Delectable Benefits

Fourteen

The coming year wasn't a good opening for Anya. True enough the stalker only sent one gift and all leads turned up dry and nothing else came up. Mary never left her side even during the weekends especially when Nick had to leave to do his research for his dissertation.

His focus had never left her, though. Like clock work, he called her each vacant period and more often than not, they were always on video calls even though they were doing different things. She lectured him on his food consumption. It seemed he was consistently dining on take outs even though she taught him how to cook basic meals. He explained he simply didn't have the time to cook.

Her solution was to cook for him and put it in containers and make him take it with him. It was fortunate that he didn't offer a word of protest but simply took everything with him. Whenever he came back to their apartment to get his mind off things, he spent the most of it on her lap as she studied her cases or just simply staring at her as she cooked.

And then he realized he was content. The only thing missing was them actually sleeping together and him putting a ring on her finger. He wondered if she felt the same way about him. He wanted to ask her himself but he learned he was afraid of finding out. He asked Pam instead.

"You can put a ring on her finger now and she will not protest. Believe me, she loves taking care of you and she appreciates the fact that you are more than willing to support her dreams. Take her to the court house, to the justice of the peace and marry her. No one would mind. You did show her grandfather you and your family are more than capable of taking care of her. Especially after the incident with the Senator."

"So you think she'll say yes?"

Pam looked at him as though he was an idiot. "You have it easy by giving her first kiss and what not. You should though, take care of her heart. She is very fragile.""

"I know that, an person's heart is fragile. There is no heart made of stone," he said affronted.

"Maybe," Pam said and looked at him. "You hurt her, I will cut your balls off and stuff it up your ass," she said chillingly.

He looked up at her and smiled wryly, "I would think I am more in danger of not being able to get over her."

Pam narrowed her eyes at him, "Go make my girl the happiest woman alive, she needs it."

Now Nick was watching Anya digest several cases in front of her and it appeared she was getting tired, and it wasn't even noon. "Hey, want to go for a walk? You look like you need it."

Anya looked at him and let out a breath of defeat. "Yeah, it seems like I will not be able to concentrate anymore. How are you doing with your dissertation?"

He smiled at her and took her hand, "Better than you, I'm sure," he said with a laugh and brought her to the door.

She made a face and pulled her shoes on. She was wearing jeans and a cotton shirt. Her hair was being held up with a pencil and Nick removed the offending object and let her silky hair fall to her waist. He pressed the elevator button and soon they were outside walking.

"Maybe I should bring my books outside, this is way better than sitting in that apartment. There are more sights here than being cooped up in there."

"You don't like the apartment?" he asked.

She looked at him, "I love the apartment, but nothing really beats nature like this."

He nodded, "Since we have the entire day to ourselves, want to play hooky?" he asked and wiggled his brows.

She gave a smile "What do you have in mind?"

He grabbed her hand and draged her to the garage. They rode in his old car and they headed to the nearest amusement park. It was quite an experience having most of the park to themselves. Since it was exam week very few students were present. Mostly were lovers either new or old old couples.