"Right. Of course. Goodnight."
I stepped back and he closed his door in my face. That was weird. I walked back to my room and climbed into my bed. It definitely seemed like he liked me.
***
I heard movement in the kitchen. I glanced at my alarm clock. It was 7 a.m. I was still tired, but I had an idea. And I didn't want to miss this opportunity. I got out of bed and put on a lacy push-up bra and a pair of matching panties. I walked out of my room and into the kitchen before I could chicken out.
Rory had his back to me. He was wearing just his boxers and cooking something on the stove. It smelled amazing.
"Good morning," I said and walked toward the fridge.
"Hey, Keira." He didn't turn around to look at me. "Do you want some pancakes?"
"Absolutely. Thanks." I sat down at the kitchen counter and admired the muscles on his back. Every time he flipped a pancake his muscles would awaken. I could watch him cook all day.
When he finally turned around, he didn't even seem to notice that I was just in my sexiest underwear. Notice me! He put down a stack of pancakes in front of me and sat down on the stool next to me.
"These are really good," I said.
"Well, I am a chef," he said and smiled at me.
We continued to eat in silence. Now I just felt awkward. I thought he'd find this sexy and alluring. But he didn't even notice. Or maybe he thought it was awkward.
"Where are your clothes?" he finally asked as he took another bite.
You're supposed to kiss me, not quiz me! "Since we're just friends, I figured you wouldn't mind if I walked around like this. Besides, you walk around in just your boxers."
"That's fine. I don't mind at all."
"Good."
"Good." It looked like he wanted to laugh. He was so infuriating. And now I was growing increasingly more embarrassed.
"What are you doing today?" Maybe I could somehow salvage this conversation.
"I have work and then I need to get some stuff for the party tomorrow night."
"What kind of stuff?"
"Just the usual stuff."
"Of course." I literally had no idea what he was talking about. But I didn't want him to think I was a loser.
Rory finished his pancakes and picked up his plate. "Oh, you have some syrup on your face."
"Crap, where?"
He tapped the side of his lips.
I reached up and wiped the corner of my mouth.
"No, other side," he reached over and brushed his thumb along my bottom lip.
He's going to kiss me! A dull ache was spreading through my stomach. My lingerie to breakfast trick had worked!
But instead, he removed his hand from my face and licked his finger. Fuck that was hot. Somehow that was even sexier than him kissing me.
"What's it like to have a one night stand?" I blurted out.
Rory lowered his eyebrows. "Why do you want to know exactly?" He put his plate back down and rested his elbow on the counter.
"Well, I was thinking about having one."
"Really? I thought you didn't do one night stands, Keira."
"I don't. But maybe I should. You certainly seem to have a lot of fun."
"Mhm."
"So, I was thinking, maybe you could teach me how."
"You want me to teach you how to have a one night stand?"
"Yes." With you.
"Why the sudden change of...ethics?"
"Well, there's this guy that I work with that I really like. But he isn't looking for anything serious. And I can't seem to get him off my mind. So I thought maybe I should try him out. It out. It, as in a one night stand."
"Aren't you a freelance writer? I thought you just worked from here?"
"Well there's an office. For meetings and stuff. It definitely exists."
Rory was smiling at me. "Okay. I can help you out. If that's what you really want."
"Yeah, that would be great."
"Okay. Do you mind doing the dishes? I need to get going." He walked away and went into his room.
Chapter 12
"And then he just walked away?" Emily asked.
"Yeah."
"You're right. He's madly in love with you."
"Don't make fun of me."
Emily laughed. "I'm sorry. But this is what you do. You always read too much into everything." I had met Emily for lunch at a restaurant near her office. I needed advice, and she was always ready to give it.
"He asked me not to date any of his friends. I'm not crazy to assume that it's because he likes me."
"But you said yourself that he isn't looking for anything serious. Is that really what you want?"
"Of course not. But I can't get him out of my head. Maybe this will make me get over him."
Emily stared at me skeptically.
"Or maybe he could fall madly in love with me."
"I knew it! So, your plan is to get him to give you advice about how to have a one night stand. And then realize that you mean with him. And then he'll fall madly in love with you? Is that the gist?"
"Maybe."
"Keira, you don't have realistic expectations at all!"
"I do." I didn't. I really wanted more. All my friends were married. I felt like I was falling behind.
"And what the heck happened to your agreement? I thought you made a pact to not start liking each other?"
"Well, yeah, but clearly we both like each other already. So the pact is void."
"Clearly." She scrunched her face to the side.
"Stop looking at me like that! I never wanted the pact to begin with."
"I know, I know. Look, I have to go. If I'm late my boss will kill me. But think about what you're doing, Keira. That's not you. And odds are, he really isn't looking for anything serious. Because he's told you that. This is an awful, awful plan."
Why did she always think all my plans were so bad? "But..."
"Just think about it, okay? I have to run. But Jim is going to be out of town tomorrow night, so I can make it to your party after all. Maybe I can be your wingman." Emily winked at me and walked out of the restaurant.
***
I sat down on the couch and stared at the blank notebook page on my lap. I hadn't been able to write a good article since Rory had moved in. And now I was playing with the idea of writing a piece about his lifestyle. About how dating was devolving into meaningless hookups.
I heard the creak of the front door and looked over as Rory walked in. He tossed his keys onto the kitchen counter.
"Hey! So I was wondering if you wanted to start those lessons?" I asked.
"Right now?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, just let me go change." He came back out of his room while he was still pulling a white t-shirt over his head. His jeans sat low on his waist and hugged him in all the right places. He sat down next to me on the couch. "What exactly do you want me to teach you?"
"All of it." He smelled like cinnamon. It must be from something he made at work. I found myself wanting to lick his skin. Calm down!