A/N: I am very delighted to see the response that this story received; it was way beyond my expectations. I would like to thank ShizukesAplus, Sin Jenkins, Sydney Jane Dale, Shirahane Aikawa, hodhod2011danger and KenLalaLaura for reviewing the last chapter. Thanks a lot for all the support, favorites and follows.


Chapter 2

(Leon's POV)

My watched beeped and I looked at it, it was a 6:30 AM, the time to end my jog. I whistled to Shadow, signaling him that we have to run home now. I jogged back home and entered my house from the back door that opened in the kitchen, "Good Morning!", I was almost startled by the cheerful voice early in the morning. I looked up to see Kate smiling at me. She wasn't up when I left for a jog with Shadow earlier this morning.

"Good Morning", I wished her back.
"Your protein shake", she put a glass of drink in front of me and got back to the omelets that were already on the pan.
"How did you know?", I asked her lifting the glass off the counter.
"Well I thought usually people have protein shakes after morning jog or gym sessions so…", she explained not looking at me and concentrating on cooking, "You don't have it?", she asked turning briefly to look back.
"No, I do", I replied, "I was just surprised how did you figure it out?"
She just smiled putting another omelet on the pan, "Well professionally it's first for me to be a caretaker but I guess I was an unprofessional maid for my ex boyfriends", she said and her tone was more serious than joking.
"Ah I see", I replied, not knowing how else to respond to it. I gulped down the protein shake while she worked around the kitchen, "I'll be hitting shower now, see you at breakfast", I said walking out of the kitchen and she just hummed in response.

I straightaway headed to my bedroom and walked to the bathroom to have a well-needed shower. After that I dressed for work and headed downstairs back to the kitchen. I found Shadow eating from his bowl and Kate putting buttered toast on a plate. I took a seat on the counter and she put a plate of buttered and jammed toasts and omelets in front of me. As she poured coffee for me, I couldn't help but think that this all was so convenient.

I looked down at my breakfast, it really looked appetizing. Shadow barked to get my attention and I looked at him. He was taking in the aroma of the breakfast as well, and barked once again begging for food and I just gave him a strict look telling him he is not getting anything from my plate because he just ate his meal, and he barked in disagreement, before settling back in his bed. I shook my head and started with my breakfast. The moment I ate her cooking, I couldn't help but think, 'At least she cooks like a pro.'

"So is it according to your tastes, Mr. Kennedy?", Kate asked me and I couldn't help but frown at her a little, "I mean, Leon", I just gave her a slight nod continuing to eat and she just smiled. She took a plate and sat to have her breakfast as well, "So, you work in Law enforcement?", Kate spoke after sometime and I looked at her. She was looking at my handguns, a little apprehensively.
"US Secret Services", I told her the truth, if she's working for me then she has the right to know.
"Oh", she said in realization and relaxed.

We didn't talk anymore and concentrated on having our breakfast. After breakfast, she took away the plates while I grabbed my car keys, "Uh… take care of Shadow and the place", I instructed her, starting to move out.
"Don't worry", she assured me with a smile.
"And don't try to walk Shadow, he doesn't look like it but he's very strong", I warned her and she nodded in agreement. I looked down at Shadow, "Behave", I just said to him, patting his head once and he responded with a bark. Then without further ado I headed to work.


(Leon's POV)

I parked my car at the driveway and got out; the whole neighborhood was dead silent, well it was pretty much expected at 1:00 AM in the morning. I walked to my house and unlocked the door to get in and the moment I laid my eyes on it, I could tell the difference. Fortunately, nothing seemed to be missing and everything looked clean and proper. Shadow ran from kitchen to welcome me back home, and for the first time he didn't bring his empty bowl begging me for food. I walked in the kitchen to find his food and water bowls filled.

My stomach grumbled a little and Shadow barked once jerking his head towards the refrigerator. I opened it to find that dinner was waiting for me. I reheated it in the microwave and had my dinner. For a change I was contently full before I was heading to sleep. When I stepped in my bedroom it looked different from how I left it in the morning. I moved to get my clothes and noticed that the clothes, that I had dumped in the laundry basket this morning and last night, were already washed, ironed and hanging in my wardrobe.

As I took my sleepwear, I couldn't help but think how much work Kate did in one day. But it was more than evident that she did take care of the house as well as Shadow and did a pretty good job at that. She could have just pretended to work and slacked all day, and I wouldn't really have known the difference since I am hardly ever home, but she worked hard enough to make me see the difference just in the first day. But I couldn't just jump on conclusions, since it was just the first day.

I headed to the shower and followed my routine through to setting an alarm before hitting the bed, but before I fell asleep, I did took note of the fact that even my beddings were changed. It all really seemed too much convenient with a housekeeper around. I made a mental note to thank Claire, whenever we next meet, because she was the one who suggested me to have a caretaker.


(Kate's POV)

I took out omelets, set them by the toasts on a plate and poured coffee for Leon. It had been over a month that I was working for him and things couldn't go anymore smooth. Taking care of the house wasn't much of problem either and Leon had no complaints. I doubted if he even noticed any change in the place, considering the little amount of time he spends here. The home was practically more of his dog than his. And though we were already on first names terms, but we hardly talked because the only time we get to see each other was during breakfast. Sometimes he would call me just to inform me not to make dinner for him, in case he was eating out. I wondered who he ate out with, because in span of one month I hadn't seen any of his friends and we weren't that close so that he would mention them to me. I filled Shadows bowl and just then somebody stepped in the kitchen, entering from the backdoor.

