Chapter 31: Chapter 31

Seven twenty-two p.m.

"Going late to your first ever date is not the way to do things, Taylor," I tell myself as pack my hair in a loose ponytail style and apply nude lip gloss on my lips.

I groan in frustration as I look around the bed for the paper Rory had written the direction earlier and I don't find it. This shouldn't be happening today, not today. I search around more carefully and going over to the make-up table and find it there.

Sighing in relief, I clutch to the paper and put on my shoes. I glance at the time, which is now seven-thirty and I give the mirror one last glance before I walk out.

I follow the direction and keep walking endlessly in the house which I didn't think was this big earlier. I take the last turn on the paper directory and I see there's an open door and then light coming from inside draws me nearer and as enter inside I see there are illustrating bright lights.

I notice once I'm in that room that the sky-like ceiling isn't just wallpaper but the actual night sky leathered with the stars and moon. A sight that I've been privileged to see only in the movies.

There's a large round table set in the centre of the room, with fine white clothes spread and different food bowl covered. There are candle lights in the middle of the table and plates and cutleries all in their right places. When I don't see Rory anywhere in the room, my heart skip a beat.

He didn't get tired of waiting for me did he?

Oh goodness, this isn't good.

I rub my forehead furiously and sigh. I should probably go look for him, I tell myself and I turn to walk out only to collide with the solid form of Rory. My heart skips and I stumble back, losing my balance on the ground, but never for once falling because Rory's strong arms are protectively wrapped around me. My face is close to his heart which I can hear almost hear beating steadily through his brown longs sleeve shirt, unlike mine that may explode at any moment. I slowly look up to meet his grinning eyes as they stare back at me.

He sets me down carefully and unwraps his hand from my waist before moving back, giving me the chance to breathe down properly.

"Thank you for..." I breathe in, "saving me." I glance at him from head to toe and notice that he is wearing very casual wear for someone who is on a date.

But he's still as handsome as hell.

"Sorry, I'm late," I say awkwardly.

"Debating whether or not to come eh?" He raises an eyebrow at me.

I sigh but nod. "Kind of."

"It's okay." He replies, "I thought you changed your mind, you never really made up your mind earlier you know." He looks at me with a blank expression and I figured he is right but he smiles and takes my hand saying. "Come let's eat."

I frown in disapproval, "I'm wearing something you know." I grumble stubbornly.

He heaves a sigh and his hands rest on my hair, brushing the tips with his hand, his eyes not daring to meet mine. "I know, love, I just want to avoid concentrating too much on it. You're beautiful and with the killer dress, you're a walking goddess and so for the sake of my sanity, I don't want to look at it yet."

I move back and cross my arms over my chest as displeasure wash over me. "If this was going to be your reaction all along then why the hell did you have me wear it?" I snap irritably with demanding eyes.

He growls in frustration closing his eyes and rubbing his forehead. "Taylor. Don't."

"Tell me or I'll leave," I warn.

Kidding! I'm not leaving until I've had some food. But he doesn't have to know that.

"Because I loved the way you looked the first day we met, I could never get that image off my mind even when I wanted to."

This admission seems to cause more harm than good as panic takes over my heart.

He never stopped thinking about me, and I never stopped thinking about him.

"Then look at me," I say and he stops and his eyes take mine in surprise, and his want is visible as he gazes at me with much admiration, pleasure and desire from my head to my toe and his eyes sparkle like I have not been standing in his presence the last three minute.

"You're going to be the death of me, woman."

"That's all I want to hear, now we can eat," I say, this time grinning widely at my skilful scheme.

He rolls his eyes, but can't seem to fight off the smile on his face. "I should probably get used to losing to you by now."

He goes over to the table and holds the seat and pull it back and when I'm in, pulls it in and I sit down.

He takes my plate and began serving rice in it from the first bowl, then he opens the other and I see it's the chicken wings stew, his eyes dart to me as he takes a dip into the stew with the serving spoon.

"Not a vegetarian are you?"

I cock my brow back at him. "I thought you already knew everything about me."

He grins widely and says. "Yes, but being with you gives amnesia to that intelligent side of me."

"I'm glad to hear that." I wink at him, "and no I'm not a vegetarian."

"Okay." He chuckles, adding the chicken wing to my plate and again he opens the other bowl and the aroma fills up the room, its smell was heavenly and probably delicious as hell, my mouth mentally waters. He opens the bottle of wine and pours it into my glass cup.

It was a recipe I have never come across before.

Probably because you never cooked a day in you're life? My inner voice, which we all have asked me.

Not really, this seems like something that is one man's recipe and knowledge, some things only Rory knows how to make and I'm not making much sense.

"I created this dish you know." Rory begins to speak, grinning at his extravagant invention like he is the first to create a new dish.

"Really?" I ask, my curiosity getting the better of my self restrains and judgments.

"Yeah, three years ago." He sets the plate before me and as much as I want to begin my destruction on the food before me, I have to let him serve himself. "At the family Thanksgiving dinner and everyone wanted to know how I came up with my recipes." He smiles, more to himself. "I never told them."

"Why not?"

"Everyone has their secret." He wiggles his eyebrows at me.

He finally finishes serving himself and pours himself wine in his glass cup and we both begin to eat through. The meal is remarkably delicious and even when I finished mine, I still want more. Rory notices though and serves me again.

This has officially become my favourite food of all time might I add!

"You set the place yourself?" I ask with my mouth full which is completely inappropriate in table manners.

He nods, not minding at all my clumsiness.

"Should have asked for my help..."

"And ruin a perfect first date? No thanks."

I lower my cutleries and stare down at my fingers instead. He wants a perfect date with me, that's new.

"Tell me about yourself, Taylor." He asks, out of the blue making me look up at him.

"But you already know everything about me." I blurt out in confusion.

"Not really, I don't know everything about you, I just know some important stuff and it's is wrong to pry into your private life and I'm sorry."

"Then why did you pry?"

"Because I wanted to find you, Taylor after you left me four months ago at the Five Star hotel, I wanted to find you and apologise. You made an impression I couldn't erase."