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Hope you enjoy this chapter... this one and the one after this are pretty much solely Reddie based :) x

Chapter 8: Countless Reasons Why I Love You

"Are you going to tell me what you're cooking then?"

Rachel was sitting at the breakfast bar, watching Eddie prepare some chicken at her worktop. He currently had his back to her, and she couldn't seem to take her eyes off him. The T-shirt he had on defined more of his build than Rachel was used to with Eddie's work attire. She found herself utterly appreciating the navy blue polo neck he had chosen to wear. In fact, he could probably feel her eyes on him, yet Rachel found that she didn't mind much. Upon hearing her voice, Eddie turned around swiftly, meeting her eyes in an instant. Now he was the one who couldn't take his eyes off her. Maybe cooking whilst Rachel was in the room wouldn't prove to be the best idea he's ever had.

"How about you guess," Eddie laughed, unable to suppress a smug grin.

Rachel stood now, making her way over to the fridge to fill up her glass with wine as she pondered on what Eddie could be making with the few ingredients that she'd spied.

Walking back to her chair, Rachel couldn't resist drawing a hand across Eddie's back as she brushed past him. This of course caused Eddie to turn his attention away from the meat once more; to look at Rachel with a loving expression on his face. No, his tenuous self control definitely couldn't take Rachel being in the room whilst he was attempting to cook.

Almost reading his mind, Rachel chuckled at Eddie's antics. She too realised that he was probably never going to get the food cooked whilst in her presence. Maybe if she remained, his earlier joke about setting her kitchen on fire would become true.

Placing a hand on Eddie's upper arm, Rachel gave it a light squeeze, "I'll be in the living room, just shout me through when it's ready."

Shaking his head in a joking manner, Eddie gathered that Rachel knew exactly what she was doing, and was well aware of how these subtle but effective touches would be impacting him. As well as these enticing thoughts though, this was one of many times where Eddie was reminded that Rachel was just as good at reading his mind as he was hers. As he gave her one last smile,Eddie maintained his gaze upon her until she was no longer in view, before turning his attention back to the ingredients. Try as he might, he couldn't seem to tear his thoughts away from the woman sitting in the room adjacent. Considering how long his musings had remained on Rachel for, Eddie reckoned that he should be used to it, perhaps even be able to control it. Seemingly though, as he spent more and more time with Rachel, Eddie found it less and less easy to think about anything except her.

After much debate with himself at the supermarket, Eddie had decided to make Rachel one of his favourite chicken curries. He had wondered whether she would mind if it was a little bit spicy, but then remembered a conversation they had about her favourite Indian restaurant in town. As with the flowers, Eddie hoped that it was a perfect opportunity to show Rachel just how much he cares about the little things. To his delight, from the smile on her face earlier as she was putting the lilies in a vase, his efforts had paid off.

A little while later, Eddie began to plate up the rice and the sauce; finding that he was quite pleased with how the meals had turned out. Making a move towards the door, he was about to call Rachel through when he heard her light footsteps coming up the hallway. Seemingly, Eddie was unable to stop the grin which spread across his face. Perhaps he had been on her mind just as much as she had been on his for the past 30 minutes.

"This smells very nice," Rachel said as she entered the room, instantly making her way towards Eddie.

Eddie couldn't refrain from touching her any longer, and delighted in the way a subtle shiver passed through Rachel's body as he placed a hand on her back and guided her over to the table.

"I think I've managed not to break anything."

Rachel chuckled at Eddie's comments as he pulled a chair out for her. She couldn't help but blush, Rachel couldn't remember the last time someone had been this caring and thoughtful for her. And she was glad that now, that person was Eddie. It still felt surreal though, and Rachel felt fairly overwhelmed after realising that this time yesterday, she was in her own company cooking tea for herself. Twenty-four hours ago Rachel would have not even contemplated that a scenario like this would take place. Allowing her eyes to sweep across the table, Eddie had set it along with candles, and had placed one of the lilies in a cup with some water. Something which Rachel found warmed her heart. This truly meant the world to him, just like it meant everything to her. They both wanted to make this work with equal amounts.

"Voilà," he joked as he placed the plates down.

"Thank you," Rachel responded, giving his hand a gentle squeeze to accentuate her sincerity.

His seat was taken opposite her and Rachel glanced at him once more before rather reluctantly turning her attention away to the food.

She took a mouthful of the rice and sauce, and it was delicious, she didn't need to pretend in any way. It made Rachel feel quite gleeful that she had learnt something more about Eddie today. The fact that he could cook just made him even more attractive for her, and she mentally added it to the list of countless reasons why she loves him.

Looking up ready to portray just how much she was enjoying the meal, Rachel found that Eddie had barely started eating his and was currently gazing over his glass at her whilst he took a sip. The way Rachel blushed a brilliant red now seemed somewhat familiar when in Eddie's presence. One glance from him alone had that effect, never mind the way he was avidly admiring her across the table.

Rachel quirked an eyebrow, attempting and failing to regulate her heart rate once more, "what?"

Eddie laughed almost satisfyingly, knowing exactly what kind of way Rachel was currently feeling, because it was likely that her emotions mirrored his own.

"Just wanted to see your reaction...to my cooking. I said I'd let you be the judge."

Rachel giggled with a beautiful vibrancy that Eddie well and truly adored. The way a light flush of pink lingered on her cheeks didn't go unnoticed as he looked over her features.

"Honestly Eddie, it is delicious."

He smiled warmly and leant forwards slightly, seemingly magnetised towards Rachel's presence.

"I'm glad you like it," he paused for a moment before lowering his tone, "maybe I wasn't just looking out for your reaction," Eddie glanced down, suddenly shy until he heard Rachel's voice.

"Oh, really? Have I got pen on my face or something."

It was Eddie's turn to chuckle now, unsure if Rachel was being genuinely serious or if she was perhaps playing along with his string of humour.

For Rachel, her heart was beating rapidly, and she was surprised that Eddie couldn't hear it himself. She was awaiting his response, wondering what else could possibly test her self control today.

"No… apparently, I just can't take my eyes off you. You look lovely."

"Charmer."

Another countless reason why she loves him.

They finished their meals in a similar fashion, exchanging brief conversation, but otherwise switching their glances between one another and their plates. As Rachel filled their wine glasses up once the food had been eaten, Eddie knew that this wasn't the end of the evening. Something which he was overjoyed about. Rachel wanted to spend as much time in his company as he did in hers.

Standing, Rachel took the bottle of wine along with her glass in her hands and looked at Eddie as he too stood.

"Shall we go and sit in the living room?"

"I'd love to," was Eddie's response as he followed her out of the kitchen.

The idea of sitting with Rachel in a slightly more informal setting was enticing him. Eddie almost couldn't wait to see what it would hold. Whatever the outcome, he knew that he would forever be content with Rachel by his side.