“Good morning, Adele!” she called out as she entered the kitchen. “What’s for breakfast this morning?” she asked, peeking into one of the pots.
“Oatmeal,” Adele snapped and patted Darcy’s hand teasingly to stop her snooping. “You go sit down and I’ll bring you some when it’s done.”
“I’m tired of sitting down. Would you mind if I helped? I’m a horrible cook but as long as you keep me away from the stove and tell me what you need, I’m very good at assisting. My friend Dave is the one that cooks most of the time at home but I grow all the herbs, which he says means I have to chop them up.”
Adele eyed her skeptically and Darcy laughed. “I know I don’t look like I eat normally, but I genuinely love food. I’m just down a few pounds because of a recent job.” She didn’t mention that this island, and her employer, were the job she’d lost the last few pounds for.
“You need nutrition. Go over to that table and slice the fruit Manuel picked this morning. It will be good for you.”
Darcy stepped over to the table Adele indicated and picked up a knife, happily slicing fruit and laying it onto the tray Adele brought her. Adele was definitely cooking up something that smelled delicious but she would only tell Darcy it was oatmeal, all the while asking Darcy questions about her life back in the United States, how she cooked, what she did. Darcy was free with her answers, finding that she trusted Adele for some reason. The motherly woman was very down to earth and friendly. Besides, Darcy doubted Adele left the island very often so it would be difficult for a reporter to find this sweet woman and interrogate her about Darcy’s true life.
Darcy sliced and chopped, asking as many questions as she answered, filling up the plate slowly since she nibbled about half of what she cut up. Twice Adele came over to judge her progress and caught Darcy nibbling on the fresh fruit but she didn’t say anything, only gave her “The Look”, something mothers and grandmothers had perfected over the years indicating the transgression had not gone unnoticed.
When the platter was full, Darcy stepped back and marveled at the beauty of the lovely fruit while Adele sliced up some toast and placed poached eggs on another tray. When Manuel arrived in the kitchen carrying another load of vegetables and fruit, Darcy smiled delightedly and peeked into the treasures.
“You go sit down at the table. I’ll bring in breakfast for you and the master,” Adele said.
Manuel picked up the pitcher of fruit juice and was about to grab the plate of fruit but Darcy grabbed it instead. “I’ll help,” she said and carried the tray through to the patio, where Sergei was already sitting, sipping coffee and reading a newspaper.
“Breakfast, sir,” Darcy said and ignored Sergei’s narrowed eyes as he watched her approach from the kitchen with the heavy tray, placing it on the table in the center.
“I hope you enjoy it,” Darcy said and started to leave.
“Where are you going?” Sergei demanded, not sure why she’d just come from the kitchen area, but wanting to know what was going on. With a nod, he dismissed Manuel and Adele, who quickly disappeared, closing the doors behind them.
Darcy watched as her two new friends abandon her to the big, bad wolf and grimaced at their lack of loyalty. But instead of being angry with them for their desertion, she turned to smile brightly at Sergei who looked exceptionally attractive in a white linen shirt and khaki shorts, his bare feet crossed at the ankles as they rested on the ottoman in front of him.
“Why were you coming from the kitchen?” he asked, his voice smooth as silk.
Darcy shrugged and tried desperately hard to get back into character, but it was difficult under those piercing eyes. “I wanted food and it wasn’t ready.” With a smile, she was about to turn on her foot and head out, but he stopped her once again.
“Sit down,” he commanded.
Darcy turned back to him, eyes angry now. “I’ve already mentioned that I’ve eaten. So thank you for the…generous offer,” she said sarcastically, “but I have many things to do today and you’re holding me up from them. Enjoy your breakfast, sir,” she said and almost curtsied, but thought that might send him over the edge.
“Sit down,” he ordered once again and this time, he stood in front of her, the look in his eyes telling her that he would force her if she didn’t comply.
With a sigh, she shook her head. “Fine. If you need someone to watch you eat, I guess you’re paying so what do I care?” She plopped down in the chair opposite him at the table and leaned back. But when he lifted the silver top on the platter, the delicious scent that wafted up to her nose had her sitting up straight and investigating. “What is that?” she asked, all irritation gone now that the smell of blueberries and cinnamon wafted to her senses.
“It’s Adele’s oatmeal breakfast bread. Try some, it’s delicious,” he said and cut her a thick slab of the bread that looked like a sort of bread pudding with blueberries and some type of sweet cream oozing from the center.
Darcy laughed, delighted with the creative breakfast and eagerly picked up her fork.
“What’s so funny?” Sergei asked, his eyes pulled to watch the woman across from him who looked like a little kid on Christmas morning. Or she would if she didn’t look so incredibly alluring with her fresh face and loads of hair barely contained on top of her head. Was she trying to be enticing, he wondered? Was this all a way to manipulate him for some ulterior purpose?
“I asked Adele what she was making earlier this morning,” she smiled and closed her eyes to savor the rich, warm, creamy breakfast meal. “I just didn’t know she was telling me the truth, that tease!”
Sergei watched her eat, nibbling at his own meal but fascinated with the way she savored each bite, enthusiastically serving herself more fruit and sipping at the juice as if it were nectar. He tried to pull his eyes away, but he was entranced. He barely realized he’d eaten anything at all but when she stood up, she gave him a cheeky smile before saying, “I assume I’ve eaten enough for your satisfaction?” she asked, but didn’t wait for an answer. Truth was, he wasn’t sure what his response would be, or even if he could respond. Now that she was gone, he could think a bit more clearly and he noticed that his body was rock hard, sexually aroused just from watching the damn woman eat breakfast with more enjoyment than some people have orgasms!