Catch me when I fall (Rúben Dias)

Bonus chapter 5

Chef Dias (Grace's POV)

I cooked with Abel so many times. It was actually one of my favourite things to do with him. He loves cooking and he seemed so relaxed whenever he was in the kitchen getting food ready. I liked seeing that side of him. The side I fell in love with. The one that made me think he was a different person.

"What are you thinking about?"

Rúben's question startles me and I realise I stopped chopping the carrots because I got too lost in my memories.

"Nothing. Trying to remember the recipe. Are you done peeling the potatoes?"

"Yes. Did I do a good job?"

He shows me the potatoes and I see bits of skin are still on them.

"Um...".

"I didn't".

"It's just...you know. When I say peel the potatoes, I mean the whole potato. These look like Dalmatians now".

He playfully elbows my side, making me laugh out loud. "Can you fix it while I do something else?"

"Sure. Go wash everything that'll go into the salad. That should be easy enough for you".

"Don't disrespect Chef Dias".

"Chef Dias?"

"The one and only. At your service, my lady", he says, adding a curtsy.

Cooking with Rúben is a completely different experience. He doesn't really know what he's doing, only used to more basic cooking. But he never fails to make me laugh while trying.

"Can you do this? I have to stir it so the ingredients mix and you're way stronger. I always get a sore wrist when I do it".
"Finally something I can be useful for!"

I laugh and grab his wrist before he can pick up the whisk to bring him closer to me for a kiss. "You're really cute, you know?"

"I know. But we're wearing matching aprons and you're cuter".

While he gets to work, I check everything in the oven is fine and move to pick up some food for Luna. The moment she hears me grab the can, she runs to the kitchen.

"Luni! Dinner is ready!"

"I didn't make it for you, Luna. But I'm sure it's fine".

"We don't want to poison my cat", I joke.

And when I'm about to put the can's content on the plate, I notice something hitting my bum. A kitchen cloth?

"Are you for real?"

"You were naughty", he shrugs.

"You don't want to start that game, Dias".

Luna is meowing impatiently and I turn to give her the food and a bowl of fresh water.

"There you go, my love".

When I get up from the floor, I see Rúben is still mixing the ingredients and I pick up the cloth and hit his bum.

"Payback", I shrug too.

"You'll pay for that".

I busy myself making the salad and then see Rúben must be done with the mixing. It takes me longer but I'm also slower because, well, my arms aren't full of muscles like his.

"That should be...Rúben? Are you sweating?"

"No, I'm fine. Is it done?"

"Was it hard for you to do this?"

"No", he snorts, but I see him rubbing his wrist.

"Wow, such big muscles and for what?", I laugh.

But he shows what they're good for quickly by putting his arms around my waist and lifting me.

"Rúben! Put me down!"

"No. I have to show you how strong I am after how you offended me".

He manages to hold me with just one arm, because he is that strong, while using the other to tickle me.

"Ok! OK! You're strong! The strongest man I've ever met in my life!"

"I like that better".

He finally puts me down and I notice the time. "The veggies!"

Thankfully, they didn't burn despite staying in the oven for five more minutes than they should have but...that's the problem with distractions. And I have a very hot distraction by my side.

"What do I do now?"

"Set the table?"

"Got it!"

"It's so cute how you like to receive orders, you know?", I tease him.

"Useful when you date a bossy woman".

"I hate you".

"Love you too, gorgeous", he whispers in my ear when he walks past me to get the plates. And when he walks past again, he kisses my cheek.

"Ready to enjoy the food Chefs Dias and Wells made?"

"Well", he says, looking like he's thinking hard. "It was mostly Chef Wells who did this".

"I thought it was Chef Dias who was the star chef tonight?"

"He specialises more in other things".

"Like what?"

And there's his smirk I like so much. "Dessert".