Chapter 140: Darling
Naomi’s eyes widened in shock as she turned to him. "You have to be serious. Stop whatever you’re doing."
Zylan tilted his head slightly, his expression a perfect mask of innocence. "What am I doing?"
She shot him a glare, lips pressing into a thin line. "You know exactly what you’re doing."
The amusement in his eyes deepened as he leaned against the counter, arms folded across his broad chest. He was enjoying this—teasing her, making her flustered. And the worst part? He wasn’t even trying.
Her cheeks burned, and Zylan chuckled, his voice a deep rumble that sent an odd shiver down her spine. Who knew cooking could be this fun? If this was what it felt like, he would have made sure to cook with Naomi every single day from the start.
Then it hit him—he had missed so much by leaving her at home. For some reason, the thought of taking her with him that night, even though she had been drunk, didn’t seem like such a bad idea anymore. Sure, he hadn’t been thrilled about it at first, but now? If he hadn’t, moments like this—filled with laughter, teasing, and stolen glances—wouldn’t have happened. Instead, he would have remained the same cold, indifferent Zylan.
Shaking off the thought, he grabbed a cucumber and started chopping while Naomi finished with the other vegetables. His movements were careful, controlled, but she could tell he wasn’t used to it.
Naomi stole a quick glance at him, watching how he held the knife with a firm yet hesitant grip. He wasn’t struggling, but there was something slightly awkward about it, like someone trying to recall a long-forgotten skill.
She bit back a smile. "You can cut them into squares or triangles," she instructed, setting the tray of carrots in front of him.
Zylan nodded. "How do I do that?"
Naomi picked up the knife, her fingers effortlessly guiding it through the crisp vegetable. "First, you divide them in half—like this." She demonstrated, slicing smoothly. "Then, you cut them slowly. As a beginner, you won’t get it perfect at first."