licked her lips and sighed in contentment.

"Ah… If only he is here. How good it would be…" She mumbled. There was a tint of desperation in her voice. It seemed as if she was in her own world of fantasy. Jude chuckled looking at how dreamy she looked.

Rose opened her eyes and closed them back in the next second before she reopened them again. She shook her head in deniable.

"Ah… I must be so lethargic to really conjure him right now." she reached out to touch his cheek. Warm. She took back her hand, shocked. Jude's lips curved upward and reached her chin before he inched closer and kissed her. Deep. Passionately. Rose instinctively wrapped her arms on his shoulders, her fingers ran through his sleek dark hair and reciprocated his kisses. In equal passion and hunger.

"I miss you too," Jude whispered to her ear that made her heartbeat frantically, her breath hitched.

"You are real?" She was still unable to believe by the fact that Jude was really in front of her. Jude gently rubbed her cheek with his thumb, gazed lovingly at her.

"I think you have to stop for a while and give me the courtesy to bring you for dinner." He scooped her up from the chair and carried her to the sofa. He laid her on the sofa and he casually put her head on his lap.

"When did you arrived? Why did I am uninformed about your arrival?" she questioned him.

"You were so immersed with your work that you completely oblivious to your surrounding. If it were someone else, you might end up by not knowing how did you die or who murder you." Jude commented with displeased. Indeed. It was dangerous for her to be so oblivious with her surrounding. At her level, she will have lots of enemies. Those who might covet her position or maybe those who targeted to get her. He sighed heavily.

"Ah… But I have you" She blurted out without much thinking. Jude pinched her nose and chuckled.

"Look at you… Still have the audacity to play around." It was lucky that he placed his best subordinate to watch over her when he's not around. And luckily her father agreed with his arrangement earlier.

After George's death, he had investigated. The report came out as too complicated and it might involve the higher-ups. So he really need to ensure her safety. But he couldn't disclose his findings, just as yet.

"Oh, why did you come over today?" She quickly sat up and glanced at him.

"Dinner." Rose could only mouthed 'oh' with her brows arched.

"Let's go! I'm famished anyway." She stood and reached out for his hand. Jude could only helplessly shake his head.

As the two of them walked out of her office, her employees all looked on. She stopped in her track and briefly glanced her watch before she looked at them with a smile plastered on her face.

"Please be sure to go home on the dot. Family is important. Thank you for the hard work today. See you all tomorrow." She spoke regally. Then she walked off with Jude by her side. Little did she know someone was seethed in anger looking at her, standing side by side with Jude. Jude Townshend! Steve cursed underneath his breath. He was just about to ask Rose for dinner. It seemed he always one step behind him. He could only clench his fists that his knuckles turned white.

Once they arrived at the Min-Soo Restaurant, Jude put his hand on her waist and drew her closer to him in a protective manner while Rose casually places hers on his waist too, beaming jovially.

The waitress brought them to their table and left swiftly after taking their orders. Rose put her handbag to the side and crossed her legs. One hand support her chin while another one tapped lightly on the table, watching him.

"I can see you have few things wanted to ask me," Jude said, sipping his wine.

"Nothing. I just want to make sure I'm not dreaming. You didn't even call me. Three days for God's sake!" She complained. Jude chuckled upon hearing her complaint.

"I just came back from Russia," Jude answered her truthfully.

"Yet you didn't even send me a message. I guess you're not missing me. So what's the point to miss you then?" She still feeling dissatisfied.

Jude held her hand, his eyes gentler as he gazed into hers.

"Well, I'm here now. And, of course I miss you," He gave her a reassuring squeeze that crept right into her heart.

A waitress then came to bring their dinners: Beef Bulgogi, Japchae, Kimchii and Sundubu-jjigae and of course two soju.

"You sure know what I want to eat right now!" Rose without hesitate dig in and enjoyed her food. It was not exaggerating to say they were having harmonious interaction while enjoying their meals together.

"Anyway, mom asked me when we are going to have our engagement party," Jude stated. Her smile froze even stopped in her track.

They were walking leisurely along the waterfront. Rose was quiet while playing her own fingers. Jude stopped abruptly and turned to her.

"You only need to know that I will wait for you. No matter how long it takes." He said huskily as he drew her to his embrace. Rose returned his hug and sighed.

"Are we not friends with benefits?" she blurted in his embrace. Jude breathed deeply that he was practically inhaled her scent into his lungs.

"Do friends know how each other taste?" he asked her back. Rose pushed him away, her eyes shone brightly while her lips curved into a playful grin.

"Oh my! Mr Jude Townshend! You are so slow!" Jude frowned when he heard her. What did she mean by that? He was really clueless. Rose burst out laugh watching his expression at the moment. She casually pinched his cheek and commented, "You really need to think of it dear" with that she left him with a smile on her face.

Jude who was left behind, stunned. Not because she tricked him but because it was the first time Rose addressed him 'Dear'!