Chapter 3 POV CARA

I couldn't stop looking at him, he was like a magnet. One of the things I noticed besides his overwhelming beauty is that Can Griffin likes to talk by gesturing a lot with his hands, his way seems bossy to me but he's also friendly. I couldn't help but notice that he seemed to be looking at me curiously, as if something about me had made him curious. I look away from him, taking the forkful of stroganoff in my mouth and remaining silent most of the time, unless of course when I was asked to answer something to Mr. Kaio or Ms. Brenda.

The brothers seemed elated with the arrival of their older brother, they remembered things from when I was a child making me pay more attention than I should, Can laughed and also made fun of them making them make faces.

When dinner ended, Jaden and Trevor said goodbye to us and left, Scott had already disappeared to God knows where and then there were only me, Mr. Kaio, Ms. Brenda and Can Griffin left in the room. Although they still maintained the rhythm of the conversation, I felt like an intruder and soon said goodbye to them with the excuse that I was going to bed. When I was heading towards the hallway, I couldn't help but take a brief look over my shoulder and get a shock when I came face to face with penetrating brown eyes, but soon his mother drew his attention to another conversation, making us break the conversation. visual contact.

I already entered my room feeling my throat dry and the saliva thick in my mouth, my heart was beating fast as I leaned against the door trying to get air back into my lungs; My legs felt like they wanted to give way, so I took off my heels, throwing them in the middle of the way and falling on the bed, holding my hand on my chest.

''What was that?'' I couldn't understand what I was feeling, so I got up and ran to the bathroom to take a shower. The night was cold, but that man's gaze left me burning hot. This wasn't normal.

***

''I can't believe I won't be able to sleep again! '' I suppressed a groan, putting my hands on my face and then rolling out of bed.

I desperately needed a mug of tea. It was already late at night and surely no one would be awake at this early hour.

Standing up, I put on my slippers and looking from one side to the other, I closed the door behind me carefully and went towards the kitchen; I almost fell over when I came face to face with none other than Can Griffin - drinking a liquid that I already knew very well. With his back to the door, holding a steaming mug to his mouth, looking through the window at the garden with one hand on his waist.

I gasped, he had tied his hair into a bun making him unbelievably even more attractive.

I decided to get out of my lethargy and retrace my steps when I heard my name being called.

''Face''

His voice was deep and sweet, making me feel like floating butterflies flapping their wings violently against my belly.

Swallowing hard, I turned around.

He looked at me with his neck slightly tilted to the side with an inquisitive expression.

''Did something happen ?''

A nervous laugh took over my mouth and, gesturing like a crazy person, I let it out.

''I just couldn't sleep, so I decided to come and have a cup of tea. But since you're here, I don't want to bother you."

I was about to turn around again when I heard him snort, holding his hands in a disdainful manner.

''You don't need to be ashamed of me or treat me with such formality'' He gestures with his hands as if it were an exaggerated manner, never failing to express a grimace on his beautiful face ''Come, sit down, I'll make you tea ; at least I'll have some company'' That wink he gave me almost made my heart stop.

Jesus help me!

Shyly I sit on the chair, placing my hands on the counter, feeling the cold marble while I twitch my fingers nervously.

''So...'' He starts by taking the kettle out of one of the cupboards and filling it with water, placing a sachet inside it and lighting the fire.

I arch my eyebrows because I make tea differently

'' What is your history ? '' And then he stands on the opposite side of me, continuing to drink his tea without stopping looking me in the eyes.

I clear my throat, looking anywhere but at him.

''Like this ? '' I question too nervously to try to understand what he meant by that.

''What happened to you being in an orphanage? ''Wander your eyes across my curious face

''Well..''Talking about it always left me feeling a bitter taste in my mouth ''When I was 6 years old, the house I lived in with my parents caught fire, they died but I survived, I remember waking up in the middle of the night coughing, there was a lot of smoke and then I managed to open the windows and fell out. I cried very desperately because I couldn't help them '' I feel a lump in the middle of my throat.

Can's eyes are bathed in pity, then he drops to where I'm holding him. The only thing left of my parents, my chain with their photo.

