Love Expectations (Season 1 of Nata and Phillip's Romance) ✔️

21. 'This is a rare exception'

Nata

Phillip rolls his lips between his teeth. "You really care to know?" His puzzled glance suggests he thinks I'm just toying with him. As if I can't possibly care about his problems.

I pull my hands from under my butt before they lose all feeling. "Part of the deal is for us to get to know each other." I drain the rest of my coffee and rotate the cup as if that'll materialize a fresh, properly done espresso.

Phillip catches my wrist. "Do you need a refill?"

My hand tingles. I'd like another dose of caffeine, but if that means getting up and moving, then the crappy drip isn't worth it. "Maybe later."

"I was going to invite you to have breakfast. It's in the fridge now, but I both own and know how to operate a microwave." Phillip jokingly pats himself on the back. "That comes with coffee."

I hold my face still even though I could smile at his attempt to get me out of this chair. "Maybe another time."

He puts his palm to the side of his mouth. "From a proper espresso machine," he delivers in a stage whisper.

An espresso machine. I screw my lips to the side. He knows coffee is my weakness. If he has a good espresso machine, my next cup of coffee will have to be better than what I've been drinking today. Plus, I get a chance to snoop and see what his side of the duplex looks like, especially after all the commotion over the last two weeks. "Only if you let me make it the way I like it. Do you have a milk frother?"

"I think so? I haven't actually used it. Mrs. Buckingham is the one who's an expert."

"Does she live with you?"

"No, she lives with Dad." Phillip's fingers settle on the armrest of my chair. "She'll be coming a couple of times a week to deal with the place and the food."

"Must be nice."

"It is. She can help you as well."

"No, thank you." I'm not a weakling. "I can feed myself. I'm self-sufficient."

"I think the fact that we are in this deal means you can't do quite everything." Phillip's eyes crackle with laughter, but something else as well. An extra layer of heat blooms between us. "You'll have to let me take care of you." His gaze rakes my body.

"This is a rare exception." The heat that calmed after our sex conversation is traveling down my throat and into my chest. He's kidding and flirting the way he always does with everyone. Why do his words feel different than any flirting he did with me before? I lift my chin. "Otherwise, I've managed to take care of my life for the last twenty years."

"It doesn't mean you have to keep doing it." His flirty vibe disappears. "Accepting help doesn't mean something is wrong with you." Phillip folds his arms behind his head and looks up at the underside of the umbrella above us. His chest rises and falls with a deep sigh. "I promise."

I don't need him to tell me about accepting help. He grew up with help surrounding him. I push my empty mug his way. "You also promised me coffee."

Phillip unfolds himself. "I deliver on my promises." My core tightens as he tugs me up and out of the protective red hue of the umbrella. I need to cool down.

We retrace his earlier steps to his patio. The only difference on his side is an ashtray with a cigarette butt in the center of the wooden table. He must've smoked it last night or I would've smelled the smoke this morning. I'm not looking forward to smelling smoke in my own backyard. The thought of Phillip smoking tampers the heat in my gut. Phillip slides the door open. "Welcome to my humble abode."