Page 31 of Hot n Bothered

“ Y ou know I have a sharp knife in my hand don’t you?” Isobelle threatened Ben as he moved his phone closer to her. “Don’t forget you promised.”

“Yes, yes. This won’t get sent to the group. So what are you doing?”

“Building a motorbike.”

Ben just looked at her, not impressed with her sarcasm.

“Fine. I am slicing the courgette into thick slices then halving them. Next I’ll be roughly chopping the kale.”

“Sounds easy enough.” His eyes flicked to the stove then back again.

She chuckled. “You’re trying not to check on the quinoa aren’t you?”

“I… yes.” He sighed. “But this is all you so I’m going to restrain myself.”

“As tempting as it is to wind you up by ignoring it. I do need to check on it.”

She gave it a quick stir, it was looking good. A quick glance to Ben showed he was still filming her but also assessing the condition of the quinoa. It was so cute how he was so passionate about food, it bordered on obsession. It was like that with her and her writing.

He caught her watching so she scrunched up her nose at him making him smile.

“Almost there. Perfect time to start chopping up the garlic, chilies and ginger. How spicy do you want it?”

“Just enough heat, but don’t overpower the rest of the flavours. How much do you use of each?”

“I… um… what did I say last time you asked?” She looked down at the ingredients in front of her thinking. “Honestly? I have no idea. This I just do on instinct. I guess three cloves of garlic, two chilies and just a little ginger?”

He laughed. “Maybe that’s where I’ve been going wrong. I’ve been trying to follow an exact recipe. I should’ve been following my gut.”

“I thought you always did that anyway with your cooking?” She quickly chopped up the garlic and chilies. Then washed her hands straight away.

She’d made the mistake of thinking she’d remember she’d not washed her hands after cutting chilies once.

After forgetting and rubbing her eye it was a mistake she was never going to repeat.

At least she hadn’t done what Darren had and gone to the loo.

His howls of pain had been heard outside as everyone else howled with laughter.

“Here.”

Isobelle frowned down at the teaspoon Ben was holding out to her.

“What do I need a teaspoon for?” She asked taking it.

“The ginger.”

“Again. What do I need a teaspoon for?”

He huffed a sigh. “Seriously? You’ve never heard of it being the best way to peel ginger?”

“It is?”

“You know if you actually followed me it would be something you would know.”

She beamed up at him. “Why would I need to follow a digital version of you when I have the real you right here.” She held the spoon back out to him.

“I should charge you for this.” He muttered taking it and putting his phone down. “You should know my services are a highly sought after commodity.”

“Really? How much do you charge?”

“For you?” His smile turned wicked as his eyes looked her up and down. Just that look in his eyes had her wanting him. He’d said she was a drug, but so was he and she was hopelessly addicted to him. “I’ll take payment in kisses.” He leant down and kissed her softly, sweetly.

“That sounds awfully cheap for someone whose services are a highly sought after commodity.”

“I could say then it would take a lifetime of your kisses. But then I’d be cheating you out on a very bad deal.”

She frowned at him. “I’m not sure what you said made any sense.”

“I’m trying to be super romantic and lead me into saying that since I would gladly give up everything I own just for a single kiss they aren’t cheap. But nooo, little miss writer has to critique my wording. Now watch and be amazed at my incredible spoon work.”

“Ok, I admit it. That is impressive. I always waste so much cutting the skin off because it’s so lumpy. That’s enough. I only use a small amount and it’s mainly because it helps get rid of the smell of garlic on my hands.”

“Does it?” He looked at her surprised. He picked his phone up again, pointing it at her. “Say that again.”

She laughed. “Well Mr Hot n Bothered if you are using ginger, always chop it up after chopping garlic or onions. It gets rid of the smell on your hands.”

“You learn something new every day.” He winked at her. “You look so cute when you’re acting all smug like that.”

She pulled a face at him shooing him out of the way to turn off the quinoa.

“So now what do you do?”

“Lob a slab of butter in the frying pan with a touch of oil to stop the butter burning.”

He laughed. “You certainly have all the technical talk down. How much butter?” He exclaimed when he saw the size of what she put in.

“What? It’s fine, this is healthy remember, look at all the green stuff going in it.” She winked at him.

