Dinner at home - locked to Lou

[anddowntothesea]

It's one of his most closely guarded secrets - the fact that he can actually cook. He bakes, too. His Ma was determined that she wasn't going to raise any sons who were a burden on wives. As it turned out, wives had been purely theoretical, but Gabriel Monroe is a man that can look after himself.

When the doorbell rings, he opens the door in jeans and plaid rolled up to his elbows. He smiles.

"I was halfway expecting you to cancel."

Comments

[louise_abasi]

"Why?" Suddenly she wonders if her feet smell, are sweaty. "Because of my heels? You think my feet are hurting because of my heels? That's cu- I'm going to start the movie."

[anddowntothesea]

"Because I thought it might be nice," he says,still holding out his hand. "No ulterior motive other than that."

[louise_abasi]

"Do you ..offer foot rubs to everyone that shares a couch with you?" She moves to the side to create the necessary space. "Or only to those that compliment your cooking?"

[anddowntothesea]

"I do not," he says, tugging the band out of his hair and ruffling his hand through his hair. "Count yourself very lucky, sweetheart."

[louise_abasi]

His hair really was a thing of beauty. She puts her left foot in his lap while at the same time pressing play and reaching for her plate. "Enjoy."

[anddowntothesea]

He wraps one hand around her foot, starting to massage the sole with his thumb as he settles back to watch the movie.

"Comfortable?"

[louise_abasi]

Louise hopes that this isn't the moment that she turns out to be ticklish. "Very. Your pie smells great."

[anddowntothesea]

"Let's hope it tastes good, too," he says, holding her foot gently with one hand as he massages with the other. "Maybe I'm just immune to my own pie."

[louise_abasi]

"Oh, there aren't many kinds of food that can smell great and taste horrible. Usually it's the other way around." Good God, she's glad she put on her fancy tights.

[anddowntothesea]

He grins at her, pressing a little more firmly against the sole of her foot.

"Well, if you do hate it, you can't tell my Ma."

[louise_abasi]

"I'm going to meet your mother?" She blurts it out, much too fast, much too loud and immediately regrets it. "Shi- no, yes, of course not. Of course I won't tell her."

[anddowntothesea]

Her reaction makes Gabe laugh. He shakes his head.

"Not right now, sweetheart," he says. "Not ever, if you're lucky. We could see each other in secret."

[louise_abasi]

"I'm supposed to be kept a secret?" What were they even talking about? She finally manages to take a bite off the pie, humming before it's barely in her mouth. "Lovely. The pie."

[anddowntothesea]

He shrugs.

"If you want to be," he says. "Your decision, not mine." He squeezes her foot. "You know me, Lou. I'll take what I can get."

[louise_abasi]

And her was all he could get? "I think we're missing parts of the movie."

[anddowntothesea]

"Point taken," he says, looking back to the TV, paying attention to her feet, but keeping his mouth closed, glancing at her occasionally.

[louise_abasi]

"Do-" Yes, it's her right foot that's the ticklish one, and she stretches it to prevent herself from kicking. "Left foot is just fine. Please."

[anddowntothesea]

He flashes a grin and lets go of her right foot, focusing on the left.

"Yes, ma'am."

[louise_abasi]

"Please feel free to stop if your hands get sore." The film's completely moving past her. How long can she keep this up, this pretense?

[anddowntothesea]

"Aren't you enjoying it?" he asks, pausing for a moment, glancing over at her with hair slipping into his eyes. "Because if you're not, I can stop."

[louise_abasi]

"It takes some getting used to", she admits. "Usually it's in a professional setting and followed by nail polish."

[anddowntothesea]

He puts his hands up in surrender, leaving her feet settled in his denim clad lap.

"Point taken."

[louise_abasi]

"How can I feel free to say anything if anything might be considered as a slight?" She curls her feet under her, her face suddenly hot. "I was joking, just saying. Not complaining."

[anddowntothesea]

"I wasn't taking it a slight," he says, colour rising in his own cheeks at her own reaction. "I didn't mean..." He ducks his head, letting his hair fall forward, movie forgotten for a moment. "I never know what to do or say, Lou. I feel like I'm on my best behaviour the whole time. Because..." He glances at her. "You have to know."

[louise_abasi]

You can't ace me, Gabriel. Gabe. Gabe. I'm not the princess in the tower, nor a project." She sets down her plate, a slight tremor in her hands. "I'm just another person and I like it best if you make me feel like you view me as such. Ordinary. Knowing that you feel that way doesn't make me more comfortable. I'm not the mother in law."

"And possibly never will be."