C4: The Dishwasher

After cleaning the glass, wiping down the chairs and making all the wood surfaces shine so well Anders could admire his reflection in the surface, Den popped out back and started up breakfast.

He wasn't allowed in the kitchen whilst she was cooking (her orders) but did stand by the door and chat to her. His stomach growled appreciatively as he smelt the delicious breakfast she cooked. If it tasted as good as it smelt, he knew he'd be in for a good morning.

He had also managed to convince her to eat with him.

"Have you had breakfast yet?"

"No, I usually grab a snack from the fridge every so often between cooking.

"Well...since you have time, why not join me?"

"Well, I-"

"Or is it true about what they say?" Seeing she was about to protest, he thought quickly, "Never trust a chef who doesn't eat her own cooking?"

Of course, that had been a small challenge for her. She whipped up her own breakfast with his and soon, they were both seated on one of her tables. Chatting and eating happily.

It was only when he eagerly watched her wolf down her pudding, did it dawn on him: He's never had breakfast with a woman before.

He's met women for dinner and drinks, but he's never had breakfast and talked with them. He quite liked it. Good company AND good food.

When they were finished, Anders INSISTED he accompany her into the kitchen and since he was in the 'cleaning spirit' offered to help do the dishes with her. Side by side, with this woman who barely knew him and whom he barely knew, he stuck his hands in soapy water and cleaned off pans, spatulas, and all manner of utensils as she dried them.

"Denny Ari?" He looked her over and thought of something he'd recalled the day before about her name, "Scandinavian?"

"Yep. On mother's side," Den scrunched her nose up and he wondered what he had done to offend her when she said, "you know...it's going to sound strange but...you don't look like someone who washes dishes regularly."

"Well...I usually stick them in the dishwasher."

'If I have any dishes at all.'

"Yeah...you look like a dishwasher man," she quickly handed him a piece of kitchen towel before he put his plate in the sink, "wipe the sauce off and toss that in the bin so it doesn't clog the drain."

'Ah. So that's what I did wrong.'

Anders really had no clue on how to wash dishes it seemed.

"SO what do I look like?" Curiosity got the better of him, so he had to ask.

"Hmm?"

"I'm a dishwasher man...what else?"

Den's lips did a cute little pout as she thought.

"Oh...well...you wear a nice suit so...I'm guessing you're Lawyer or...something to do with an office where you meet people?" She offered and he nodded.

"Not a lawyer, but very good with the office...I have my own PR company. JPR."

"Oh?"

"It's-"

'Cue Obnoxious monologue about how great it is and who I've worked with. She'll not be impressed.'

"It's...small, but steady clientele. Mostly, we work in advertising."

Den actually DID seem impressed.

"Oh. I'll have to see what you can do for the pub," she grabbed the last plate off of him and dried it.

"I think a newspaper ad here and there. You can make a mint off of the breakfast alone. Get a good reviewer in here and boom, five stars."

"Oh, I like that. As long as I don't get snobs coming in," she playfully winked at him, "I'll hold you personally responsible."

Den, realising they were done looked around her.

"Well, that's all done," her watch made a slight beeping sound and she looked at it, turning it off with the button on the side, "and right on time. Ten minutes until I open...wow, we were talking for a while."

"Sorry if I kept you," Anders dried his hands on the kitchen towel she offered him, having chosen to forego the rubber gloves.

"No...No, I enjoyed it," surprisingly, Den found that statement truthful. She'd never invited a man into her kitchens before and the conversation with Anders had been enjoyable.

"So...would you say that's the equivalent to dinner after you saved my bacon?" Anders turned to her and the cheeky glint she'd seen earlier returned. After all that detail...she'd eaten with him. Was that a date? She pushed down the blush that was threatening to spread over her cheeks.

"Well, I suppose it is-oh," she watched as he rifled in his pocket and pulled out his wallet.

'So, not a date. Yes, he said he'd pay.'

Scolding herself slightly for getting her own hopes up, she composed herself as he handed her a folded wad of cash.

She pulled them back, expecting the 'double' he'd promised, but there was, in fact, $100 in her hand!

"What...this is way too much, this isn't even double!" She held the wad back out to him, but he took a step away from her and held his hands up.

"No, you keep it," he smiled a little smugly when she just glared at him.

"What...no!" She tried to shove the money back into his pocket, but he dodged, "Anders, I mean it, this is far too much-"

"Oh no, you don't!" He laughed when she attempted to shove the wad down his shirt, gently grabbing her wrist.

They both looked into one another's eyes and for a moment...everything froze.

"Fili, give me that damn apple!" Dru chased Fili about and he dodged easily as she grabbed at the apple.

"Language, pretty girls shouldn't be swearing!" He laughed as she grabbed at him again.

"I'll give you bloody swearing in a second!" She dived one last time and JUST managed to grab the apple but Fili then grabbed her wrist and yanked her off balance.

She tumbled forward, falling against his body.

He caught her with his other arm around her waist and stumbled himself, but managed to keep standing.

They both slowly turned to look at one another and as her head raised, his nose brushed against her skin. They looked into one another's eyes, their lips only a few centimeters apart and-

"Den, I'm here!"

Both Den and Anders startled, jumping away from one another at the voice they heard.

"So-sorry, that's my pub maiden," she took a step away, hoping it didn't look like she'd been caught in a daydream.

Little did she know, Anders had seen the same thing and like her, he thought it had only been for him.

But he still wondered about what she said.

"Pub maiden?"

"Uh-joke name!" Den waved her hand around, trying to think of the right term, "We have different titles. I'm Landlady queen, she's pub maiden. Like-um...she's there for me when I can't be there!"

'What's the bloody term?! Assistant Manager!'

"Assistant Manager?" Anders offered and she nodded. She felt something in her palm and remembered the wad. He saw her go to offer it again, but he just shook his head.

"Den...keep it...think of it as future payment for the next time, please," he felt his heart thumping wildly in his chest and he tried to calm it down. He'd never experienced something as intense as that before. Why then? Why with her?

"Next time?" She couldn't stop the slight blush at his implication. He wanted to do this again?!

"If that's all right. I enjoyed the company and...that was the best breakfast I've had in a while. Actually, for years."

Den's blush disappeared and she beamed at him.

"Really?"

For a moment, Anders breath was stolen.

He didn't think she was ugly, just cute, but that smile...does something to him.

"That's the best compliment I've gotten in a while...I'd like that," she smiled again, but grimaced when she heard her colleague bustle about in the next room, "um-I actually have stuff to do, so I'm going to have to show you out now!"

Anders didn't mind the way she ushered him out the back. Her hands touched his arms and he didn't get another vision, but he did feel the warmth on her hands.

She waved him goodbye and he smiled happily, pleased he'd secured a 'second date', though he wouldn't call it that to her face.

As he walked away, he found himself so full he knew he wouldn't be able to jog back home. And yet...his step was surprisingly light.

He was so happy. So happy that he didn't notice the black car across the road. It's occupants watching him intently.

"It seems, despite everything...they found one another," the male in the backseat let out a dark chuckle, "now the games can begin."