A Match Made in Heaven

*****

Janelle had slipped out of the dress some time ago. She traded it in for a pair of comfortable yoga pants and a black tank top. Her hair was back in its usual bun, but the glasses were still perched on her nose. She didn’t feel so self-conscious about them anymore. Being teased about them when she was younger had been wiped out by Reece’s warm eyes and silken words.

A knock on the door jolted her out of her thoughts. Nervous excitement flooded her stomach. She took a deep breath before she opened the door. Reece stood there looking amazing as usual. He wore dark blue jeans, a black t-shirt and sneakers. The man smiled as he held up the bottle of wine that he’d promised to bring.

“I hope you like red,” he said.

“Love it,” she said as she stepped aside. “Come on in.”

Once he was inside, he seemed to gaze around her place in approval. Janelle went to fetch the takeout menus that she kept stashed in the drawer beside her stove. When she turned around, Reece was there.

“Jesus!” She said laughing nervously. “You scared me.”

“Sorry about that. You have a lot of takeout menu’s,” he said raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah,” she said sheepishly, “I don’t really get to cook much. I’m always working,” she mumbled to herself. “Besides, there’s variety here! Chinese, Thai, Soul Food, healthy stuff, there’s even Greek. Oh and Italian of course.”

“I have a better idea.”

“Oh?” Janelle asked raising an eyebrow.

“Why don’t you let me cook something for you? While I’m cooking, you can sit on the counter and critique me. With wine of course.”

Janelle laughed. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, it’ll give me a chance to show off. Bragging rights are important,” he said with a wink.

“Well, good luck to you in your endeavors Mr. James, but I am one picky eater. That and my cabinets are pretty bare?”

“I see that,” Reece mumbled as he opened the refrigerator and then the cabinets.

“Shut up!” Janelle laughed. “Work, remember?”

Reece shook his head. “Still girl, how do you live?”

“Leave me alone!” She said swatting at him.

Reece chuckled. “Fine. Let’s go to the store first.”

“Limited funds, remember?”

“I said I was cooking, right? Of course I have to get the ingredients as well, let’s go.”

“Oh,” Janelle protested as he took her by the hand, “I’m a mess!”

“You look good,” he reassured her with a grin.

Janelle wasn’t sure how much more of Reece she could take. The man was doing things to her that didn’t even require him touching her. She nodded her head as she slipped on a pair of sneakers and locked up her place.

They traveled to the grocery store near her house. Reece wanted her to pick out what she wanted to eat, but she insisted that was cheating. He laughed as they browsed the aisle until he settled on what he wanted to make her.

“You’re seriously going to let me throw away food if you don’t like what I make?” He asked, pushing the cart.

“Yes. Well, no,” she laughed. “I would tell you if I totally hated the food you bought. I don’t know what you’re going to make, but it looks good already.”

“Damn straight it looks good. I’m going to blow you away with this meal.”

Janelle rolled her eyes. “You doing a whole lot of hyping there.”

“Fine,” he laughed. “I’ll shut up and put up.”

When they were back at Janelle’s house again, Reece opened the bottle of wine for her. He poured her out a glass before he poured himself one too. She perched herself on her counter and watched him pull out pots and pans.

Janelle sipped her wine as she watched him work. He had pulled out pasta, but he hadn’t bought sauce at the store. There was steak out, two big nice cuts that looked beautiful before he’d even touched them. On the counter, there was shrimp.

“Where’s the sauce?” She asked.

“Shh, you’re judging. You can’t be asking questions.”

Janelle laughed. “So, I’m the judge now?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Fine,” she said taking a big sip of her wine. “Here we have Reece James. I don’t know what that guy’s thinking? He has absolutely no sauce for his pasta.”

“Wrong!”

“What do you mean wrong?” Janelle asked, pretending to glare. “I can see just fine.”

“Can you?” He asked, pushing up her glasses.

Janelle laughed before she shook her head. “Fine, I’ll be quiet and let you work.”

The woman watched him as he cooked up the steak and shrimp, the pasta boiling on the back burner. When it was all done and sitting on their plates, he began to mix flour, milk and butter in a sauce pan. She watched him season it before he swirled the spoon a few more times and lifted it to Janelle’s lips. She tasted it tentatively.

“Oh my God,” she said, eyelids fluttering. “That’s just heavenly.”

“I told you,” he said.

Janelle could tell he was proud of himself as he began to pour the sauce over their food. They took their food into the living room where Janelle turned on the TV. They settled for a romantic comedy Janelle had seen multiple times, but still enjoyed. She ate her food slowly, trying not to look like a slob.

“Are you going to only take little bites out of that all night? Or are you going to eat it?”

Janelle laughed. “I was being polite!”

“Girl, if you don’t dig into that food.”

Janelle shrugged. Living by herself, she’d become used to eating the way she pleased. As she really began to dig into her meal, she glanced out of the corner of her eye. Reece grinned before he turned back to the TV. He’s so cute.

They sat together long after their plates were cleared and the dishwasher was running. Janelle rubbed her feet lightly. They were sore from running all over the studio all day in the little flats. Without warning, Reece grabbed her feet and put them on his lap. He began to rub them without a word.