Sorry My Step-Uncle, I'm Not Your Backup Plan novel Chapter 46

In Gabriella's apartment, Asher stood in the kitchen wearing an apron, cooking dinner. She leaned against the doorframe, watching him with amused curiosity.

"The great Asher Blackwood knows how to cook? I'm impressed."

He continued methodically preparing vegetables. "Remember when you asked where the food I brought you came from?"

He turned, offering a slight smile. "I made it myself."

"You?" Gabriella's eyes widened. "But how does it taste exactly like my mother's shepherd's pie?"

His smile deepened. "I learned by watching her when I visited."

"That's impossible," Gabriella protested. "You only came over a handful of times before she passed."

Asher continued preparing the meat and vegetables, his movements precise. "Let me take you somewhere tomorrow. It will explain everything."

Soon he'd prepared a complete meal: roasted lamb with rosemary potatoes, glazed carrots, and his version of Gabriella's mother's famous shepherd's pie. Though Gabriella usually ate lightly at dinner, sometimes skipping it entirely, tonight she finished everything on her plate, savoring each bite that tasted so famiGabbyr.

When she moved to wash up, Asher stopped her. "Sit. I'll do it."

"My, my," she teased. "Such a perfect househusband. Should I marry you?"

He flicked her forehead gently. "I'm the one marrying you."

After cleaning up, Asher prepared to leave, making no suggestion about staying the night. Leaning against the doorframe, Gabriella found herself wondering why not. Was she not attractive enough? She glanced down at herself self-consciously.

Catching her expression, Asher smiled. "What's on your mind? You look troubled."

"Nothing," she coughed, embarrassed. "Drive safely."

"See you tomorrow."

Watching him leave, still carrying the rubbish, Gabriella smiled to herself. He was almost frustratingly proper.

At the police station, Drake was released after his assistant paid his bail. It was 4 AM when they finally walked out.

His assistant looked exhausted. He'd been about to spend the evening with his girlfriend who had specially visited London, only to be interrupted by Drake's call from the station. Now his girlfriend was threatening to break up with him.

"Where to now, sir?" he asked wearily, sliding behind the wheel.

"Back to the hotel," Drake muttered.

In his suite, Drake flicked on the lights, the spacious room feeling emptier than ever. He lit a cigarette by the window, inhaling deeply.

The room felt wrong without Gabriella's touches - no antique vase with fresh flowers on the glass table, no fully stocked refrigerator, no decorative touches on the walls, no curtains in her favorite shade...

He closed his eyes, but was immediately assaulted by images of Gabriella with Asher. Were they together right now?

The pain in his chest was unbearable.