Chapter 73: Chapter 73

"She thought her love life was turning around for the better, but little did she know the secrets that would turn her life upside down."[Author]

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Riley didn't know if he was teasing her on purpose or if it was just his concern. Her face turned redder but she chose to hum. He stretched his legs and plopped down on the bed carefully so that his legs were coming to her front in the exact posture.

"Last night when I was returning from Stuart's condo, I had already taken a day off."

He made a face behind her, his hands clenching on the handle of the dryer as an evil light flashed through his eyes.

'I forgot about that man.'

"Okay," Christian said without a trace of emotion in his voice. Even though Riley had accepted him, he knew the danger was still there. The danger perhaps will always be there until Riley falls in love with him. It was impossible for a man to almost die for a woman he didn't have hots for. Too impossible. No man would even lift a finger for a woman he didn't like. Maybe there was a misunderstanding between them and he needed to make sure it stays as a misunderstanding till Riley is head over heels for him.

'Are you sure? Did you forget about your lies? What if she leaves you after she discovers your lies? She had already told you, Christian, that she hates liars. Just expose your secrets.' His brain reminded him about the problems he could have in the future and his happy mood started to turn sour.

"Mindy, what's wrong? Where are you lost?" Riley questioned as his fingers massaged her head?

"Ah! I am sorry Honey I zoned out. Christian parted her hair to one side gently. What were you saying?" Christian said, smiling.

"It's okay. I was saying, ``Tell me about yourself, Mindy." Riley closed her eyes, enjoying the work of his fingers.

"What would you like to know honey?" Christian asked, smiling.

"Let's start from your family?"

"My mother died giving birth to me. I don't know much about her But My Father always said she was a kind woman. For years I used to blame myself for her death but when I turned 6 or 7 dads told me how she kept the secret of her dangerous pregnancy because she wanted to bring me to the world. His hands left her hair and he started to squeeze her shoulders with just a perfect amount of pressure.

Riley sighed in comfort and sadness. Who could relate more than her?

"I am sorry, Mindy but I could relate to this. I know the feeling of self-blame."

"She wanted me to live at the cost of her life. Hah. If I was her I would choose myself, not a kid like me. Not at least when I wouldn't be there for him." He said, his voice choking in the end.

Riley turned around and cupped his face. Giving him a sincere smile.

"Don't say that Honey. Don't blame yourself. Don't blame your mom. It's not your fault. Neither is hers. It was just destiny playing her like a puppet. She would want to be here with you. But if she is not it means she loved you more than her life. You need to respect that."

Christian stared at Riley's face unblinkingly, as his heartbeat increased. He pulled her into a hug, his breath hitching in his throat as her wet towel made contact with his t-shirt. Christian was surprised at himself, how did he go from being sad to feeling horny with this woman in thirty seconds. He pulled back to maintain his dignity behind his jeans.

"I made you breakfast. Let's talk at the Dining table."

"Okay. But Honey Are you…. okay?" He stood up from the bed speeding down towards the living room not giving a chance to hear her out.

Riley stared at Christian's back for a few seconds. What just happened? How could he just flee to the living room when they were sharing his grief? Is it his coping mechanism? Or is it something else? She turned and stood up from the bed. She stood up but what came down was the towel off her body. She stared at herself in the mirror. Realizing why he just left.

'God, did he just see me like this?' She frowned and patted her pink cheeks. Questioning herself loud and clear. After a moment of realization, she immediately grabbed the towel from the ground and wrapped it around herself. It must have occurred when they hugged.

'God How much I will embarrass myself in front of him today.'

'Stop Being Dramatic Riley Brown. He had already seen you, touched you. Did everything he could have and you are stressing over the fact that he would have seen your boobs.'

Riley grabbed the first dress she could find from the wardrobe and stepped inside the bathroom to change.

Christian placed the dishes on the table and grinned at the view of his hard work on the table. He had Decorated the table with red and white roses. Combo of her and his favorite color. He had placed a large vase equipped with white and red Roses in the middle and then outlines the whole base of the vase on the table with red roses.

Even though he was paranoid about his table decorating skills, he took a chance to make her happy. After all, it's thought what counts. Isn't it? The moment he turned around to head to the kitchen he almost Tripped on the Brown cardboard box in which Flowers were delivered to him.

'Oh, God! I forgot to hide it.'

Grabbing the corner of the table he regained his footing and then started to arrange everything. Almost fifteen minutes later he sat down on the chair yelling at the top of his lungs even though it was no need.

"Honey Come out. The breakfast is already Cold."

The door opened and he looked up to see her, His palms support immediately left his face and he would have almost hit his face on the table if not for his efficient reflexes.

'Holy shit! Is it my naughty mind playing tricks on me? Or did she look hotter than before?

She was wearing a white silk dress that flattered her white skin. It made her look like a seductress with a neckline that showed just enough cleavage and a full skirt that floated as she turned around to close the door. Somehow her hips looked wide, while her wais tiny.

"You look Se. Gorgeous Honey." He was going to say sexy but Fortunately, he clicked his tongue and changed it at the last minute. He smiled at her and hoped she didn't notice his clicking of the tongue.

"Thank you. Mindy."

'She didn't. Thank God!'

She stopped right in front of the table, her eyes turning wide noticing the roses followed by a smile that made him weak in the knees.

'God! Please keep making her smile '

She grinned up at him,

"You did this for me?" She asked, pointing a finger first at him and then at herself.

'She is truly surprised huh!'

"Yes." He said. Giving her a sheepish smile, "it's my first time decorating a table Honey, Even though it's a little terrible. I hope you still like it." His hands fumbled as he changed the position of roses to make it look what he felt was nicer.

"After all, it's a thought that counts right?"

"Not terrible. It looks beautiful. I loved it." She grinned up at him and walked to his chair pulling him into a hug.

"You have no idea how happy I am to see your surprise." She said as her head rested on his chest and her voice came out a little muffled. He beamed at her from above as she lifted her head still maintaining the hug. Her heartbeat quickened with just one of his smiles and she realized she wasn't just giving them a chance. She did have some unsaid, unidentified feelings for him.

'God. What a dangerous Smile.' She looked away and pulled away from the hug.

"Let's eat."

Both avoided each other's gaze as they felt the intensity of their chemistry within the room.

"Yeah."

After a few minutes of awkward silence, Riley finally broke it.

"It's Delicious Mindy. Thank you so much."

"It's my duty Honey."

"Hm. Ah! We were talking about your family? How about your father?"

Christian hand paused that was going to cut the half fried egg in half.

"He was the best father anyone could have. He died when I was eighteen. He played toy cars with me when I wasn't able to make a friend of my age. He held me when I wept for a mother. He was the man who taught me how to look beyond myself."

"I am sorry, you had to go through it."

"Don't be Honey, I have accepted the fact that everyone who comes into our life has an expiry date, they will leave after their time is over."

"I."

Riley wanted to say something but she couldn't. She couldn't find a word that could comfort him. In the end, she chose to be silent and Mendicate focussed on his breakfast.

For Riley, The breakfast was nothing special but it made her feel warm all over. As warm as if she was dipped in a warm drink that gets sold in the steel tumblers on the hills. The impression that he cooked for her, put so much effort to make sure she didn't feel anything less than like a queen was what made her feel warm. He was showing her a life she always wanted but never experienced. She was not sure of the intensity of her feelings for him but what she was sure of was that if it kept on going, she will fall in love with every part of him because that's how she loved people.