“Don’t…” He started to say then snapped his mouth shut.

She pointed the spatula at him, eyebrow raised. “You were about to tell me not to add the garlic just yet so it won’t burn weren’t you?”

He gave a sheepish smile. “Sorry.”

“Don’t forget you taught me that six years ago.”

“Was it really six years?”

She nodded as she added the veg to the pan. “Bianca’s birthday. We made that massive vat of spag bol. You scared the life out of me by yelling it across the kitchen.”

“That was the night the tequila came out and you found your party trick.” He grinned.

“It’s not a party trick.”

“Belle for most people it’s one tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor. But you kept going as though it was water. That’s impressive.”

“What was impressive was the amount of times poor Joey threw up the next day.” She giggled.

Ben chuckled. “Don’t think he’s touched tequila since then.” He frowned at her adding the garlic, chili and ginger.

“Stop frowning at me Ben or I won’t cook this for you anymore.”

“I’m just wondering when you are going to… Oh. I’ll shut up now.” He smiled sheepishly as she added ground pepper and half a turn of salt as she gave him side-eye.

He was frowning again as she tossed the ingredients in the pan and then added the quinoa. She had to chuckle at the quizzical way he tilted his head as she mixed everything. He really did look like a cute puppy.

“Oh I see. That’s what you mean by some soy sauce.” He said. “I was wondering why so little salt. I reversed the amounts.”

“This will be ready soon. Better get those steaks on.”

“Bossy.”

She laughed. “I’m told you love it.”

“Apparently so.” He leaned over and pressed a kiss to the tip of her nose.

“I can handle it from here. Why don’t you set the table? I found some candles as well, citronella to keep the bloody bugs away.”

“Oooh really going for the romance.” She teased, grabbing the plates and cutlery. “Don’t you dare burn my masterpiece.”

“How very dare you.” He mock gasped making her laugh.

She set the table outside by the pool humming to herself as she did.

She’d never felt this happy and content before.

When she went in to collect the wine and glasses, she couldn’t stop herself from trailing her hand across his back when she passed.

It felt so natural to touch him now and the smile he gave her in return was simply stunning.

It was like they had done this hundreds of times and there was a satisfaction in the mundaneness of sitting down to eat a nice meal they had both prepared.

She realised it was the first time they had done this with it just being the two of them.

Oh they had done this hundreds of times, but there had always been others there.

But this was infinitely better, especially the way they were with each other right now. It was suddenly so easy, so relaxed and it felt just so… so right .

Maybe it was because she was refusing to think past tomorrow. Or maybe it was the way Ben was more relaxed and quicker to smile. But that was the only way she could describe how it felt in that moment.

It was just right.

“That was happy sounding sigh.” Ben said interrupting her thoughts.

“Probably because I am happy right now.”

“Good. I’m glad.” He swirled his wine round his glass looking at it intently.

“Um… Belle?”

She looked at him expectantly, why was he looking so stiff and uncomfortable.

“I… well, that is… I…”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Nothing is wrong. In fact it’s perfect. Everything is perfect. I just… I…” He dropped his head with a groan. “Never mind.”

“No. What were you wanting to say?”

He shook his head. “It wasn’t important.”

“Well now I’m curious.” She grinned at him. “I do believe someone said something about giving everything they own for a kiss?”

He chuckled. “Oh you’re going to use bribery? You’re ruthless.”

“So?”

“So what? Are you really going to withhold your kisses from me?”

She lifted a shoulder. “Not if you tell me what you were going to say.”

He downed the rest of his wine. “Fine. If that’s the way you want to play it.”

She narrowed her eyes, he had that mischievous look on his face. He was up to something. He came round the table then frowned at her plate.

“What was wrong with that bit?”

“What bit?” A glance at her plate confirmed it was completely empty. She turned back to him just as he took her face in his hands and kissed her deeply, hungrily.

He was looking so smug when he pulled back. “So that was you withholding? I mean the way you just ate up my kiss then.”

“Let’s continue…”

“Weeeeee’re baaaaaack.” T called from the villa.

“Fuck.” Isobelle muttered.

Ben pressed another kiss to her lips. “We’ll be doing that later have no fear. I need my desert.” He murmured before standing up to smile at her family.