The Risk of Falling

Chapter Eleven: The Heartbreakers

"A rice cooker? We're shopping for a rice cooker?"

"Yeah. Yours and mine. I mean, one for you and one for me so whoever's turn it is to make stir-fry for dinner can cook the rice properly."

I stared at Luke, completely bewildered.

We were standing in the middle of a high-end home furnishing store later that day, after work, surrounded by a wide array of pricey kitchen appliances and nearly half a dozen sales staff waiting to cater to our every need—well, Luke's every need considering they probably saw him as a dollar sign the moment he walked through the door. “

We have a handy catalogue detailing all the specs of the different brands and models we carry in the store, Mr. Hedenby," one of the sales people said, stepping up and smiling at him.

Her name tag said Sheila. Kudos to her for knowing the names and faces of their wealthiest customers.

"In fact, we also have a top-ten list we recommend based on popularity and customer reviews and ratings," she added. "Most couples refer to it when building their wedding registry."

My mouth dropped open in complete astonishment and Luke, seeing my reaction, just threw his head back laughing.

He looped an arm around my neck and pulled me close, pressing a kiss on the top of my head. "You know what, Sheila, that's a good idea. Bring out the books. That might help narrowing it down for us until Max and I can agree on something. Right, baby?"

I gave him a murderous look before turning back to the staff who scurried into different directions to bring the catalogues right away.

"Luke Hedenby, you are an absolute scoundrel!" I muttered at him, pushing him away from me. "Why did you let those people think we're a couple? We’re looking at wedding registry options! Are you insane?"

"It's just a little prank," he said as he released me to go and pick up a pepper grinder with an intricately carved wooden body. "Besides, the catalogues would be handy. We have another errand to run after this."

"Where to next? The chapel to book our wedding?" I snapped in exasperation as I plopped down on one of the leather-covered armchairs set against one wall. "It's not funny, you know?"

"I'm never getting married. That's why it's funny," he said as he turned back and dropped down into a crouch in front of me, his arms spread out above my lap, his hands resting on each side of the chair. "Besides, it's easier to let them think we're a couple than try to explain why two friends are going shopping for kitchen appliances."

I glared at him. "I'm glad you see why it's hard to explain that part because it's not typical."

He just gave me an irresistible grin. "I don't believe anything about us has been typical since the day we met, Max."

I dropped my head back down and let it rest against the soft cushion of the chair's back rest. "Fine. Buy whatever you want. I don't need a rice cooker. But I'll sit here and wait because these shoes are new and I just broke them in today and they hurt like hell."

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes but they instantly snapped open when I felt hands pulling my tan leather pumps off my feet.

"Uh, Luke, what are—"

"Ssh, just let me," he said softly as he propped one stockinged foot over his knee and started kneading it with firm but slow-building pressure. "You should've told me your feet hurt. We would've stopped by somewhere and gotten you new comfortable shoes first."

I opened my mouth, ready with another protest, but his ministrations on my feet felt so good I couldn't mutter a single word.

"Better?" he asked and I saw him looking up at me with a smile on his mesmerizing blue eyes. He didn't really have to look up much. He was quite tall that we were only a few inches off from being completely eye level.