Chapter 5

Four years ago

Noah

The next day, I get off work late and manage to order dinner this time around. I finished everything at the office so I won’t have to work while home. Delivery doesn’t take a lot of time and I sigh in relief while moving to open the door. The knock sounds again followed by a feminine “Delivery for Noah ‘sugar’ Brooke”. I can almost hear the mocking smile in her voice and for once I wish Dorothy wasn’t always so extra.

I swing the door open a little bit more forcefully than normal while grunting out a hesitant “That’d be me”

I must have used a bit too-much force on the door because the girl jerks back in surprise and I still because I recognize her. It’s annoying that I still do after so many years but my memory is potent. She looks much different than before but at the same time, she looks like she hasn’t changed at all. She’s still a little lady, albeit with certain parts of her body more formed than her earlier, most likely teenage self and a certain maturity to her. The most unchanged part of her however is her eyes. Exactly like I remember them, they still hold the same power they did the first time I looked into them.

“Uhm, I’m sorry. I have a delivery for Noah”. She hands the takeout bag to me and I take it, my composure slipping back in place.

“You’re the delivery guy?”, I ask, scanning her and her lack of uniform. Dorothy’s delivery guys always had uniforms

“Oh, no. But I work at Dotty’s too. I don’t do deliveries though. I get off my shift around now so Dotty requested I deliver this to you and go home from here”

“How do I pay then? Since you won’t be going back to the restaurant”

“Oh, you’d give me the money. I’d give it to Dotty in the morning”. I raise an eyebrow because this isn’t usually protocol but I also know Dorothy has never been one to follow protocol.

“I won’t run with the money”, she says sounding genuinely insulted. “I mean I get your concerns but you’re getting treatment from Dotty that doesn’t follow protocol so I assume you know her enough to understand that she mostly always knows what she’s doing”. The frown between her brows is angry and she looks like she could try to take me on if she was given the chance. Never mind that she’s like five foot nothing and couldn’t cause harm to my pinky.

“Okay”, is all I say before pulling out my wallet and hanging her the payment

She takes it “thanks”, then turns to walk away.

I didn’t tell her we’ve met before but it’s obvious she has no recollection of our first encounter so I’d keep that info to myself till totally necessary.

<<>>>>>

Tate:

“Tate, soak the beef. I’d be right back”, Nana says while walking out of the kitchen. I quickly soak the beef and go back to slicing the vegetables then I feel a presence come up behind me. I begin to turn to see who it is but before I can make a full turn, I feel big hands on my waist and Nigel’s lips come down on mine. I relax into the kiss, loving the feel of him, the scent of him, the comfort he always brings. When he pulls away, he climbs on the counter and sits while watching me with a cocky smile on his face.

“Hello my love”, he greets, that cocky smile still in place. I giggle a bit before replying “hi”

“What are you doing?”

“What does it look like I’m doing?”, I ask still slicing the bell peppers.

“Not what I want you doing”, he says suggestively and heat pools down to my core. His effect on me is potent, he makes me go from feeling 1 to feeling a 100 too fast for normalcy. Before I know it, I’m biting my lip in response to the aroused stare he’s giving me.

“And what could that be?”, I ask, totally playing along. He leans forward and cups my face then kisses me again. This one packed with promises of all the things he wants to do to me. The fact that we’re in the kitchen and could be caught any moment doesn’t escape my notice and I’m sure it doesn’t escape his either but if there’s one thing Nigel is good at, it’s not giving a fuck. I mind being caught though, after all I’m just a servant here but Nigel’s inability to give a fuck is seriously rubbing off on me which is bad since the repercussions are obviously going to be heavier on me. Suddenly, the realization weighs down on me as I consider all the reasons kissing in the kitchen isn’t a good idea. I withdraw from the kiss.

“We shouldn’t be doing this here Nigel”

“Why not?”, he asks, his voice heavy with arousal. He grips my waist and tries to pull me closer but I resist.

“No,seriously Nigel. Anyone could walk in”

“Yeah? Like who?”

“Uhm, your mum, your sister?”

He chuckles softly, clearly enjoying my discomfort

“Don’t worry babe. Mom and Carrito went shopping”

“Oh?… yeah, but Nana is still around though. She was here like five minutes ago”, I say, looking towards the door, probably expecting Nana to pop in. Nigel’s chuckles get louder but he stops when he sees how serious I look.