Boundless Love (A Limitless Love Series.): (Christian Romance)

CHAPTER 13

"I do not need a six gas burner and electric oven Ryan!" Halima threw her hands up in frustration. "I did not need all the pots and pans you insisted on pilling onto my cart, I did not need that double door refrigerator and now I definitely don't need this monstrous range cooker!" She stood a few paces from him and shot him her most chilling glare.

"You look adorable when you try to be mad!" He giggled.

"Oh, you are insufferable!" She spun on her heel to leave but a gentle grip on her elbow kept her in place.

"You know, all these tantrums you keep throwing make me think you don't know how to cook!" He whispered, a smile tugging at his lips.

"You insult me! Knowing your way around the kitchen is a requirement for every woman in my culture." She drawled.

"Well then prove it! This monstrous range cooker as you call it is good enough, even for the best chef in the world. Its fully equipped with four gas burners, two electric burners, two ovens, a grill, and a warming drawer. You can cook anything on this baby!" He said proudly running a hand over the polished metal of the cooker.

"Exactly, monstrous and insanely expensive!" She murmured through gritted teeth.

"Oh Hal, you don't have to worry about that. The electronics are on me! Turns out, my father has not been able to pull my trust fund yet. So while I still can, I am spending as much as I want! Starting with, getting you decent electronics." He turned and walked away, nodding to an attendant who stood nearby watching their heated exchange with an amused expression. The attendant hurriedly made his way to the storage area to place Ryan's order.

Halima instantaneously followed Ryan, who was now admiring a display of flat screen televisions on the next aisle. She grabbed his arm and led them to a secluded corner. "What do you think you are doing?" She whispered, furious.

"Uhm, shopping for a television and probably a music system!" He answered as though her's was the most ridiculous question ever.

"Halima's eyes only darkened as emotions swirled in their chocolatey depth. "I don't need your charity, Ryan! I brought enough money to buy only what I need. A bed and probably the most comfortable mattress they have here two bean bag seats, a few kitchen supplies, clothes, and shoes! I have no interest in all these other electronics that you are proudly parading for me to choose!" She finished and stood back to whiteness the tumultuous emotions reflecting on his chiseled countenance.

"I don't think you are anyone's charity, Halima." He said quietly. "On the contrary, I realize now that you can afford all these things but I don't know what holds you back. It is not bad to want material things, they make life easier." He moved closer to her and lightly rubbed her chin with his index finger. She moved her head letting his hand fall back to his side.

"I have no problem with having material things, it's the motive behind such seemingly generous offers that I'm wary of."

The hurt in his eyes was unmistakable as he registered her words. "You are worried that I have sinister motives towards you?"

Halima was slightly taken aback, she hadn't expected him to be the one who ended up hurt in the confrontation.

She wanted to move closer to him, feel his warmth, see his smile and maybe, maybe like in the car he would... She didn't move, instead, she stood her ground, his confusion, anger, and hurt moved her to explain herself. "I'm not from a poor family, but sometimes I wish I was, then maybe, I would have a normal relationship with my father. When I was growing up, I discovered a secret about him, he realized that I knew and paid me to keep quiet, by buying my first car. After that, I kept taking gifts from him with the promise that I would keep my mouth shut. Over time, the gifts increased and then he started blackmailing me, one minute I had the upper hand and the next I was the victim! A few years ago I shunned my Muslim faith and became a Christian, around that same time I stopped taking money from him, not even for a cup of tea. But the damage was already done."