Once Ava walked into the kitchen, she found the table with the prepared food already set and ready to eat. But no Adam around the room. He must have left already.
Who could blame him when she was not exactly friendly to him? But why did she suddenly feel disappointed that she found herself alone?
"Oh! Well, stop it." Reprimanding herself for how she felt. She quickly sat down on the chair and stared at the food before her. "You need to eat."
She could not keep fantasizing about him, no matter how attracted she was to this man who possessed most of what she dreamed of in a man. But then again, what did she know about the man, except for a few things.
She had an obligation to her family and pack that she had to prioritize. She could not waste her time giggling and flirting because she had a crush on a ridiculously gorgeous man.
She shoved a slice of omelet into her mouth while pouring a hot coffee into her mug. At least the food tasted delicious as she took another piece and bit on the toasted garlic bread.
What should she do now? Still, the issue remained as she stared at the black liquid, hoping to find some answers in them. Where should she start?
"I am sorry, I was supposed to bring you your breakfast earlier, but Kiev had to make an early mess." Cathy abruptly showed up on her doorstep. "I hope you did not mind if I ask Adam to drop them."
She could see her new friend's haggard-looking appearance as if a train had run over her. She could only imagine what that little rascal did to her, probably why he was dragging her out of bed earlier.
Cathy moved towards her, taking the opposite stool as she joined her on the table. Without waiting for her invitation, her friend dug in and joined her with her food.
"Not at all," Ava responded, just shaking her head. "Thanks, anyway, for the food, but you have to stop pampering me. I think I can manage to cook my food now." She could not keep relying on the hospitality and generosity of these people.
She also grabbed another piece of the omelet, liking how it somehow melted in her mouth. She would probably go fat if she kept up with this regimen.
"Oh, it is nothing. But I did not cook all of these. It was Adam." Cathy continued to munch on the omelet and bread in her mouth with much satisfaction. "I think he likes you." She added as an afterthought.
She almost choked on the bread in her mouth that she unceremoniously swallowed. Her hands hastily grabbed the coffee beside her and gulped half of it to clear her throat of the blockage.
"Are you ok?" Cathy immediately went to her side, patting her back to ease her pain. "Should I call for help?" Seeing her friend's expression as she began to panic.
She hurriedly raised her hand to her to signal that she was ok. Slightly out of breath but fine. Still, her friend continued patting her back. "I am good." She finally huskily said. Making her friend stopped but remained standing to observe her.
"Do you want some water?" Cathy asked, but Ava shook her head from side to side, saying no. She felt fine, but her eyes still had a little moisture from the slight discomfort. Quickly, she wiped them with the back of her hand.
"You should not be saying such things." She finally found her voice back. "Someone might hear you and think that it is true." She could not afford more complications, grabbing the tissue on the side to wipe the few spills she created.
"But I am telling the truth." The younger woman protested. "I wish Adam likes me, but I think he only has eyes on you," Cathy confessed, dropping her eyes on her hands, busily playing with her dress.
"Honestly, my brother also likes you too. But I can not force you to like him back if you want Adam more." Cathy continued as she began twiddling with her thumbs as if she was in deep thought.
"Your brother is sweet, handsome, and funny, and any woman would be lucky to have him while Adam is..." Ava seemed to be stuck with gorgeous, captivating, and an Adonis, but she could not say those words to her.
"Adam is one heck of a specie of a man," Cathy said what she could not speak out loud. "I know what he is. He is perfect. Most women I know wanted to have him. But I think he only wants you."
Cathy returned to her seat and began eating again. But her eyes still kept glancing her way as if she was reading her thoughts, waiting for her response to her revelation.
"It does not matter if he or your brother wants me. I am not here to look for a relationship. I have better things on my mind that I have to do." She finally wished to end the discussion. "Please. Can we stop talking about this?"
Thankfully, Cathy nodded her head in agreement. After swallowing the rest of her breakfast and drinking the last drop of her coffee, she stood up from her seat and carried her dirty dish and cup to the sink.
Suddenly, she was reminded of their little incident that night, but she shoved it down the recesses of her mind. She had no time going back to memory lane. What she needed was to go to the future?
"Where is Adam anyway?" She asked, not because she was interested in him, but because she needed something from him. She thought there was a difference.
She believed he was the only one who could help her at the moment. He seemed very capable in the wild. Maybe he could teach her a few tricks. But everything should remain strictly professional.
"He is somewhere probably at the back." Cathy pointed somewhere beyond the fence as she also started clearing out the table. "I better get back to my job." Before running back out the door.
She followed her friend's back and walked towards the door, looking at the freshly made lawn. She could only assume he was somewhere in the thick orchard because she had not seen anyone moving around the backyard.
In several seconds, her eyes landed on a figure entering the fence. She could not refute that she was terribly and undeniably attracted to the man who carried those logs on his shoulders as if they weighed nothing.
Could she act like she was not affected by his presence? She had to because she needed his help. Besides, she was not a dependent woman who needed a man to survive. At the moment, she had to be stronger than her desire. She had no choice.
With a forced stride, she exited the door and walked toward him. With a strong determination, she squared her shoulders and breath deeply, ready to make a deal with the man.
He would surely ask for one in exchange for his time and effort in helping her. She doubted he was the kind of man who would settle for a thank you. But what could she use as a bargaining chip?