Chapter twenty

Sitting on the counter was Alison, she sat on the kitchen's counter her legs dangling above the ground. In front of her was Leonardo, he stirred the items heating in the pan on the stove.

The heat from the stove affected the humidity of the kitchen, it was very warm in there with different spices adding to the air, just above the stove was a cloud formed from the heat of the cooking pan. It looked similar to a hazy smoke, it hovered around them carrying the strong scents of the spices and cooked herbs.

What stood out was the salivating smell of the grilled meat sizzling on the grill.

She paid more attention to that, he showed her how the heat should be set, how hot it should be but she was barely listening to him. either she was trapped under the trance of the sizzling beauty of the glistening seasoned meat or was fawning over the delicate precision of his cooking, she was mesmerized by the way his body followed his every command as he worked in the kitchen.

Her mouth went dry as his arms flexed under the kitchen light, his sleeves added more bulge to his arm making it more beautiful. His lean muscles were some kind of endearment to her now, he carefully placed the food in a bowl, removing it methodically from the pan

"Is it ready," Alison asked, he could hear the enthusiasm in her voice, it made him gloat more in pride.

He wanted her to taste his creation since it was the first time he would cooking for someone other than himself. He was cooking for her.

She had a wide smile on her face as she jumped down from the counter, her action scaring him a bit as she landed on her feet.

What if she hurts herself?

"Are you done?" He gave her a light nod and that was the green light for her, she eagerly snatched a spoon and watched, interest gleaming in her eyes as he placed the bowl on the table. He placed the grilled meat on a little tray and brought out a sharp knife, cutting it with direct precision.

"How can you cut like that?" She marvelled, he does have magic hands.

Carefully he lifted each slice and placed them on each plate, "When plating you have to make sure the colours blend in, and work together, to create something beautiful."

Most times she dump whatever food Grand Karen stocked in her fridge and microwaved it, who cares about plating when you have a project you work day and night to complete. Surely Leonard must have gone to a culinary school to learn all of this. Using a piece of equipment that looked similar to a big spoon a bit curved inwards but had spikes around the edges, he plucked the steamed veggies, putting them close beside the meat.

Leonardo stared at her momentarily, this was the first time someone has taken interest in what he is doing, some part of her hair fell on his shoulder, she leaned in close but wasn't aware she was millimetres away from him, her concentration went to the work he was doing.

"I thought you were not interested, at first but now you can't seem to stare away from the food."

"Tell me did you go to some kind of culinary school." She spun the spoon on the counter, waiting for his response she watched the little rotary manner of the spoon.

"I never went to culinary school, my mom taught me all I know."

His tone turned serious for the first time Leonardo was serious around her, he concentrated on his plating sprinkling some oil on it.

What she asked, was it a bit sensitive to him?

Resolving to keep her mouth shut, she followed his movement watching as he delicately sprinkled some kind of substance on it.

"Done," he said, straightening his bent posture, she noticed how close she was to him, her hair tangled a bit with his shirt. Since she was shorter than him her little strip of hair hanging in the air, any other movement from him a little apart might rip her hair off her head. She immediately came closer to him, "Don't move," shehe ordered.

She reached out to his collar where her hair tangled with a button on his shirt, using her hands she struggled to remove her hair from the button's hold, it wasn't budging one bit.

She has to admit, the height factor wasn't favouring her.

Leonardo noticed her struggle, he came even closer, erasing any little space they had. Alison steeled herself against such proximity, this was awkward.

"Stay still," his hands worked on his button, with one twist of his hands he gently dropped her hair smoothing it over her shoulder.

She took a big step away from him, her hands clammy, her heart was doing a race against her ribcage, it thrummed so hard she was sure it would pop out of her chest.

She was thankful the light here was dim, if not her red cheeks would be the evidence of a blush.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly, she nodded in positive.

"Come then, let's taste this next time you are cooking," he mused.

Digging her spoon into the plate she brought it close to her nose, sniffing it. Leonardo stared at her amused, she averted her eyes from him, "It smells really good."

She popped it into her mouth, the moment it landed on her tongue, her taste buds exploded. She closed her eyes savouring each taste, it was so good. Okay, if Leonardo wasn't too damn rich and famous she doesn't mind having him as a chef.

A hot chef.

