It was the next day and I didn't have to work till that evening. So I slept in though my body only let me sleep in an extra hour. Sadly I wanted more sleep, but couldn't get any more. So pushed myself out of the comfy bed to take a shower. That would be a good way to get awake and freshen up. So my feet strolled off to the bathroom without thought. I turned on the water stripping from my clothes, making a puddle of clothing at my feet. The water felt good, so I stepped it letting the water caress down my body. Soaped up and rinsed up, did the same with my hair. Stood there until the water started to get cold. I turned the shower out stepping out to slip on my pink fluffy robe. It stuck to my damp body.

Knock! Knock!

Quickly I padded to the front door opening only to see Mr. Gold. His presents startled me. My papa was at work so why did he come here? The looked at me made my cheek flush.

"Good morning, Miss. French."
"Morning Mr. Gold." Not sure if it was a good morning or not, now that he was here.

"Do you have the rent money?" He asked me arching a brown brow.

"No." I shook my head, my hair didn't move since it was still wet.

"Well looks like I'm going to have to kick you out." He nearly smirked at me.

I gasped! "Oh no...I don't have it, but my papa does. He isn't here now, but he'll be here this evening, sir."

He gave me an odd look. "Okay...are you not going to invite me in?"

I didn't plan on it since I was in my robe. "Uh sure." Then slid to the side letting him walk in.

"I'm going to pour myself some water." He stated going to the kitchen.

"Okay! I'm going to put uh...some clothes on." I scrambled off to my bedroom shutting the door behind me.

Quickly found red pencil skirt with a button up black blouse, threw though on and then brushed my hair. My mind was racing! Why did he want to come in? I didn't have time to think, went back to the kitchen quietly biting my lip in thought. He was sitting there at the table staring at me with a half glass of water in front of him.

"Would you like some breakfast? I haven't eaten yet." I asked him, and all I got was a simple nod of the head.

So without another word I began making some scramble eggs. Felt his eyes on me the whole time as I cooked. The silence was killing me, but I didn't know how to break it. So I didn't.
Once breakfast was done I set the plate in front of him and then took a seat for myself.

"We could have went to Granny's to eat." He said.

"I don't have money to always eat out..." I replied quietly.

"I would have paid."
What a gentlemen!

Not knowing what to say to that, I flushed.

"Something wrong dearie?" He asked, and I instantly shook my head.

I set my fork down aside my plate, full from the eggs though there was still a couple of bites of food on the plate. His plate was clean as it was from when I grabbed it from the cabinet.

"Don't be wasteful." His voice was firm as a brick wall. It was intimidating. Slowly, but surely I finished all of my food, and then took up the plates without a word.

"What are you doing tonight?"

"Well I'm working this evening...why Mr. Gold?"

"Just starting conversation dearie." He smiled at me. Wow...I never seen him smile before.

"Oh."

"Why you seem nervous?" He got up from the table facing me.

I was a bit nervous around men, not men...this man. Mr. Gold was rich, charming and very intimidating.

"I'm not." Which was a small white lie, since I was.

He reached out touching my cheek with the back of his hand. His touch was so cool or it was my heated cheeks.

"Must be off dearie." He said, and then left.

Oh my! Did I lean into his touch, without realizing it? Did he realize it?

Later at work.

"Belle help a customer on aisle seven!" My boss called over the intercom. Strolled off to aisle seven to help out a customer. Once I got there and saw Mr. Gold standing there waiting. Did he know I worked here? Probably not. "How may I help you?" I asked with a friendly smile.

"Well is this the only rope you have here or is there more?" He asked.

"That's it, we have no other kinds of rope." I replied.

"Okay how much is it? There is no price tag."

"It's 2 dollar for a yard." I replied.

He nodded his head. "Thank you, Miss. French."

"Your welcome, Sir." I smiled, since no one called me, Miss. French.

"When do you get off of work?" He asked.

"In an hour."

"See you then." He then walked off.

Before I could ask, he was gone. Wow that man can move fast even though he uses a cane to walk with. See you then, what in the world did he mean? I couldn't stand here all day thinking about it, sadly. I had to work and that what I did! Mopped the aisle and placed things were they needed to be since they were out of their place. Still working over time, but didn't know it. My boss 'Frederick', came up to me. "Belle...why are you still working. It's past time for you to go." He cocked his head to the side.

"Oh it is! I did not know...well I'll be gone then." I smiled at him and then walked out of the supermarket.

It was getting late, the sun was already setting lower than it normally had around this time. I should pay better attention at the time! The cool air nipped at me, rubbed my arms trying to keep warm as I started to walk home. A voice came out of no where and scared me half to death.

"Cold dearie?" Mr. Gold stood there holding his cane.

"Yes, I am." I replied.

He then rested his cane against his leg taking off his blazer handing it to me.

"What about you?" I asked before putting the blazer on.

"I have long sleeve shirt unlike you." He replied helping with the blazer. His finger tips grazed my arm making me shiver from his touch.

"T-thanks." I blushed.

"No problem...Miss. French." He stood in front of him, close, very close. Our face were only inches away. I didn't know what came over me, but I leaned up wanting a kiss. It never came, so it made me blush even harder.

"Come over to my place, and I'll cook for you as you cooked for me this morning." He smiled, it was offer, I could tell by the tone of his voice.

"Okay."

We got to his house and he had me take a seat in the kitchen so I would keep him company while he cooked for me. Mr. Gold was charming, and it drew me to him.

"Miss. French why did you try to kiss me earlier?" He asked with his back towards me.

What! He noticed...oh no.

"I didn't." I bluffed.

"Don't lie, Miss. French. I saw your lips pursed up." He warned in a husky voice.

"Maybe I was thinking."
"About kissing me." He replied quickly.

My cheeks turned into a bright pink from blushing so much. Could my cheek become pink forever? I mean jeez...he makes me blush a lot. He spun around on his heels watching me bite my lip. He giggled.

"You did want to kiss me." He said.

"And..." I replied letting the single word drag.

"What would have happened if I did kiss you, dearie?"

"Duh I would have kissed back."
He didn't reply, guess he didn't like my reply. It made me feel uneasy as I sat there watching him cook. Stood in front of the stove quietly, but he hit a button on his phone and beautiful classic music began to play. I hummed along to the tone of the song. I knew it, but refused to sing in front of him. The only time I sung was in the shower. Soon the delicious scent of pasta hit my nose. If it tasted anything like it smelled, then it would be very good. The silence wasn't bad between us since there was music on. There suddenly he placed a plate of pasta in front of him and then set his own plate across from mine.

"Thanks Sir." I smiled.

"Your welcome, Miss."

Pap would freak out if I told him about this, but I didn't see a problem with having dinner with the land lord.

"Your a wonderful cook." I beamed.

"I'm wonderful at many things." He smirked at me, before taking another bite of food.

"Is kissing one of them?" The question slipped though my lips.

"I'm not sure, try and see."

"B-but that's means." I stumbled with my wording.

"Yes...it would mean you would have to kiss me." He finished eating as I did.

We both stood up at the same time to put our plates away. Whoa...did this mean something? Nah...it couldn't. Silently we both strolled over to the sink placing the dishes in it. Then we turned to each other. My heart was pounding. A part of me screamed kiss him, and another part screamed no. Mr. Gold leaned in for the kiss slowly, letting me to accept it or not.

Author note: Thank you my wonderful readers! I hope everyone is good and safe from Sandy! Thanks again, by the way reviews fuel my writing.