"Doyou?"
"Read tea leaves?" A faint smile played upon his mouth. "I used to. A lot. I had several clients outside the citylimits."
"What made you stop?" The faint hint of chocolate and raspberry hit my tongue as I sipped mywine.
His gaze darkened. "I didn't like knowing things all of the time. For me or for anyone else. Knowing the future can be a burden. And not always a goodone."
The oven dinged, signaling the end of our conversation. I grabbed a pair of potholders and put them on, then reached in and took the bread out, inhaling its deep, yeastyscent.
"Dinner is ready," I saidsoftly.
I took the potholders off and tossed them on the counter. Martin handed me a plate which I set down. I tossed the salad and quickly dished it into bowels which I carried over to the table. The dressing I'd made earlier already set in the middle. The silverware was also there thanks toMartin.
He forewent the plate for a deep dish bowl and scooped an enormous amount of rice and stew inside it. I realized he had a better idea than the plates so I grabbed a bowl too and grinned athim.
After we'd served ourselves, we sat down toeat.
Not thirty seconds in, the damned doorbell rang. Again. I groaned withfrustration.
"Just leave it," Martin said, his eyes darkening with an emotion I couldn'tname.
"I can't. What if it's my parentsagain?"
"Then I'd say you're in trouble for lying aboutguests."
I snorted and threw my napkin at him before I got up to answer thedoor.
Kristoff stood there,his blue eyes trained solely onme.
"Hey," I said a little nervously. Martin was sitting right at my kitchen table looking good enough to eat and the man I was maybe a little bit dating stood right in front ofme.
"You haven't called me back," he said, though he didn't seemangry.
"I had a lot of catching upto-"
Kristoff stepped into my house, caught my chin with his fingertips, and brushed his lips against mine. He backed me up against the wall and I was so taken by surprise I couldn't manage anything but an "mmmf."
Silverware clattered in the kitchen, but Kristoff was completely oblivious toit.
Ifelt...
Nothing.
Warmth, affection. But nothing I shouldhave.
It didn't matter though. Seconds later Martin brushed past us both, his toolbag in one hand and his anger following him like acloud.
"Night, you two," he said and slammed the door behindthem.
Kristoff chuckled. "I didn't even seehim."
But Ihad.
Clearly for the very firsttime.
And I had managed to fuck it allup.
Kristoff sat on my couch,his hands between his knees and stared at me, his face a mask of confusion and disbelief. "Thecontractor?"
