CHAPTER FOURTEEN

A beautiful aroma wafted into her bedroom, waking her up as her stomach growled like a demon had just been awakened. She looked around in confusion. She was definitely in her room.

Jayde slid out of bed, sliding her feet into her slippers and exited her room. She had to go to the bathroom and then she'd deal with whatever was happening in the kitchen.

Upon entering the kitchen, Jayde saw Max standing at the stove, a wooden spoon in hand as he stared at the stove. "Wh-what are you doing in here," she tried holding back the amusement in her voice, but seeing him standing like that was too precious a moment. He looked as if he wanted to strangle the stove.

Max turned his head to gaze at her. His face was slightly flushed. "I'm attempting to boil water for noodles. I wanted to do something nice for you, but I think I'm making myself look like a bigger disappointment. How can a grown ass man not cook?" The frustration in his voice was palpable.

Jayde walked over and looked in the pot. It was definitely boiling. She wrapped her arms around his waist as she hid her smile. "Oh, Max. You don't have to cook for me. I appreciate it. But we could have ordered out too." Max held her delicate hands against his stomach and chuckled.

He turned in her clutch, lifting her chin, and leaned down to place a soft kiss to her luscious lips. When he straightened up again, he watched as her cheeks turned bright red. "I want to cook for you. I just don't know how," he looked over his shoulder at the bubbling water.

Jayde laughed heartily, as she released her hold on him. "Well, if you want to learn...," she pointed behind him. "The water has been boiling for a while now." Max spun around on his heel and stared at the water.

"Fuck. I'm awful at this," he shook his head in disbelief. Jayde laughed again as she stepped up to the stove, gently bumping him out of the was with her butt.

"Why don't you go set the table while I make this," she smiled at him. Max nodded eagerly in agreement. Jayde put the noodles into the water before turning around to watch him. She felt so happy. No one had ever thought to make a meal for her. She usually ate at the family restaurant after a long night at work.

As the water began to boil, loudly, once again, it pulled Jayde out of her thoughts. She smiled at his muscular back as he leaned over the table before turning back to the stove. Stirring the noodles, she couldn't stop thinking about how undeniably sexy he was just now.

Peeking over her shoulder once more, Max had just finished setting the table and looked up to meet her gaze. He offered Jayde a loving smile, making her blush and turn back to the noodles that were ready to be drained.

Jayde grabbed the colander from the cupboard and placed it in the sink. As she turned around to grab the noodles, she forcefully bumped into Max's rock hard chest. She blushed profusely as she peeked up at him.

Max looked upset for some reason. "What do you think you're doing, Dove," he stared deeply into her eyes. Jayde felt like she was floating on a cloud with the way his one arm wrapped around her waist, holding her close to his chest, the other, holding her hand against his chest.

Jayde wasn't sure what he meant. "I'm draining the noodles?" Max's eyes darkened slightly as he shook his head and lifted her up. He walked her to the table and sat her in a chair before heading back to the kitchen. She watched him carry the hot pan to the sink and carefully pour everything into the colander.

The steam rose elegantly to the ceiling, before disbursing and fanning back down. Max put the noodles into a big serving dish, laying some strips of chicken on top and adding the alfredo. As he began mixing the ingredients together, Jayde took out her phone and snapped a secret picture of him while smiling.

Just then, Max peeked up and saw what she was doing. He was so tempted to remove his shirt and tease her a bit, but he successfully refrained. Instead, he chuckled and called her out on it. "You don't have to take secret pics, Dove." Jayde's face heated up as embarrassment rushed through her body.

Max saw this and couldn't contain his laughter. "You're so adorable, my little dove." He carried the dish to the table and walked back to the kitchen to grab a pitcher of iced tea that he made before. When he returned, Jayde was sitting there staring at the dish instead of filling her bowl. The look on her face was unreadable. "Jayde," he asked softly as he filled their glasses with tea.

Jayde shook herself and looked up at him, smiling. "Hi," she said cheerfully, yet her face didn't look too happy. Max wanted to pry but figured she'd tell him if she wanted to.He sat next to her, grabbing the bowl and dishing some on to her plate first. He peeked over at her to see if she was okay. She was staring at the food on her plate.

"Do you not like parmesan chicken and alfredo," he asked next to her ear, hoping to snap her out of her funk. Jayde turned her head and looked at him, a breaths distance away before leaning in and placing a kiss to his lips.

She let a tear fall to his hand as she visibly tried composing herself. "No, I love it. It looks wonderful. Thank you so much, Sweets." Max's heart warmed at the sound of the simple pet name she used. 'Sweets' had a beautiful ring to it.

Max smiled, grabbing her hand and kissing the palm. "Of course, my love. You deserve the best treatment. Unfortunately, I don't know how to cook. I had to call my mom and ask for help," he admitted. Jayde felt touched. He went out of his way to learn how to cook for her.

She smiled at him as she shoveled a forkful into her mouth. Max laughed at this and began enjoying his own plate. They didn't talk during their meal, but they looked at each other often.

When they finished, Jayde took their dishes to the sink and washed them, declining his offer to help. Max grabbed a rag and wiped off the table, counters and stove instead. When she turned around to do them, Max was already finished. She smiled at the man crouched before the stove and walked over, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly.

Jayde realized then, she didn't want to live without him. And, although she was scared, she wanted to prove to him that she was in this for the long run.

Max put the rag in the dirty clothes basket on top of the washer and walked back to the living room. Jayde was sitting on the couch, a blanket draped across her lap, flipping through the TV channels. He thought she looked quite comfortable and he didn't want to intrude.

Walking behind her, he pulled her against the back of the couch and placed a kiss to the top of her head. "I'm going to head out," he whispered in her hair. Jayde's hand that had been resting on his tightened. She lifted her head, trying to search his eyes.

Why was he trying to leave? Did he need to go see someone else? Did she do something wrong? Jayde didn't want him to go. Normally, she would have agreed but she wanted to be a better person. She wanted Max.

"Please... Don't go," her voice was hoarse as she spoke. The emotions were clear as day. Jayde was sad and Max picked up on that. He walked around the couch, pulling her over to rest her head on his lap. "I don't want you to leave," she choked out as the tears poured from her eyes.

Max smiled as he stroked her head. "I won't go then. I just thought you'd like to relax without any interruptions." Jayde sat up, looking deep in his beautiful eyes and wiped her tears. "You did have a long day at work and almost passed out from exhaustion on your way home," he regretfully reminded her.

Jayde climbed onto his lap, her legs straddling his lap. "I don't care how tired I am. I don't want you to go," she said while wrapping her arms around his shoulders. "Please stay with me," she pleaded. Max chuckled as he kissed her neck.

"Okay, Dove. I won't leave. I'll stay with you," he didn't want to leave in the first place. Max pulled back to look at her. She was acting different today. And, he honestly, didn't hate it. He adored this side of her. She was wearing her heart on her sleeve and he loved every second of it.