Ch. 3
Burke walked towards where Cristina was standing and put his arm around her waist.

"Thank you for washing the dishes tonight."

"Wait, that's it? You haven't told me how this is related to cooking!" Cristina shook her head in disbelief.

"I am an educator and I don't spoon feed my students. You got to find meaning in dish washing yourself." Burke gulped down some water and dipped his glass into the sink briskly. "I'm going for a walk. Don't break anything."

Just as he was about to walk away, Cristina grabbed his hand and re-set it on her waist. No way would he leave her here with the dirty pots and trays.

"Stay."

"How can you do the dishes when I'm standing so close to you?" Burke raised his eye brows.

Cristina let the tap water run as the sink began to fill. She wasn't going to wash the dishes. Instead, she glanced at Burke and said, "I need a man to help me rub the grease off that oven tray and saucepan. Someone in this house really likes that saucepan. He'll be mad if I scratch it with my clumsy hands."

Burke gave in and said, "Fine, I'll do those two for you. Only these two."

Stepping aside, a smile of victory covered her face. Cristina laid her fingers across her chin as she examined the undivided attention on Burke's face. Even when he was rubbing off the grease on the saucepan, he was very focused. She loved that expression, whether it was here or when he was performing surgery in the OR.

Where else would she find a man who was good at both the OR and the kitchen?

Cristina reached out and gave a small peck on his neck. He smelled like raspberry chicken, but way more scrumptious.

"Here," Capitalizing on his attentiveness, she passed a dirty plate to him.

Cristina knew he would take it and wash it. Before long, Burke was practically washing everything for her. Anyone who's known a clean freak knew how easy it was to make him lose control over rubbing and rinsing the dishes. The behavior came off so naturally that by the time Burke started cleaning the surface of the kitchen counter with Windex, Cristina kissed him again from behind and said, "Don't forget the stovetop."

That's when Burke came to the realization that he had been tricked. "Cristina! I thought you're supposed to be the one to clean up tonight!"

"I didn't want to interrupt when you're having so much fun," Cristina grinned.

"I'm not going to teach you how to cook."

"No, you will."

"Nope. That's it. No more cooking lessons because you didn't follow what I said."

"What a pity," Cristina licked her lips. "My guy will be disappointed."

"I'm sure you have other means to impress him."

"Burke—" Cristina paused for a moment before her eyes twinkled.

"I think I do."

Cristina took his hand and pulled him into their room. Even in darkness, it was obvious that they were both grinning.