21| Cold and flu

It's been a month now since I've been avoiding Dexter. Especially when he asked me to pretend like am his wife for a while just Incase his parents shows up.

According to him, he is fucking tired of his family pressuring him to get married and make grandbabies to populate the palace. The only last thing I gave him as response was..... I NEED TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT.

Come on, don't give me that look. It's quick and a rush, I don't do things like that. I don't want to get into something I'll end up bitting my fingers at the end. Though, it's not gonna be real. It's just a game of love we're to play for his parents. After a short while, we'll blast a miserable lie that something happened between us, causing us to split and go separate ways.

You see?

So simple and easy!

Still, I need to think about it first. I already talked to my family about it. They urge me to go ahead with the plan, knowing that Dexter is a sweetheart.

He is a Duke and am a nobody. Couldn't he have at least pick on someone from his own class? His own kingdom? Or somewhat princesses? Why making a deal with an ordinary single mother whose life has been tempered by a beast?

My life has already been destroyed by one man before and now that Christmas is just two days approaching at the corner, I would never ask Santa for this kind of present.

Never!

Heaven bears me witness.

Pretending to be a duchess when am actually not, can be very risky. I could lost my life in the middle of that pretence. According to grandma, she called that the DISADVANTAGE OF THE PLAN. It's risky and there goes mommy, coming to plea for the way she spoke to me months ago because her daughter is getting the opportunity of becoming a DUCHESS.

Even she, I've been dodging her apologies for long now. She's just the one seeking for my forgiveness.

Outside that, I can't imagine myself in a thick heavy ball gown like the British monarchies. I'm just a mother who loves wearing jeans and polos. Skirt and gowns are not in my blood except you want to force me to fit into them which will hardly happen if I let you.

According to Dexter the last time we spoke, he said 'Royalty is another way of saying boredom.' He's not fond of wearing majestic clothes, sitting in the palace for hours, ordering people around, having countless meetings that goes no where, etc. They sucks.' And that was the reason why he left far from home.

His hometown used to be Denmark, but he turned it into Switzerland because of freedom.

I remember interviewing him last month. I asked him if they ever rode on chariots and horses. He told me NO. It's a modern world, things have changed for good. They now uses limo, sedan, and Roll Royce with many other classic luxurious cars.

These past months, I'm beginning to like him more. I should be very careful so I don't fall for him just because he helped me and my family or because he's 'Mr. Goody too shoes' to my kids.

Everyday, I go to work, no time to talk with him while he's always out for practice with his two buddies, Cyrus and Maverick. I heard that those two never stop asking after me. It's been too long since we all sat together to talk things up.

Their girlfriends, Charlotte and Scarlett has become my shadow. They never finishes in the loft. Maybe they're jobless outside the royal thing they do.

What was it called again? Something, something, firelight of the sea and blah, blah, blah, I DON'T DO FANTASY.

"Mommy!" Isabella rushed to give me a tight hug in the kitchen. Becca and Billy followed from behind.

"Hello sweetie," I chuckle, bending down as I plant sweet warm peck of kisses on their foreheads. I place my hands on my knees, remaining in the same position as I keep the smile ongoing on my face. "So, how did your day go?"

In response to my question, Isabella took out a little white fluffy bunny from the little basket she was holding.

Aww.....it looks so cute and adorable. My eyes puffed like a kitty when I touch its little shining nose.

"Dexter bought it for me—"

"For us, probably." Billy cleared his throat, correcting his little sister. Isabella just rolled her big eyes, ignoring him.

"She is so lovely." I say, taking it from Isabella and now caressing it in my arms. Someone needs to kill me before getting it's way to this sweet little thing.

"Its a 'He' not a 'She" Becca informed me.

My brows edged upwards, ah? Sorry, am not a veterinary doctor. How should I have known?

"His name is snowball." The deep masculine voice chimed in out of nowhere and I just lifted my head to confirm the owner of the voice.

His grace.

"Oh, hi." I say, handling the little white fluffy thing to Isabella so I can tuck my hair to the back of my ears.

Dexter squatted down to their heights and told them, "Why don't you guys go play with snowball, right?"

"Yeah! Sure thing!" Before they could beam their way out of the kitchen, he added, "But don't step out of the loft, okay?"

Oops! Sorry, they're gone now, leaving just I and Dexter alone.

Immediately they left, my body language changed. I'm becoming nervous for no good reason. I've never stood up this much with another man all alone, except someone else join us.

It somehow supposed to make me feel anxious but it's making me feel secure and protected. Why? How come? Infact, why are his both hands hidden behind his back? Is there something he doesn't want to show me or probably don't want me to know?

I continued tucking strands of hair that aren't falling off behind my ears as I bit my lower lip in nervousness.

Oh wow, look at him coming close and close and close and closer without stopping.... yup! He has finally stop on his tracks but the distance between us is very tiny.

"Snowball, right? What a nice name for pets, especially bunnies." I chuckle nervously, scratching my head and gulping every saliva that forms in my mouth.

