Chapter Fourteen

Sparks And Flames

Don't own Vogue.

Kate hated the way Will was quiet during dinner that night. Even though she had made enchiladas and was eating them, Kate felt like her actions weren't good enough. Will kept looking up at her, his eyes blank. He didn't even bother to make conversation with her.

"I took it out on the wrong person," Kate said. "I didn't mean to yell at you this afternoon about how people thought I was starving myself. It annoys me how everyone has to worry about me like that. And I know you were only asking a question, and it was wrong at me to snap at you. I just don't want you to worry about me if you're going to, though. Because I couldn't do that to myself."

Will put down his fork and dabbed at his mouth. "Can you die from...what was it called?"

"Anorexia," she said. "Yes, you can, if it gets out of hand. Your liver and heart can shut down, you have no fat on your body...it's suicide, basically. And I hate that people think that I could do that to myself. I'm smarter than that."

He cleared his throat. "Miss Sims, I've only known you for a day and a half, but I feel like I know you. You're smart and intuitive and have a good head on your shoulders. You're...you're nice. I can trust you."

She smiled softly. "I trust you, too, Will."

There were a few moments of silence until Will asked "What's a model?"

"I get paid to pose for pictures," she said. "So far it's really only been ads for stores. I want to move to New York and go in magazines, though. It's my dream to get into Vogue."

"New York? That's on the Atlantic coast, though. This is the middle of the continent."

"I know. And I'm willing to move. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices to get what you really want."

He nodded in agreement. "I know about that."

She took a bite of her enchilada. "I have to go to work tomorrow. Women work nowadays, most do, actually. I'll have to leave the house at around 7:00 and I'll be back around 5:00. You'll probably still be asleep by the time I leave, so I'll leave you a note explaining everything. It's a lot to remember. It's not an insult to your intelligence, if that's why you think I'm going to leave it."

He chuckled in amusement.

She was tempted to reach out for his hand. "I'm glad I met you, Will. Really."

Melissa had only cooked for herself, never for anyone else before. That's why, on her second attempt to cook dinner for her and Jack, she knew what to expect: a burnt meal.

"It'll be fine!" Melissa said, turning the chicken in the frying pan. "Really!"

"I'm not goin' to die of raw meat, am I?"

"You were on Cannibal Island. You didn't die. How was that toe, by the way?"

He shut his eyes. "Let's not talk 'bout me eatin' a human toe anymore, savvy?"

"If you insist..." She leaned against the counter. Just looking into his kohl-rimmed eyes were a thrill for her. She had never felt this way about someone in her life. Her knees felt more weak the longer she looked at him.

"Ye're gettin' that look again, love," Jack said.

She looked away, then back at him.

"I have a thought. How 'bout I not sleep on the couch t'night? That's no hammock, believe me. So how 'bout I join you in ye're bed and we have a rendevous at 9:00, eh?"

"How about no? I happen to be fine with sleeping alone."

He walked over to where she was standing and looked her in the eye. "Melissa, what's it going to take?"

"Lots of time and a marriage. Not just to you, to anyone."

"Love, can you be persuaded?" he asked, putting a hand on her cheek. "Can you just give in..." He kissed her on the lips. "To your senses..." Another kiss. "And just have one amazin' night?"

Melissa was tempted. She had never been tempted by a man to do this before. It felt different. She still wasn't even sure why she was falling for him so fast. Could she really be starting to fall for him already?

His hand on her cheek slowly moved down the side of her neck, only the back of his fingers grazing it. With the way was his eyes were still locked on her's and the way he was touching her, he was sending chills up her spine.

She started kissing him. That one night sounded better than anything right now. But she had sworn to herself that she wouldn't do anything besides kissing until she was married. And it only took two days for her to want to change that.

"I think we've got a fire, love," Jack said softly.

"I know," Melissa whispered. "How about we keep it burning?"

"No, really." Jack pulled away, pointing to the oven. "I think we've got a fire. And unless you want us to die..."

Melissa screamed. The pan was on fire! She racked her memory for what to do during a grease fire, but couldn't remember.

"Don't just stand there, do something, Jack!" Melissa said, almost as if he would know to do with a grease fire. She frantically reached up for the fire extinguisher on top of the refrigerator.

The fire alarm started going off. Melissa was now about to scream as loud as it with all the stress.

"What d'ya want me t' do, go screamin' like a banshee like you down the street?" Jack argued over the fire alarm. "And what's that noise? Sounds like–"

"If it makes you happy, yes!" Melissa said, putting the fire extinguisher over the fire. A cloud of white smoke filled the kitchen. She coughed a few times and fanned the smoke out from her face. "Oh, gosh...I'm so sorry, Jack. I almost burned the house down!" She sighed and put the fire extinguisher on the counter.

"It kinda ruined a moment...you're not sure we started that with all the heat–"

She closed her eyes. "I'm sure we didn't, and keep that to yourself, Jack." She looked at the pan. It was burnt. The whole kitchen smelled horrible.

"What died in here?" Jack asked, smelling what she smelled.

"You know, that's an insult to me," she said, putting the pan in the sink. "Sort of. I know I'm a bad cook, but I've never tried to burn a house down."

"So now what?" Jack asked. "The chicken's more dead than it was before."

"And thanks for pointing that out, too, Captain Obvious." She got a loaf of bread and peanut butter and two knives. "There. We'll make dinner this way."

"And I didn't appreciate that Captain Obvious remark just as much as you didn't the bad cook one."

She smiled. "We're square."

He pointed a finger at her. "That we are, love."

Kate's Blog Entry

I talked to Will about everything. He was never mad at me, which is a good thing. He says he doesn't think I would do that to myself, which is good that he can trust me after knowing me for only a few days. I'm really starting to feel a connection with him. I don't know if it's more than a friendly one or not. I think it's something more...at least that's what I hope it is. Ah, and work tomorrow. I guess I shouldn't complain. I only have to work one day out of the week. Speaking of which, I called Melissa after dinner and told her that I was going to be able to watch Jack. Watch him. It makes me sound like he's five and I'm the babysitter...I should probably write some directions to Will for tomorrow now.

XOXO,

Kate

Melissa's Blog Entry

I can't do anything right!! WHY?!?! Gosh, I almost burned down the house today! It's true! I started a grease fire...I'm never cooking chicken by myself again. Jack thinks it's because he and I made it too hot in here...Doubtful. Right after we finished putting out the fire and started making sandwiches, Kate called to say that he can watch Jack, which is a good sign. I just hope he doesn't drink all of my parent's beer...I'm exhausted. And I am going to sleep in my bed by myself. Was Jack ever upset to hear that...Ha! I wonder if he's serious about me. Does he see me as his next girl that he can love and then leave? Probably.

Love,

Melissa Rose