“Okay, go back and keep watching your movie. It will be ready in a minute.” Jared glanced at her as he
kept doing what he was doing.
But Nicole had no intention of going. She sipped on the Coke and admired Jared‘s cooking.
“Why don‘t you go back and watch movies?” Jared looked up and found Nicole still there.
“The movie got stuck and took a little too long to load. I will wait here for my cheese banana.” She said
duplicitously. She just wanted to stay here with Jared.
Jared could tell Nicole‘s intentions; he had the fastest internet connection in his house.
“I will make two more steaks and a couple of snacks to go with them. I don‘t mind if you want to come
over and help.” Jared invited Nicole.
“OK, I will give you a taste of my handiwork too.” Nicole put down her Coke and rolled up her sleeves,
ready to do it.
“Do you have chicken thighs?” Nicole asked.
“There. It‘s in the fridge.”
Nicole took out the chicken thighs, thawed them quickly, and then sprinkled them with seasoning to
marinate.
“Are there any corn kernels?” Nicole asked again.‘
“There, in the middle of the refrigerator. You look for it.”
She found the corn kernels and cream. Taking advantage of the time spent marinating the chicken
thighs, she made a bowl of creamy corn soup.
“It smells good.” A whiff of steak wafted into Nicole‘s nostrils.
“Let me see. Wow, it‘s sauteed so well.” The steak in the skillet made a sizzling sound and was
temptingly red.
Jared was pleased with Nicole‘s compliments.
“Do you want to try sauteing a steak too?” Jared looked at her with a wink.
Nicole looked at him sideways and thought. “Yeah.” Jared plated the sauteed steak, then took a new
piece of steak, placed it on the skillet, and handed the tongs to Nicole. “Here.”
Nicole took the tongs and looked at the steak in the skillet but did not know where to start. Jared saw
her hesitation and hugged her from behind, and showed her how to sauté it. Held by Jared from behind
, Nicole‘s heart fluttered, and she forgot she was sauteing a steak. Her heart was pounding
uncontrollably.
“Like sauteing steaks?” Jared asked in a soft whisper in her ear, his breath lightly blowing into her ear.
Nicole‘s cheeks reddened, and she said nothing. Jared looked at her with a smile and continued to hold
her hands to handle the steak.
With Jared‘s guidance, Nicole sauteed the steak successfully. He complimented her. “You have done it
well.”
Nicole rolled her eyes at him as if saying it wasn‘t even her sauteing it; it was he who held her hands to
do it.
“I will fry the chicken thighs.” Nicole broke free from Jared‘s embrace and went to check on the
marinated chicken thighs.
“What are you going to do with the chicken thighs?” Jared asked Nicole as he glanced at the marinated
white meat.
“Coat them in breadcrumbs and fry them in oil later.” Nicole was mouth watered at the thought of
golden–fried chicken thighs.
“Do you need help?” Jared looked at her with an evil smile.
“No need. I can do this one.” She preheated oil in the pan for frying the chicken thighs.
“Let me help you tie your apron.” Jared took an apron
anyway, wrapped it around Nicole‘s waist, and helped her tie it.
Nicole looked at him sheepishly and smiled, then skillfully fried the chicken thighs, which were then
done in no time.
Jared looked at the meal on the table and smiled at her with satisfaction. “Would you like some wine?”
“Absolutely.”
He took out a bottle of red wine, poured two glasses of it, and handed one to Nicole.
“Cheers.”
“The steak is delicious,” Nicole said.
“We will do it together next time”
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