He didn't say anything for a while and I assume that moment to be stiffed from the way he looked at me, staring deeply into my eyes, completely locking my eyes in his captivating gaze. And yes, studying my facial features like it was a book. I wanted to turn aside but my eyes just keep betraying me. Literally surrendering into his.

Holy sweet mother of Jesus, I've never in my life felt like this before. This steady fast heart beat and..... something literally pounding in my head asking me to take advantage of the moment to kiss him...I actually expect the same thing from him and I guess it's possible from how close we are right now. He's just staring at me, probably waiting for me to take the lead and I just want to cling onto his shirt and kiss the god-damn thing outta him.

Feeling this way, I thought he wanted the same too and won't probably stop me. I took advantage of the moment as I inch myself closer, keeping no space between us. Our faces where close....

So close and I assume he won't stop me from doing what I want to do. I continued. Kept moving further. I can feel his warm breath spreading air all over my face, breezing my eyelashes as I slowly began to close my eyelids and just when our lips were about to meet....

"Actually...I got you something." He strived out. His voice deep and sweet.

Jesus.

I feel so embarrassed of myself right now. God-damnit! I just made a fool out of myself, thinking I was going to kiss him and um.....

Oh Triana, you're such a big pervert.

Now tell me what would he think of me now? That am a woman who couldn't keep herself for just a while after being divorced from her previous marriage?

I am so, so, so, so, ashamed of myself right now. I wish I had conquer my inner self when it lead me to. I hope he doesn't see me as a pervert because I've never been except for what was about to burst out just now.

I'll just assume it's his own way of punishing me for avoiding him for days and for not replying to his proposal.

"Hope you like it? And yes, Isabella actually named the bunny." He said, smiling as he hand me a fancy bag which he has been hiding at his back for long.

I took it from him and peek into the bag to see what's inside. My eyes grew bigger than the size God had created it to be when I saw something I was expecting to have as a PRESENT since I was a teenager.

And behold, it was my favorite color. White.

"Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2." I gasped, eyes still widely open. But inside me, am squealing and screaming hard, trying not to storm it out in the real world. Yet.....I lost control and ended up clinging on Dexter. I wrap myself around him without even noticing and when I did.....I felt even more ashamed than the time I wanted to kiss him. I wanted to sneakily slide down from him but I guess he doesn't want me to. His big arms are also wrapped around my waist just as my legs are around his waist.

By the time realization hit him, he gently let go of me and I slowly slide down like a sad child all alone in the park. Though, it was another romantic moment for us to kiss again but I didn't harken unto my inner voice. I let my real outer self took control of the lead.

Seems like he regretted it too as he recompose himself, taking deep breath to wash out the stagnant moments like nothing almost happened.

"I'm sorry, I was just too.... excited. I mean, what am I even saying?" I chuckle sarcastically. "This..." I waved the headset box. "Has been what I always wanted as a gift since I was a teenage girl but because it's too expensive...I.....I....I couldn't get it on my own." My smiles diminish and tears formed in my eyes. "You shouldn't have done this, I mean, you've already done too much for me and my family. Bringing us here to live with you was already more than enough, especially for me who doesn't deserve to be helped. And as for this thing...." Am referring to the box again. "It's quite too expensive."

He scoffed, probably bullshitting my words. But I witnessed the priceless smile that spread across his lips. "That's because you're expensive, Triana."

Who? Me?

Will you keep quiet?

"You're cost and costly women deserve high rate things—" I sneezed before he could complete the statements.

Sorry, I have a flu. And immediately, my nose turned from pink to light red. Am already on a thick sweater so I just wipe my nose with the help of my dominant arm. "Sorry," That's the only thing that could come out of my mouth through a chuckle.

He suspected something to be wrong with me as his brows creased a bit. "Are you okay?" His big hands came resting on my shoulder and am just locked right in front of him.

I wanted to say something but there comes this sneeze that I couldn't hold back. I remembered a little handkerchief in my pocket, I took it and quickly use it as a shield on my nose. Just not to splash rubbish on him.

"I'm sorry," I say again. After wiping my nose for a while, I began to fidget with the little napkin, keeping my eyes away from his gaze as I look at my foot. "I have cold and flu, but don't worry, I'll be fine." This is the reason why I couldn't go to work today.

This pathetic winter weather.....all in the name of JINGLE BELLS.

He began to tap his pockets fast and I assume he's searching for something not other than his car keys because I heard him mutter the word.

"Got it." He took it out and added, "I'll take you to the hospital."

Before he could reach for my wrist, I quickly shook my head, "No, it's alright am fine—"

"You're not fine, Triana." His tone sound firm and cold. "You're looking so pale. Your face is turning green like the Christmas grinch. I'm taking you to the hospital right now and that is a Yes." I thought I'd end there, not when he cleared his throat and confidently added, "And mind you, am not doing this for the proposal." Oh, he haven't forgot yet.

Without even waiting for my own opinion, he took me out of the kitchen with him.