Chapter 682

"It looks so damn good. I'm starving." Ronnie eagerly stuffed the pasta into his mouth. "Holy crap! This is incredible! I had no idea you could cook like this. Even a five-star chef would be jealous."

Juniper rolled her eyes. "Can you be any more dramatic?"

"Not even a little. You know how I usually eat all proper, right? Look at me now." Ronnie showed off how much he was enjoying the food. "It's seriously delicious."

"If you like it, have more." Juniper was thrilled to see someone appreciate her cooking. There was something so satisfying about watching someone enjoy the food she made.

She thought about Anthony, how she used to wake up early every day to make him breakfast, and he never even said thanks. It was a bit much.

Comparing the two, Juniper couldn't help but think that being with someone like Ronnie would be way more fun. Sure, he was a playboy, but at least he appreciated her efforts and had a sweet tongue that could make her smile. Anthony, on the other hand, was just a cold fish; it was all one-sided with him.

Suddenly, the pasta in her mouth lost its flavor and felt kinda dry.

Ronnie said, "This is so good. I can't get enough. How did I get so lucky to find a woman like you who's beautiful, talented, and an amazing cook? I've hit the jackpot. I gotta marry you! Otherwise, my life will be incomplete."

"Alright, even pasta can't shut you up." Juniper laughed as she transferred some pasta from her bowl to his.

"Does this count as a kiss?" Ronnie said, grinning.

Juniper threatened, "If you keep talking, I'll dump the whole bowl on your face. Try me."

"You wouldn't dare. Is this the first time you've cooked for a guy?" Ronnie asked, excited.

Juniper didn't answer, thinking again of Anthony, who never appreciated her efforts. She lowered her head and kept eating.

Ronnie got the hint and was bummed for a second, but then he perked up again. "I don't care. I'll be the last person to eat your cooking."

Ronnie was overly optimistic, but hey, optimism was a good thing. At least it was fun hanging out with him.

Juniper said, "This is the last time. Do you think I cook every day?"

Ronnie shot back, "Didn't you just say you wanted to cook to save money? How about this, I'll come over every day for a meal, and you can take it out of my rent?"

Juniper chuckled. "Yesterday, you said I didn't need to pay rent, that my presence lit up the room and it was your good fortune."

Ronnie said, "That's true, but it doesn't stop me from coming over to eat."

"How can you be so shameless?" Juniper laughed.

Ronnie teased, "Of course, I have to be shameless to chase a beauty. Otherwise, how would I catch you?"

"Stop talking and eat. The pasta's getting cold."

"Yes, ma'am." Ronnie kept eating and talking non-stop.

Juniper kept complaining about his chatter, but she had to admit it made things lively and less lonely. When she was in a bad mood, she didn't like being alone; she preferred having someone around. Talking, even bickering, distracted her and made her feel better, giving her less time to dwell on unhappy thoughts.

Ronnie finished every last drop of soup, almost licking the plate.

He patted his stomach. "Oh my God, I'm so full. This is definitely the fullest I've ever been in my life."

"You ate way too much this time. Your stomach must be killing you." Juniper looked a bit worried. Whenever they went out, Ronnie never ate as much as she did, and today he had really gone overboard. She asked, "Want me to grab you some antacids?"

"Nah, I'm good. This is my treasure." Ronnie patted his stomach. "Even if I'm stuffed, it's a happy kind of stuffed, like a sign of being loved."

Juniper rolled her eyes. "You're such a smooth talker."

"This isn't smooth talk. It's the truth. Don't believe me? Feel my heart." He tried to grab her hand to place it on his chest.

"Let go. Don't dirty my hand." Juniper quickly pulled back. "Besides, you're rich and powerful but have no shame and are very cold."

Ronnie said, "That's because of you. Before I met you, I was very aloof. After meeting you, I lost my shame. And before I met you, I was indeed very cold, but now I'm completely devoted. I'm even talking about marriage, but you still say I'm cold? You're the cold one."

"You want to marry me for benefits."

Ronnie retorted, "Not just that. Marrying a woman I like who is also a good match, isn't that great? It's a match made in heaven."

"I think it's a disaster waiting to happen!" Juniper said ungraciously. Smooth-talking men were all bad news.

"You cruel woman. My heart is broken." Ronnie pretended to cry. "You treat my sincere heart like this? How can you be so unyielding and indifferent? Only I would want you."

"Please, don't feel wronged. You can't afford me."

Ronnie suddenly threw a flirtatious glance.

Juniper picked up a utensil to hit him. "I'm going to wash the dishes, and you get out."

"How can I let you wash the dishes? It's bad for your hands. I'll call someone to do it." Ronnie took out his phone.

Juniper said, "Do you have to be so dramatic? It's just washing dishes. It takes just five minutes, and I'll do it."

Ronnie replied, "I can't bear to let you."

"Then you do it."

Ronnie took a deep breath. "Alright then."

He started to roll up his sleeves.

Juniper immediately said, "Forget it. I was joking. You look like you've never washed a dish in your life. I'm afraid you'll break all my new dishes."

Ronnie retorted, "I won't. I'll be very careful. These are the bowls you used to cook for me for the first time. I promise to be careful. Leave it to me. No problem!"

"I said no."

But Ronnie still took the bowls, and Juniper couldn't stop him, so she followed him, worried.

Juniper reminded, "Be careful. Don't use so much detergent. Are you trying to poison me? You're going to break the bowls like that. Let me do it. Can you stop being stubborn? Watching you is more exhausting than washing them myself."

Ronnie was still enthusiastic. "I'll do it. You cook, and I wash. It's only fair. I promise to complete the task. If I break a bowl, you can kiss me."

Juniper thought, 'Dream on! A slap would be more like it.'

Just then, the phone rang.

Juniper reminded, "Be careful. I'll get the phone and be right back."

Juniper ran to the living room and grabbed the phone.

It was Anthony.

The number on the screen hit her like an electric shock, making her shiver and her fingers tremble.

Juniper thought, 'Why would he call her? I have saved his number secretly. What could it be?'

Her mood suddenly became chaotic, and she stared at the flashing screen in a daze.

It wasn't until the screen was about to go dark that she snapped out of it and quickly put the phone to her ear. "Hello?"