He could cook.

Rufina’s POV.

>

I can’t believe Xander can cook, that’s such a lovely trait to have as a male. My family, which was a tree house of males, had rules and the ‘men don’t cook rule’ was the strongest and the most adhered to.

But here is Xander, the supposed alcoholic I’d found on the streets, cooking for me without a word of argument, simply because he didn’t want me to hurt and because he can.

I jump down from the counter because it's too cold and lean against it instead as I watch him intently, as he moves around my kitchen with surprising ease, considering he had been unconscious on my couch just a few hours ago. His presence was commanding yet oddly comforting. Tall, broad-shouldered, with an air of quiet confidence, he looked entirely at home in my small condo and I'm weird for liking that.

As I leaned comfortably against the counter, my eyes stay glued to Xander, who moved with a natural grace around the kitchen as he continued what I started. His presence was magnetic, almost impossible to ignore. His blond hair, slightly tousled from sleep, caught the light in a way that highlighted its golden strands. Those blue eyes, clear and piercing, held a depth that made me wonder what secrets lay behind them.

His complexion was pale but flawless, the kind that would make any skincare model envious. The sharp angles of his chiseled jawline added to the sculpted perfection of his face, balanced by full brows that framed his eyes with a striking intensity. His thin lips, often curved into that killer smile, revealed perfectly white teeth that could easily grace a toothpaste commercial.

Uhhhh…

I couldn't help but admire his broad shoulders. At six feet tall, he seemed to tower over the counter, exuding a quiet confidence. His physique was athletic, every movement purposeful yet effortlessly casual.

As he diced vegetables with practiced ease, I found myself fixated on the way his muscles moved beneath his shirt. His concentration was intense, his expression relaxed yet focused. There was something incredibly appealing about a man who could handle himself so adeptly in the kitchen.

He’d asked me to cut all these but instead I’m here drooling over him. What is this?

Despite my best efforts, I felt a pang of irritation mingled with attraction. I hate that I’m admiring everything about him—the way he looked, the way he moved, even the way he spoke with that subtle, endearing humor. It was infuriating how perfect he seemed at that moment.

And yet, a small voice in the back of my mind reminded me of the reality. Xander definitely didn’t have a trust fund or a sprawling mansion. He wasn't the heir to some vast fortune with the stability and security that entailed, If he was he wouldn’t be the man who had stumbled into my life by accident, a fleeting encounter that shouldn’t have any hold over me.

He's leaving soon and i’d like to forget what happened today.

It's almost 4pm and I didn't get to enjoy my day.

But as I watched him cook, creating a meal with such care and skill, I couldn't deny the attraction. I regretted that I was drawn to him despite knowing better. I regretted that his lack of material wealth and status bothered me, even though it shouldn't but I needed it.

I sighed, pushing those thoughts away as I continued to observe him. Maybe, just maybe, there was more to Xander than what I had initially assumed. And perhaps, against my better judgment, I wanted to find out what that was.

The aroma of garlic, herbs, and something else delicious wafted through the air, making my stomach growl in anticipation. I offered to help, but Xander had insisted on doing everything himself. Now, I was leaning against the kitchen counter, trying not to appear too impressed by his culinary skills.

"Alright, dinner is served," he announced, turning with a smile as he placed two plates on the counter. The dish looked simple but mouth-watering—a perfectly seared piece of salmon, surrounded by roasted vegetables and a light drizzle of some fragrant sauce.

“I wouldn't exactly call it dinner” I refuted.

“Almost dinner is served,” he countered with the same energy as the first making me roll my eyes before looking down and wow.