Page 39 of Secret Admirer

I dredge another piece through the mix and place it in the pan. “What did you mean when you asked if I was still your girlfriend? Did something happen I don’t know about?”

He shuffles over to the island. “I thought maybe you changed your mind.”

“Have you ever had a girlfriend?” With one look at him, you’d think he would have had a girlfriend or ten at least during his lifetime, but from what he’s told me about his past and the way people treated him, I guess he hasn’t.

“No,” he says sadly from behind me. “One time I thought a girl was my girlfriend, but she used me to make fun of me to her friends.”

My heart sinks into my stomach. I’ll never understand how people could be so cruel to others and especially Bodhi.

I turn around to look at him. He’s standing looking down at the floor, twirling something in his hand. “I’m sorry she did that to you, Bodhi, and I can promise you that I very much like you for you. I have no hidden agenda for being with you and I’m not using you for sex, no matter how great the sex is.”

His cheeks pink up and I find it utterly adorable that a man as big as he is and with the looks of a male supermodel could blush at my comment.

“Thank you for that.” He clears his throat. “Like I said, it will take some time for me to get over what’s been ingrained into me.”

I turn back to the stove but look at him over my shoulder. I’m determined to make something that he likes. “What do you have in your hand?”

“Oh,” he turns to me and holds out a white cactus flower, “I picked this for you when I was outside.”

“Thank you.” I take it and hold it to my nose. My whole body tingles with happiness. It’s such a simple thing, but it’s sweet and lets me know he’s thinking about me and has been since the first day he saw me. “Maybe we should go to the nursery and get more flowers to plant that way you’ll have more to choose from. Plus, this place needs more color.” I place the flower with the one he gave me yesterday.

He lets out a husky laugh. “Don’t do it for me, but for yourself.”

I shrug. “I think we should. We can do that and once we’re done, we can watch some cooking shows since we didn’t do it yesterday. I’m determined to learn how to cook.”

“Have you thought of taking lessons?”

I spin around, my mouth wide open. “Are you saying I need extra help?”

He smiles and I want to melt into a puddle on the floor. He’s good looking at any moment, but when he smiles, he’s devastatingly gorgeous. His brows pull together as he comes over and looks down at my attempt at French toast. “I think what they show on TV might be too much for you at first and you might not like the dishes.”

My hip and foot immediately pop out at his words. My hands are on my hips, spatula forgotten. “I think what you’re saying is my cooking is really atrocious.”

“No,” his eyes widen. “That’s not what I’m saying at all. How often have you watched The Food Network? They have it on a lot at the shelter and rarely do I see food I would eat. Maybe it’s because my palate is simple.” He shrugs.

“You do make a valid point. Still,” I flip the bread, “it doesn’t hurt to watch and learn skills. If I take a class will you go with me?” I can’t hide how hopeful I am he’d go.

“If you really want me to and if I can.”

I know my face is one of confusion as I look up at him. “Why wouldn’t you be able to?”

He lets a deep breath out slowly and runs his hands down his shorts. “I can’t imagine cooking classes being very cheap.”

Shit! I want to smack myself in the forehead. Picking up his hands and holding them in mine, I pull him toward me until our bodies are plastered against each other. His arms slip around me bringing us even closer together. “I was thinking more of a couple’s class that we’d do together, and I’d pay for it.” Internally I cringe, waiting for him to freak out about me paying.

Bodhi trails his fingers up and down my back but says nothing for a moment. I’m not sure what to make of it until he pulls me closer with my head resting against his chest. “Don’t do it for me. If you find one you want to take and it’s not a couple’s class, take it.”

Is he so agreeable because my cooking is that atrocious?

“Do you smell something?” Bodhi sniffs and turns toward my now burning piece of French toast.

“You distracted me,” I poke my finger in his chest. “Otherwise, I’m sure it would be edible.”

Bodhi throws his head back and laughs with me still in his arms. I can’t help but smile and let out a few small laughs. His laughter is infectious. “Is that how you’ve been living? By eating it unless it gave you food poisoning?”

Pushing away from him, I remove the now charred bread and turn off the stove. “I give up.” I hold my hands up in surrender. “Bread is hard.” I pout and Bodhi chuckles. “Maybe I’m not cut out for cooking, which really sucks since I don’t want to live on pizza every night.”

“There’s always picking something up after work.”

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