Chapter 17

I used the key Valdo gave me in the morning to open the apartment door. When it clicked I turned and pushed the door opened. My eyes widen at sight in front of me the cleared my throat. I always knew Valdo was handsome, but it was the first time I really saw how sexy he was as well. Especially with an apron on.

He turned to me and smile, "You're back earlier than I expected."

I shift my eyes up to his blue ones then nod slowly, "We ran out of food at the soup kitchen. So it was over in two hours."

He smiled, "The turn out must have been amazing."

I nodded, agreeing, "It was." I even saw some other homeless persons who I knew. Most of them were shocked to see me behind the counter serving them, but they didn't question it. I walked over to the couch and took a seat. Valdo placed the dishcloth down and then joined me.

"Did you enjoy your time at DFSM?"

I nodded my head and smile, "Yea, I did. The ladies are great. They all have different stories and background, but they all end up single with a child or pregnant one way or a next. Some of the stories brought tears to my eyes." I sighed, " I thought my life was awful to when I heard some of the other stories I rethink about my situation. I feel stupid around them. There is a girl; her family literally kicked her out, whereas my mother just told me to leave, and I did. I didn't wait to see if she regretted her words I just left. So whatever trials I've faced for these six months is really my fault because I probably should have waited for my mother to calm down."

Valdo looked at me intently then spoke, "You should have waited for mom to calm down, but that probably wouldn't have changed anything. I believe everything happens for a reason, you might know the reason why all those bad things happened to you but you will in the future. My mother is a living example. She used her past to help others build their futures. She's helped so many single mothers. You're destined for greatness."

I smiled at his kind words. "Thanks." I looked at his apron and raised my eyebrows, "What are you cooking?"

He smirked, "Let's keep it a secret until I'm finished."

I laughed, "Okay, fine. But we have to use the cake I baked today for dessert."

He grinned, "Deal."

I stood up from the couch, "I'll go take a shower and a nap. You can knock when you're finished." I handed him the baking tin that contained the first cake I ever baked.

"What type of cake it is?"

I smiled, "It's a secret until dinner time." He laughed as I made my way to my room.

......

I smiled up Valdo excited about the meal he'd prepare. He grinned, "Go ahead, lift the cover." I gave him one last look then brought my eyes back to the cover. I used my left hand to lift the lid off the food slowly. Anticipation was killing me, but I was curious about his cooking skills, after all, the man can't be rich, generous, have a great personality and cooks. He'd be too perfect.

I started noticing a mustard-looking colour which made my curiosity heightened, so I lifted it higher to see that it was curry chicken, plain rice and a potato salad. I placed the lid to the side then smiled at him. "It looks good. Indian?"

He shook his head, then lift the lid of his dish. "No Caribbean."

I raised my eyebrows, surprised. "Have you ever been to the Caribbean? or did you google the recipe?"

He smiled, "Both. I went to Jamaica two years ago. I ordered Curry Chicken and plain rice when I went to a restaurant. It was amazing that I had to learn how to do it myself and so when I came back to New York I went on Youtube, and I learnt how to do it. I've been cooking Jamaican dishes since."

"So I won't get poisoned?"

He laughed and shook his head then looked me in the eyes, "You'll just have to trust me."

I smiled, "I do."

He smiled, "Then let's eat."

I took up my fork then inserted it in the soft piece of chicken. "You're tasting the chicken first?" I nod then continued, "That's like eating dessert below the meal. Start with Rice, mix it with the gravy." he took up his fork then start mixing the gravy and rice together, and the rice became yellow like the chicken. I looked at him with uncertainty, and he smiled, "That's how the Jamaicans eat it, at least most of them. Believe me; it's going to taste delicious."

I smiled then mixed the rice and gravy as he did, then took some up with the fork. I opened my mouth and placed the fork in it. Surprised at the taste, I lifted my eyes to his blue ones as I chewed. This my first time eating anything remotely from the Caribbean and it tasted amazing, and it wasn't even cooked by one of them.

When I swallowed the content in my mouth, I quickly took the next scoop up. Valdo looked at me pleased that I was enjoying the food he cooked. Instead of going again, I looked at him and smiled, "This is really good. You need to show me that Youtube page."

"I'd be happy to teach you myself." He said before taking his first spoon. I stared at him for a few seconds admiring the movements of hands as they flex each time to pick up a different scoop. Who knew watching a man eat could look so sexy?

Probably because he is sexy.

For God, sakes, Jakoby. You're pregnant with another man's child!

Grow some sense!

I cleared my throat then looked back down on my food, but my eyes didn't stay too long down before Valdo spoke again. "I thought we could watch a movie after we've finished, after all, it's still a bit early." he paused for a second, "Of course, if you're tired I.."

"I'd love to." I interrupted. It was hard for me to watch tv during the day yesterday, but I might not be the same today because of one big difference. Valdo was here.

I frowned when I realised someone was missing, "Where is King?"

"He's with my friend, Eric." I gave him a questioning look, so he continued, "He uses him to catch girls." I made a face, and so he tried to explain, "Woman like men with dogs."

I smiled, "True. I'd go out with a guy who has a dog any day, but if he has a cat, I'm staying away."

Valdo laughed, "What's wrong with men who have cats?"

I smiled at his defensive attitude, "You had a cat, didn't you?"

He lifted his head in confidence, "In fact, I've had four. I grew up with three of them then the other one when I started working for Kevin."

I nod, "That explains it."

He smiled, "Explains what?"

I shrug, "Oh, nothing just the fact that you cried in front of your boss."

He frowned, "I don't see the comparison."

"Men with cats are either weird, shy or soft and in this case, you're the soft guy, or you were the soft guy. You've grown up into a man the day you brought King home." There was a 50% chance that all the words coming from my mouth was garbage, but I had to be confident with my garbage.

He started laughing so hard he had to take up his glass of water. When he was finishing drinking, he looked at me. "Yes, I was a bit soft but.." he paused, "But that doesn't mean it's because I had a cat, I did grow up without a father. My mother was very soft on me, treated me like a prince, even though we couldn't afford it."

I shrug, "I think it's the cat."

He grinned, "Explain."

"Cats love attention, they want to rub themselves on us all the time and so being good humans, we can't just ignore them as they spin around our feet, so we take them in our hands and rub them down. " I had a cat for three weeks. My mother had found in behind the diner she was working at, and she didn't leave it out in the cold, so she brought him home, but he didn't last long because he was killed by a car. Even though I only knew the poor thing for a few weeks, I was attached to, and when he died, I become so depressed. I made a tiny coffin and buried him in apartment yard, and of course, two days later, my landlord's dog dug him up. Lil Loly had it rough.

"I see your point. They may or may not have contributed to my being soft." I smiled at his confession. "We should finish eating before the food gets cold. Another thing you need to know that Caribbean people don't like cold food."

I laughed and took up the fork once again.

Valdo looked into my eyes and smile, "Tonight was fun." I nod, agreeing. "I'm going to keep you up on that offer you made."

"Which offer?"

"The one where I teach you how to cook Jamaican food."

I smiled, "Oh yeah, that would be great. Dinner was amazing. You're a wonderful cook."

He chuckled, "That's because you're an amazing guest."

Meh!

He was humble, one of the many qualities I admired about him. I smiled into his beautiful eyes, "Well, goodnight." he smiled then leaned in to kiss me on the cheek as he slowly removed his lips from my face I turned my head which caused my lips to collide with his. And just like that temptation to kiss for real came to my mind.

What would I be like if I kissed him?

But I didn't get to try because he tried first.