Monday (Timeless Teaser)(27)

He had leather sofas, a large TV, and a kitchen table. The place was pretty bare, but that’s what I expected from a guy who lived alone. His bedroom was fairly clean. I just hoped he washed the sheets before I came over. Who knows who was in there the night before.

I stirred the pot on the stove when Hawke came into the kitchen. He only had a towel around his waist because he just got out of the shower. He smelled clean and fresh. Water droplets glistened on his chest before they slid down.

I tried not to stare.

“What smells so good?” he asked as he stood beside me.

You. “Uh…masala sauce.” I kept my gaze focused on the pot.

“Hmm…what does it go on?”

“Chicken. It’s in the oven.”

He peeked through the glass and saw the chicken baking. Then he stood upright again. “You want to live here forever?” He said it with absolute seriousness.

I rolled my eyes. “So I can cook for you all the time?”

“Honestly, I didn’t even know the oven worked.”

“What do you eat around here?”

“Protein shakes, cereal, and sandwiches.”

“Sounds healthy.”

He patted his flat stomach. “You tell me.”

I stirred the pot just so I had something to do. Knowing he was shirtless was incredibly distracting. I wanted to stare at him and really appreciate the sight. But I didn’t want to openly gawk at him either. “Get ready and dinner will be done.”

“I am ready.”

“Get rid of the towel.”

“Okay.” He dropped it on the floor.

I flinched when I realized what he just did. “You know what I meant.”

“Actually, I did exactly what you told me to do.” He gave me that arrogant grin that I hated and loved at the same time.

“Pick it up and cover yourself with it. Then go in your room and get dressed. Do exactly as I say.” I refused to look down at his goods even though I really wanted to.

“Come on, take a peek. He’s excited to see you.”

I turned my focus back to the pot so he wouldn’t see my red cheeks. “If I’d known I was going to be sexually assaulted, I would have stayed elsewhere.”

He sighed then picked up the towel. “Alright, Muffin.” He secured it around his waist before he walked down the hallway.

When I knew he was really gone, I released the air from my lungs. It took all my strength not to look, and now I regretted not taking a peek. Maybe I would run into him on accident sometime and get a glimpse then.

Actually, I shouldn’t be thinking about seeing him naked at all.

Hawke came back into the room a moment later. “I’m back—fully clothed.”

“Thank you.”

“Since you’re going to be living here for a while, I feel like I should tell you about Naked Wednesdays.”

I tried not to laugh. “Oh yeah?”

“Yep. All day is naked time.”

I finished preparing dinner and placed it on a platter. “Well, I’ll make sure I work a double on Wednesday.”

He sat down at the kitchen table. “Man, having a girl roommate is so boring.”

I set the table then sat across from him. “What were you expecting? Girls Gone Wild?”

He shrugged. “It wouldn’t have hurt.” He grabbed his fork and took a bite. His expression changed into one of satisfaction. “Damn, this is good, Muffin.”

“Thank you.”

He kept eating. “It’s so tender. Whenever I make stuff, I just burn it.”

“You don’t say.”

He ate everything on his plate then scarfed down the wine like water. “That’s the best dinner I’ve ever had.”

“Your mom didn’t cook for you?”

The mention of his family made him noticeably stiffen. “Not as well as you.” He rose from the table and gathered the plates and immediately began washing them in the sink.

“What are you doing?”

“The dishes. What does it look like I’m doing?”

I’d never seen a guy voluntarily help around the house. Yaya had to threaten to spank Axel to get him to do anything. “At least your mom taught you to clean up after yourself.”

He stacked everything in the dishwasher then turned it on. “Thank you for dinner.”

“You’re welcome.” He joked around sometimes, but underneath that persona, he was very sweet.

“When are you going to do my laundry?” The smile in his eyes told me he was kidding.

“I’d throw your clothes out the window before I would resort to that.”

“I guess I’ll hide my clothes then…”

I left the table and joined him in the kitchen. “So…do you need to work?” He usually went to the coffee shop and worked on his stuff there but he was home today.

“I’ll do it later.”

“You don’t have to baby me. I understand you have things to do.”

“Baby you?” He released a faint chuckle. “You aren’t the kind of girl that needs to be babied.”

I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Want to watch TV? The Yankees are playing.”

I stuck my tongue out at him.