"What's cooking? I could smell it from outside", the man said taking in the aroma of the fresh hot breakfast I prepped up for Leon.
"Excuse me, but who are you?", I couldn't help but ask in a puzzled tone.
The man looked at me in deep shock, "I am sorry; I thought this was my friend's place. By the way, it looks so similar to his place", he looked at Shadow, "Even the dog", Shadow barked at him, "Shadow!?", he said, "But then?", he gave me the same look of confusion that I was probably giving him.

"Morning John!", Leon said in his usual monotonous voice, as he walked in the kitchen. He took a seat on the counter, pulled the plate towards him and started eating. The guy named John just stared hungrily at his breakfast, Leon noticed him and added to me, "Please prepare something for him too."
"Okay", I said and put the bread in toaster and moved to get eggs from the refrigerator.
"Mind introducing us?", John said to Leon, taking a seat next to him.
Leon gulped down his coffee, "Kate, this is John he works with me. And John, this is Kate she works for me", he said introducing us and John's mouth twisted in a wicked smiled, "She takes care of the house, don't get any weird ideas."
"Oh", John said faking an astonished tone, "Nice to meet you!"
"Same here", I said getting toasts from the toaster and flipping the omelet.

"For a moment I thought I entered in the wrong house, then when you walked in I thought you got yourself a new girlfriend, while I was out of the town", John talked to Leon.
"I have a girlfriend since way before you went on your work trip", Leon spoke calmly as always.
"Yeah, well I hoped for you to break up with her by the time I return", John said sighing and I couldn't help but think what kind of friend says that.
"Your breakfast", I said setting a plate of toasts and omelets in front of John.
"Well to your disappointment it's going pretty smooth between us", Leon informed him and it was really a new thing for me to see him talk this casually to someone.

"It won't be going smooth, once she learns about your sexy caretaker", John said eating his breakfast and eyeing me over it.
And before I could say anything Leon spoke, "John, show her some respect."
"I am never ever showing any respect to your girlfriend, sorry", John said raising his hands in defense and denial.
"I am talking about Kate", Leon said briefly looking at me.
John looked at me nervously and said, "Don't think of me as creep lady. I meant it as a compliment."
"As weirdly as he puts it, it was a compliment", Leon said with a slight smile on his face, this was the first time I was seeing him genuinely smile.
"Yeah because this guy here won't ever compliment you, you know", John said referring to Leon.
"Why would he compliment me, he's my boss not my boyfriend", I said it without thinking and very much casually, guess John was a much easier guy to talk with.

"Speaking of boyfriends, do you have any?", John asked me curiously.
"No", I answered him.
"Then want to go out with me?", John enthusiastically asked me out.
"What?! No!", I said shocked out of hell, I mean I just met this guy.
"He's just pulling your leg", Leon told me and inwardly sighed in relief, "He just messes with people, that's a hobby of his you can say."
"No, I am serious. Do you mind if I date your housekeeper", John said to Leon, in a very serious tone.

Leon gave him a serious look, "Seriously?", he asked him monotonously. John gave him a few quick nods and Leon turned to me, "Will you go out with my best friend?", he said pointing at John. I couldn't help but stare at them dumbstruck and feeling at a loss of words. I was trying to think of something to say, when they both broke out laughing in unison. I was confused whether to be relieved or do I have to turn down John again, "We are just messing with you", Leon cleared my doubts.
"No hard feelings", John said in a friendly tone, as they both got off their seats, "Thanks for the breakfast, you're a great cook."
"Thanks?!", I said awkwardly and they both exited the kitchen to leave for work.

I really still didn't know if it was actually a joke and should I really laugh it off. I tossed that thought off my mind with a shrug and collected the dirty plates, when Leon walked back into the kitchen and I looked up at him, "Forgot my cell phone", he said grabbing it from the counter and then turned back to head out, "Uh Kate, I am sorry about that joke", he apologized sincerely pausing at the door frame, "We didn't mean to offend you."
"Umm… it's fine, it was just a joke after all", I said waving a hand casually. I honestly still didn't know how to react to that.
"John's like that most of the time, so it'll be better if you don't take him seriously because, believe it or not, he does have a hobby of teasing people and being a clown but he's a nice guy", he told me and smiled handsomely once again, "And I guess he'd be dropping in every morning to have breakfast with us, so I hope you don't mind."
"No, no I don't", I assured him mirroring his smile.
"Thanks!", he said and began to move out when he almost bumped into John.

"What's taking you so long, are you getting your wallet or a good bye kiss?", John asked Leon in an accusing tone.
"C'mon we are getting late", Leon said totally ignoring his comment and pulled him along with him.

I stood on the kitchen door watching them for a bit. John struggled with Leon like a kid to get released, arguing something or the other about wanting to say goodbye to me. I still felt awkward and I didn't know if I should laugh at this scene, because it was funny as hell but I didn't want to offend my boss laughing at his friend or anything. John yelled goodbye to me and I just waved at him, finally letting out a laugh.

"Are they always like this?", I couldn't help but say to no one in particular and Shadow barked as if saying yes. I again laughed at his above average intelligence. As long as I have been here, seeing Shadow respond to such questions like this has always been quite impressive for me. I petted him once before getting back to my work.


A/N: Thanks for reading and I apologize for any grammatical mistakes or typos, which might have caused an inconvenience. It'll be my great pleasure to know your views about the chapter. Have a good day!