Laura
As soon as I stepped inside the cottage, I was stunned. It wasn't at all what I expected. From the outside, it had looked like any an old, abandoned cabin, haunted even. That was why I was scared of coming in but seeing the interior. I was pleasantly surprised. The inside told a different story entirely. The floors were polished wood, the furniture was neatly arranged, and there was a cozy warmth that filled the space. It felt… homely, almost like someone had just left and could return at any moment.
"Wow," I muttered under my breath, my eyes scanning the room. "This is… not what I was expecting." I let out with a sweet smile while Jake looked at me and smiled too.
"I have good instincts. I would have probably found this place if you hadn't found the ugly one we're in." He let out while I rolled my eyes.
"I thought you said you wouldn't shift blames." I quizzed and he raised his hands in surrender.
He didn't say much after that. He would just grunt, but I could tell he was surprised too. He wasn't the type to get excited about much, but the way his eyes moved around the room said it all.
I wandered further inside, my curiosity getting the best of me. There was a fireplace that looked like it had been used recently, and the shelves were lined with books and trinkets. Everything was in its place, and there wasn't a single speck of dust. It was like a hidden gem in the middle of nowhere.
Without thinking, I headed straight for the kitchen. My stomach had been growling for a while, and I was hoping to find something, anything, to eat. When I stepped into the kitchen, I gasped. The counters were stocked, the fridge was full, and there was plenty of food, fresh, preserved, and even some homemade goods.
"Jake, you need to see this!" I called out, pulling open the refrigerator door and inspecting its contents.
"What's that?" He asked.
"Come see for yourself." I replied while he walked over, glancing inside with his arms crossed, his usual stoic expression on his face. "Well, it looks like someone's been living here, or at least comes by often."
I nodded, grabbing a loaf of bread and some fruit. "Whoever it is, they're living like kings out here. Look at all this!" I held up a jar of homemade jam, my excitement bubbling over. "We could make a proper meal."
Jake arched an eyebrow but didn't argue. I knew he was as hungry as I was, even if he was too stubborn to admit it.
"You want some?" I asked but didn't wait for an answer before pushing a plate in front of him. He would only say now out of pride but deep down, he wanted some.
"This tastes somehow different… different from the usual." He chimed in after almost devouring the whole food.
I chuckled before lifting my eyes to him.
"How hard can it be for you?"
"What?" He asked and turned to me too.
"For you to say thanks. How hard is it?" I asked but he didn't answer.
I saw a giggle escape from the corner of his mouth and it made me smile. I love the tension between us. It wasn't too deep or light. Just the way I wanted it, atleast for now.
"It's getting late, we should leave now." Jake said and then stood up immediately.
"C'mon it's not even dark yet." I let out.
"Says the one who begged that we shouldn't come in. Let's go." He said and then went over to the sink to do the dishes.
I was shocked out of my wits but I was careful not to mention it. It would crush his huge ego in a go.
When we were done, I gathered a few items, some bread, cheese, and fruit, and packed them into a bag before heading back out.
"Let me help with that." He said and then took one of the bags from me.
As we started our walk back to our cabin, we stumbled upon something I didn't expect, an orange grove. The trees were full of ripe, juicy oranges, and I couldn't help but stop in my tracks, my eyes wide with excitement.
"Oh my God, Jake! Look at these!" I pointed at the trees, practically bouncing on my toes. "Can we get some? Please?"
He rolled his eyes but didn't say no. I could see the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he watched me. "Fine. I'll get a couple. Just… calm down."
I couldn't help but laugh at his tone, knowing he was just pretending to be annoyed. "Thank you! You're the best!"
Jake
I watched her as she darted toward the trees, her excitement contagious. Laura had this way of lighting up when she was happy, like a little kid who had just discovered something magical. The way her eyes sparkled when she saw those oranges, it was almost endearing. No, it was endearing.
I found myself standing there, hands in my pockets, just… admiring her. She was like a breath of fresh air in this stuffy, complicated world I lived in. She had this innocence about her, this pure, unfiltered joy for the simplest things. It was hard not to be drawn to it.
I couldn't even say no to her when she asked that I get some of the oranges for her. She had squeezed her eyes and face, and was looking like a cute little duck. How could I say no to her? Actually, I knew how to. I've don't that several times with other women but with Laura, I just couldn't. I wasn't myself. She had completely broken through my walls.
As she picked an orange from small heap I had plucked for her and turned to me, holding it up triumphantly, I realized I was smiling. Smiling? Me. Jake. The guy who barely ever smiled unless he'd just closed a deal or nailed a presentation.
And here I was, grinning like an idiot because she'd found some oranges.
"Why are you just standing there?" she teased, waving the orange at me. "Come on, grab a few! It's so juicy, you'll like it!" She exclaimed while I chuckled under my breath, shaking my head as I approached the tree.
"You're acting like you've never seen an orange before, Laura."
"Not in the middle of nowhere!" she shot back, her laughter filling the air. "This is amazing!"
"And you haven't even tried it yet, how are you sure it's juicy?" I quizzed as I plucked a couple more oranges from the branches, tossing them to her one after the other.
"Here. Try it. Let's see if it was worth all that excitement."
She caught it, peeling it quickly. I couldn't help but watch her as she bit into it, her face lighting up as the juice dripped down her chin. She was so… alive. So unguarded. It was a far cry from the Laura I'd seen in the office, always professional, always composed. This was a different side of her, one that I hadn't expected but found myself liking more than I wanted to admit.
"It's perfect," she said, holding up the half-eaten orange. "You want some?"
I was about to refuse, but something in the way she smiled at me, that playful glint in her eye, made me change my mind. "Alright," I said, stepping closer and taking a slice from her. "Let's see."
It was good. Better than I'd expected. The sweetness of the orange mixed with the warmth of the sun filtering through the trees. It was a small, simple moment, but somehow, it felt important.
As we stood there, eating oranges in the middle of an unknown grove, I found myself thinking about how different she was from anyone else I'd been around. Laura wasn't just my assistant, not anymore. There was something more to her, something that made me want to know every little thing about her.
I didn't know how long I stood there, just watching her, but when she looked back at me, her eyes meeting mine, I felt something shift between us. Something I wasn't ready to admit out loud, but couldn't ignore.
"What?" she asked, raising an eyebrow when she caught me staring.
"Nothing," I said quickly, turning away before I gave too much away. "Let's get back before it gets too dark."
"Sure," she said, but I could hear the smile in her voice.
As we walked back, I stayed a few steps behind, watching her every now and then. She was so different from anyone I'd ever known, and for the first time in a long time, I wasn't sure what to do with that.
I liked her. There was no denying it anymore. I just wasn't sure if I was ready for what that meant.
"Why are you looking at me that way? Do I look different." She suddenly turned back and asked.
"You look the same, Laura. Keep your eyes on the road." I said to her sharply. I wasn't ready for her to know what was going on in my head about her…