Opening her eyes, she saw Leonardo grey orbs on her anticipating her response, "How was it?"

Wanting to plummet his hope for a moment, she replied with a sour face," It wasn't as good as I thought. It was just plain and bland."

"Really? Because your face didn't suggest so and you are scooping another spoonful."

For someone like her, he doesn't expect this kind of childish spirit buried in all her reserved nature.

"No... I am just having another taste to... erm taste more of its blandness." Her attempt at lying was pitiable.

"Okay since it was so bland, I have to discard it," he glanced at his plate.

"All of it, I never knew I turned out to be a very terrible chef," he said, deciding to play along with her, picking up the plate he headed to the kitchen bin.

"No," her soft hands wrapped around his arms stopping from moving any further, a smile hatched on his face.

"I was only joking with you, give me mine," she huffed, collecting her plate.

"It is very delicious, you don't know when someone jokes with you. Go ahead throw yours don't even try beg for mine. I won't give any," she warned.

She went back to the counter placing it on the counter, he joined her placing his food aside and watched her she turned to him her mouth a bit full.

He is doing it, he is staring again.

"Leonardo, you are making me uncomfortable with your stare," She said softly, wiping her lips with a napkin, he seemed to snap out of his trance. A little smile on his face before he turned away.

"Won't you eat?" she asked.

"No, I just want to watch you eat."

She lost her appetite that moment and pushed her food away.

"Erm... I am quite full. It is very delicious though," he noticed the discomfort in her face when he muttered the words that slipped out his mouth.

"Come then I want to give you a kitchen tour."

He took a hold of her hands, dragging her off the counter seat, he led her to a cabinet further away from the cooking area.

Alison feasted her eyes on the cabinet filled with different jars half-filled with spices.

"These here are my mother's famous collection of spices, some of them invented by her."

"Wow, they look really old, " She came closer to the wooden shelves, that stood a bit taller than Leonardo.

He reached out to one, " We always remake this spice, we use it in our restaurant all over the world." She watched as he twisted the jar open, a strong spice scent lingered around her nostril, it was too spicy so it made her nostril tingle a bit.

Before she knows it, she let out a sneeze noticing her response to the spice he chuckled, "You sneezed because you are not used to the smell."

He placed it back on the shelf, occupying the little dark circular stain it imprinted on the wood.

He pointed to another, "This is a sweet spice, you can use it to bake," he referred to a jar with a dark blue cover.

"Won't it be spicy?"

"No, it would enhance the taste and it is not purely spice." Dropping the jar, he walked a little further from the cabinet, she followed behind.

"Alison," he called her attention, she turned to him.

"What?"

"Have you ever known someone would be your life companion?"

"When you do, there is an urge to share everything with this certain person." She gazed at him intently trying to decipher his words, he let it out of his mouth so smoothly, his eyes never leaving hers.

Once she thought, Richard was her life companion. He turned out not to be after he divorced her to get married to a more attractive woman.

He called her unattractive.

Her heart pounded against her heart as Leonardo came closer, his hands skimming softly over her face. His grey irises rested only on her, "Alison, I just found out, I want you to be my companion." he whispered before taking placing his lips on hers, he softly kissed her tugging at her lip. She was too shocked to react, she stood still against his touch.

.Leonardo has feelings for her, how did she let things accelerate to this moment. She recognised the yearning in her heart to love back. He made her feel things now, during these past few days she thought more about him.

She once anticipated meeting him, he is way out of her league if Richard saw her as unattractive, then how did he see her?

He moved his lip rhythmically against hers, opening her closed lips, he inched his face closer taking in every bit of her mouth.

Richard also kissed her, he got married to her and he left with a divorce paper the day she went into labour to birth Samantha.

'You cause everyone to leave you.'

You push everyone away.

She did, she pushed Leonardo so hard he stumbled back from her. Her body trembled with force, as she stared at him breathlessly, her finger's shook as she touched her face, it was wet with tears.

Moving backwards she sauntered away from him to the door.

He gently touched his lips, he kissed her.

He kissed her, and now he is yearning for more. He glanced at Alison's retreating back, she looked scared when he kissed her.

He scared her with his kiss, a kiss he would never regret.

One thing he knows is whenever he wants something, he always gets it.

He wants Alison, scrap that.

He needs her, and he is going to get her in just a matter of time.