"It’s rare for me to see a clumsy cook, so I like watching it." Justin corrected.
She gritted her teeth, a grip of her hand tightened on the knife.
’Clumsy? I am notthat bad.’ She calmed herself and spoke, "Yet I see you stuffing yourself with food made by these so-called ’clumsy skills.’"
"Despite your skills, the food is delicious. I could eat it every day."
Her anger lessened at his words, and the frown slowly disappeared from her face. But she didn’t want to admit it. "So annoying."
Justin smiled and stepped into the kitchen. She tried to ignore him and continued with her work, but then she realised he was standing behind her, every cell of her body well aware of his very presence.
Before she could ask him what he wanted, she felt his hands surround her from both sides. He leaned down slightly, his chin almost resting on her shoulder, and her back grew aware of the warmth radiating from his body.
"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice slightly unsteady.
"Teaching you the right way to cut this vegetable, instead of your clumsy technique," he murmured, his low, deep voice echoing so close to her ear that she gulped. His hands covered hers—one holding a vegetable and the other a knife.
Her heart began to race as the heat of his large palms spread across the backs of her hands. She wanted to free her hands from his hold, but he held them firm.
"I... I’m fine with my clumsy skills," she muttered under her breath, acutely aware of how intimate this closeness felt.
"But I’m not," he whispered, his voice low and husky, his breath brushing against her cheek. "Trust me, you can do better."
Natalie let him guide her hands as he explained, "You don’t hold the knife so straight like this. Just angle it a little, and chop like this."
Everything around her seemed to fade away, leaving only the sound of the knife touching the chopping board.
Her heart raced like a bullet train, and she found herself going almost deaf because of the rapid thumping of her own heart.
"Understand?" he asked softly.
She exhaled lightly before giving a weak nod, which was barely any movement.
He continued to hold her small hands in his, feeling their softness against his palms, continuing to cut the rest of the vegetable she was holding. "See? This way, it’s more convenient. Isn’t it?"
She nodded again. "I... I can do the rest..." she mumbled.
"Are you sure?" he asked, his own heart beating fast. He didn’t want to pull away from her. This closeness felt so natural, as if it was exactly how it should be between them.
She hummed.
"Alright," he agreed but didn’t release her hand.
Instead, he rested his chin fully on her shoulder, his body seeming even closer to hers than before, with no intentions of letting her go.
She swallowed hard. This man. Why does he always do this? I get seduced so easily like this.
"If you don’t let go, I won’t be able to work," she murmured softly, trying to reason with him.
"What if I insist on staying like this?" he whispered, his thumb gently caressing the back of her hand.
"Then we’ll both end up starving."
"I’m already starving," he replied, his words carrying a different implication, his voice turning a little hoarse, almost needy.
She closed her eyes for a moment, trying not to let him affect her.
"Justin, please." Her soft voice carried a hint of plea.
"Hmm?"
"Don’t stay this close to me."
"Why?"
"It... affects me."
"How?"
"You’re old enough to understand it."
"It affects me too."
"Then you better stay away."
"What if I want to be affected?"
This man is a skilled seducer. I can’t fall for it. Being hurt by one man was more than enough to teach me not to fall for anyone, she thought helplessly, frowning. "I know you like to tease me, but that’s it. You should stop now."
Justin lifted his chin from her shoulder and moved back, letting go of her hands. Just as she thought he was finally listening to her, she found herself being turned around swiftly—only to face him.
His face inched closer to hers, his intense gaze locking onto her puzzled one. "What made you think I’m teasing you?"
She wanted to move back, but the kitchen counter was right behind her. Both her hands instinctively gripped its edge as she leaned back, trying to create some distance between them.
"Can’t I be serious with you?" he asked, his face moving even closer, his intense gaze shifting between her eyes and her lips.
Natalie gulped. Why does it look like he’s planning to kiss me? Nervously, she pressed her lower lip under her teeth, fearing what might happen next.
Her action only made his gaze darken with desire. How he wished to claim those delicate lips of hers. The way she bit her lip made him want to use his teeth on them instead. All his dark desires started to surface, and he leaned in further, ready to close the distance between them completely.
Ding-Dong!
The doorbell rang, shattering the moment and stealing away the tension and air of intimacy that had built between them.
Natalie pushed him away in a hurry, as if she had finally found her escape. "I... I’ll check who it is."
Justin stood in the kitchen, watching her dart away like a prey escaping its predator.
He frowned angrily. If it’s John or Noah, they’re losing their jobs today. He walked out of the kitchen, only to be hit with the shock of his life.
"G-Grandma?" Natalie, equally surprised, muttered, looking at the old woman standing at her door.
Julia offered her a wide smile and pulled her into a hug. "I’ve been dying to see you again."
"Julia?" Justin stepped forward, noticing the bags with his grandmother.
She glanced at him. "Justin, since you were so concerned about me staying in a hotel, I’ve decided to stay here with Natalie," she announced cheerfully before turning to Natalie, still holding her hands. "You don’t mind, do you?"
Natalie, who was already feeling nervous due to Justin’s earlier behavior, could only manage an awkward smile and shook her head.
"Good," Julia said with a satisfied smile before turning to Justin. "Put my bags in the guest room."
He glanced at Natalie, who looked back at him, both of them lost in their own thoughts, completely unaware of what the other was thinking.
Justin felt as if, by suggesting she shouldn’t stay in a hotel, he had just invited trouble for himself. He had been hoping for some private time with Natalie now that Albert wasn’t home, but his grandma had to show up and ruin his plans.
But then, it was truly not good for Julia to stay in the hotel.
He quietly moved to put the bag in the guest room as he thought, ’Is she truly relived to be interrupted and being able to escape from me?’
Natalie watched his retreating back, ’Was he really going to kiss me?’