Baked with Love: A Sweet Pursuit of Passion

Picnic

There was a knock on my door, and I looked at my mom.

Walking to the door, I see Lord Philip Braythrone.
"Hello, Lord Braythrone," I say with a forced smile, still angry about my mother and I's conversation.

"Well, I was told I would find you here. I was going to see if you'd like lunch," he smiles at me and looks at my mother.

"It must be Mrs. Greenwood's pleasure to finally meet you." He tells her he is softly grabbing her and kissing her knuckles.

"Yes, I am." My mother says with a smile.

"I see where Isabella gets her looks," Phillip replies to her with a smile.

"Oh, stop it." She blushes.

"Isabella, How do you know your friend?" She asks me.

"He's not my friend, Ma. I barely know him." I tell her.

Phillip places his hand on his heart.
"You wound me." He says it with a laugh.

"I'm very interested in your daughter and would like to take her to lunch. You have raised a very interesting daughter; I'd love to have the pleasure of getting to know her." He tells her

My ma, who doesn't come to my aid like my eyes plead.

"Well go, you two. Have fun. Well, not too much fun." She says, lightly tapping him on the shoulder.

He holds out his arm for me to intertwine my own.
I fight the urge to roll my eyes and wrap my arm around his own. His large frame towering over my own.

"So lunch?" I ask him as we walk out.

"Yes, I've got something up my sleeves." He says it with a smile.

"You look quite lovely, Isabella, as bright as the morning." He says to me, I feel a hot blush reach my cheeks.

"Thank you," I mumbled, embarrassed.

"Where are we going? The kitchen isn't this way." I ask confused.

"Oh, I'm aware who said we were having lunch in the kitchen." He teased

"Well, I guess I just assumed," I tell him.

"Well, don't just assume. Because then that just makes an ass out of you and me." He teased sternly.

I shrugged.
"Okay."

He continues to lead me until we walk outside in a field.

"Are you planning on murdering me?" I ask nervously as he leads me further into the field.

"Do you think I'd want to murder my possible future wife? not a chance." He states.

"I was just bringing you here." He gestured to a picnic laid out on a blanket.

"Oh wow. This is so sweet and thoughtful." I say with a small smile.

"I told you there can be good moments." He teased me before helping me sit on the blanket.

"So tell me about yourself, Phillip? Can I call you that?" I ask him

"You may." He replied with a smile, pouring me a glass of water. Handing me the cup, our fingers lightly graze each other.

"And shouldn't I be asking you that?" He asks, arching his brow.

"How about we exchange question for question?" I bargain.

"Fair enough." He laughs, making me a plate and handing it to me.

"Any siblings?" I ask him.

"None, I'm an only child." He replied, taking a drink of the water from his cup.

"Do you have any hobbies?" He asked me a question.

"I like to cook and bake, but I do like to draw. Sometimes I like to listen to music too, depending on who is playing." I tell him

"What happened to your dad?" He asked me carefully, making sure he wasn't prying too much.

"He died. The doctors think it was a heart problem." I tell him before taking a bite of food, chewing it slowly before asking.
"What are your parents like?" I ask him once I swallow the bite of food.

"Well, they are typical parents; I suppose they fight sometimes, but what couple doesn't at times?" He replies eating as well.
"What's your favorite food?" He asks me.

"I absolutely love chicken. What about you?" I ask him.

"Well, actually, I prefer red meat myself." He says it with a smile.

"Most men do." I tease him

"You think so?" He asked playfully.

"Yes. Most men are all the same." I say playfully back to him.

"You think I'm most men?" He asked, arching his brow, and smirking at me.

"Well, who knows?" I play, drinking some more of the water he poured me.
After we exchanged even more small talk, our plates were empty. The castle bells rang.

"Well, Isabella, as enjoyable as this, I must go. I'll see you to your room though." He says gathering all the items from the picnic. I help him shove the items neatly into the picnic basket.

He holds out his arm a silent request to lock arms.
I do just that.
His other hand was carrying the basket.
He walks me back to my room slowly.

"I had a very nice time with you, Isabella." He tells me with a smile, looking at me in the corner of his eye.

"I did too. I've never been on a picnic before." I tell him with a blush.

"Well, I'm happy I was the first. I hope to be your first of many things if you allow me to." He says as we continue walking.

"Time will tell Phillip," I say with a blush at his insinuation.

We finally get to my door. He unlocks his arm from mine.
Grabs my hand softly and lightly kisses it.

"Until we see each other again, Isabella." He tells me, looking into my eyes.

He walks away, looking over his shoulder, as I open my door and close it softly behind me.
I look around my room, and I don't see my mother. I guess she went to her room.
I slide my shoes off and sit in the bed. I pull the flower out of my hair and think about the two men who have come and made my life a lot more complicated.