Runaway Hearts: Seduced by Danger

11. Those Times

Chapter 11

Those Times

T he kitchen buzzes with activity as I chop vegetables on the wooden plank of the countertop. Corey stands beside me, mixing some herbs for a sauce. The aroma of lemon and dill fills the air, creating a warm, homey atmosphere. Nina leans against the counter, watching us with a curious expression.

“Pass the basil, chickadee,” Corey says, not taking his eyes off the sauce.

I hand him the fresh basil leaves, and he tears them into the pot.

Nina smiles fondly. “You know, when you were little, you used to sit on the counter and help Corey cook.”

“I remember,” I reply, glancing at her.

Her smile beams. “I loved those times.”

Corey chuckles. “You were quite the little chef. Always eager to learn.”

Eager to please.

Nina’s eyes follow my movements as I chop some garlic. “You still have that enthusiasm,” she comments, her voice warm.

I feel a blush creep up my cheeks. “Cooking is one of the few things that ground me,” I admit, focusing on the task at hand.

Corey nods. “It’s therapeutic.”

That’s when Kai comes in, peering into the kitchen. “Smells amazing. What’s on the menu?”

“Lemon and herbs halibut,” Corey answers, giving the sauce a final stir before turning off the heat. “Marianne’s favorite.”

Kai’s gaze shifts to me. “You like to cook?”

Being at ease makes me stupid. “I like to eat.” Oh, dear.

Nina giggles at my unfiltered answer, and Corey snorts. I didn’t mean dick. Is that what they’re all thinking? I don’t fancy oral sex. But saying it out loud will only make their reactions worse.

The sizzle of the pan echoes in the kitchen, mixing with laughter.

Kai steps closer, a curious gleam in his eye. “Let me help,” he offers, reaching for a spare knife on the counter and swirling it between his fingers.

Corey smirks. “Nope, that’s a Marianne and me thing. We’ve got it covered.”

Kai shrugs, taking a seat on a stool near Nina. “All right, then, I’ll just supervise.”

Nina gives him a playful nudge. “You mean drooling over the counter while Marianne cooks for you?”

Girl, what?

“Guilty as charged,” he whispers.

“Typical…” my aunt teases him.

Corey hands me a spoon, and we share a knowing smile. “Taste this.”

I dip the spoon into the pot and take a cautious sip. The combination of lemon and dill dances on my tongue, vibrant and full of life.

And. I. Moan.

Kai’s eyelids droop, his lips pressing into a thin line.

Corey gives an approving nod, then shifts his gaze to Nina. “She’s still doing it.”

My aunt sighs. “She does.”

Kai leans forward, his eyes locked with mine. “You moan every time you taste something good,” he says, his voice low.

Nina goes off into a fit of giggles while I blink, and Corey shakes his head.

Heat rushes to my cheeks, and I frown. How’s that funny?

They’re mocking my sensitivity.

I don’t appreciate it. Too much attention on me. But I keep silent.

My gaze slides to the sauce simmering, the fish grilling on the pan, and finish on the plates Corey is getting out of the cupboard.

That’s why I don’t like spending time with my family. Always trying to fit in, never quite succeeding. I want their attention, but not directly.

Plates are passed, forks clink against ceramic, and soon enough, everyone is seated around the dining table. The lemon and dill meld perfectly with the tender halibut, creating a symphony of flavors, leading me to close my eyes, but then, I remember the teasing and open them, carefully eating in silence.

“Marianne,” Nina calls softly, drawing me back to the present. “This is delicious.”

I give a small smile, nodding toward Corey. “All thanks to him.”

Corey chuckles, his eyes crinkling in the corners. “Team effort.”

Kai’s fork pauses midair, his eyes still locked on me. “You two make a good team.”

“We’ve had years of practice,” Corey says, winking at me. “Marianne used to mess up a lot but learned quickly.”

My father’s words still ring inside my brain.

“No wonder Celeste left us; you’re impossible to deal with.”

I learned quickly to be more digestible.

Nina laughs. “Remember the time she burned the garlic bread?”

Corey groans playfully. “How could I forget? The whole house smelled like smoke for days.”

Kai chuckles, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

“Just take her away from me, Corey. I’ll send you some cash.”

My hands tighten around my fork, the metal digging into my skin. I take a deep breath.

It’s just teasing.

Nothing harmful.

But when Kai’s laughter dies down, his eyes linger on me with a hint of something deeper—concern? Curiosity? It’s hard to tell. I push my food around the plate.

Nina’s voice breaks the awkward silence. “What time do you want to be at the fair?”

I glance at my fake boyfriend. Please take me away from here. But expectations are the fastest and surest way to be disappointed.

Corey clears his throat. “You should go get ready, chickadee. We’ll handle the dishes.”

I nod, grateful for the excuse to escape. Pushing my chair back, I stand and flash a tight smile around the table. “Thanks.”

The clatter of dishes and the low hum of the conversation follow me as I navigate to my room. In the quiet of my space, free from their teasing eyes, I lean against the door and breathe.

I shoot a side eye at my suitcase. “Is he worth it?” I ask, thinking about the short summer dress hiding among my regular clothes.

Chewing on my bottom lip, I grab the floozy fabric and pull it out of its confines.

It’s so beautiful, and I almost feel unworthy of it. Almost .

When my psychiatrist upped my anxiety pills dosage a year and a half ago, it led to a thirty-pound weight gain. Despite my best efforts and countless hours of shopping, I couldn’t find a dress within my budget that was both classy and sexy to cover my new curves.

And so, Arietta bought the dress for me. In Italy. Because she knew I felt fat and unattractive.

“I saw that dress on a mannequin, and it was so gorgeous… It screamed your name. I had it altered for your new sugar tits.”

It’s been hiding in my wardrobe for a whole year because it showed a little more skin than I was comfortable with.

But tonight…

It would be a good method to show Kai I’m interested.

Maybe too good, I think, slipping the dress over my head. It glides down my body, hugging my curves in ways that make me stand straighter.

I smooth the dress, taking a moment to appreciate the transformation in the mirror.

The plummet of nerves counteracts my bravado, but I square my shoulders and grab a pair of sandals. This isn’t just about showing Kai I’m interested; it’s about reclaiming confidence.

I step out of my room.

Come on, Marianne; you can do this.

Each step up the stairs feels heavy yet liberating.

Corey catches sight of me first, his hand dropping the dirty plate he was washing.

Nina elbows him. “Told you she had a wild side,” she murmurs.

Kai’s eyes widen as they trace the line of my dress, drinking in the sight.

That’s good for my self-esteem.

His gaze lingers on my bare legs before snapping back to my face. My pulse quickens. But I hold his gaze, daring him to look away.

My pretend boyfriend’s jaw tenses, and he fights to maintain his composure.

“Kai,” Nina interrupts, “what do you think?”

Feeling quite daring, I spin slowly.

A strained sound comes out of Kai’s lips. He runs a hand through his hair, and the stupidest, high-pitched laugh breaks out of his throat. “Wow.”

The corners of Kai’s mouth twitch upward as he extends a hand to me. I hesitate for just a heartbeat before placing my hand in his. His fingers wrap around mine, and he lets his gaze travel to my breasts.

And his upper lip ticks. “Ready to go?”

I nod, feeling a surge of confidence. “I am.”

As we walk to the door, Corey’s voice follows us. “Have fun, you two!”

Kai squeezes my hand gently as we step outside.

Birds chirp their goodnights, and somewhere in Norway, a gorgeous blonde with electrifying baby blues is proud of me.