''I'm so sorry Dude. This chain is very special to you, isn't it?

I nod to him. And then we both looked at the fire seeing that the tea was already ready.

Can removed the kettle from the heat and at the same time I got up to get my mug from the cupboard on the top shelf.

Then I snort, remembering that I don't have the height for this, every time I make tea I have to put a chair up and get it.

I gasp as a large body stops in front of me, I feel myself hyperventilating when his eyes meet mine, trapping me between the closet and him.

'' Let me get it for you '' Without being able to open my mouth, I simply nodded, smelling a wonderful musky smell that I couldn't decipher. Can raised his hand above my shameful height of 1.65, taking my mug.

''What a good smell,'' he said, handing me the mug, still looking intensely into my eyes, then turning the next moment to the tea pot, scratching his beard thoughtfully.

I almost fainted right there.

But wait... he must have been talking about the smell of tea, right?

I pulled the sleeve of my sweatshirt tighter against my fingers as I placed the mug on the counter, he filled it with tea and replaced more in his too.

I drank the hot liquid as quickly as I could without worrying if it was hot or not. This was too much for me, really too much- even more so because he wouldn't stop staring at me.

''Are they yours or lenses?''

I almost asked what he was referring to but then I realized he was talking about my eyes.

Ah... so that was why he was staring at me like that? Were you curious about the color of my eyes?

Suddenly I felt like someone had thrown me a shower of ice water at the lowest possible level.

''Ah... they're really mine, my mother's genetics.'' I smile a little, without making eye contact ''Many think it's strange that I have that color of eyes because I'm black'' I shrug ''But so what? ? They are mine and I love myself.

He nods, drinking more from his mug, and I take the opportunity to get up.

''Well... I seem to have felt sleepy. Thank you Can, good night.''

"Dispose Dude. Have a good night .''

I waved at him and slipped out of the kitchen, running to my room.

I was so foolish that I had to slap myself in the face to see if I would wake up.

Where did I get that Can was looking at me a lot because he felt interested?

I grabbed the pillow, putting my face in it and moaning into it, then punching it and putting it under my head, locking my eyes and counting sheep. I needed to sleep to stop feeling so ashamed of myself.

***

''You mean CAN GRIFFIN MADE TEA FOR YOU!???. Help, I'm on the floor! ''Jess shouts on the other end of the line making me grimace and roll my eyes.

''It's no big deal Jess, he was just kind to me.''

"Kind, attentive. These are qualities that every woman wants in a man. What's up man?! What if the hottie is really into you?''

I swallowed hard, getting up from the bed.

He had called Jess because sleeping at night was difficult and he needed to vent to someone. Lucky for me, she wakes up early to go to the gym.

''Stop the thing Jess. Can is like an older brother '' I was trying to convince myself of that '' Besides, he was only interested in the color of my eyes, if they were mine or not '' I shrug, biting my nail as I walk around the room.

She lets out a sigh.

''Look, I just finished training here, I'm just going to go home and take a shower and change my clothes. I'll get there soon.''

''Are you going to come here? '' I ask smiling

''Clear ! , I need to share the same luck as you, having the spectacular vision of Can Griffin live and in color.'' She says excitedly

''Jess, I don't know if you remember... but you HAVE a boyfriend.'' I emphasize the ''do'' to see if she realizes.

''And ? , love, I have a boyfriend but I'm not blind'' I burst out laughing, ''Wait for me, I have to see this man up close and analyze whether he's really interested in you or not.''

I place a hand on my face once we say goodbye, as I smile at my tangled reflection in the mirror.

''Jess is crazy'' I walked to the bathroom to do my morning hygiene, having a smile on my face replaying her speech in my mind.

***

Can was doing exercises on the lawn of the house wearing a t-shirt, while Jess and I watched everything with our mouths open.

''This man can't be real...'' Jess says past and then pokes me ''Friend! If this man is really into you, my sister, you won the lottery.''

''Jess!'' I look at her with my mouth open

''What ? , and am I lying?'' I laugh poking her making her jump

''He arrived here yesterday, it's not even 24 hours ago, how would he be interested in me in such a short time?''

Jess rolls her eyes and puts her hands on her hips, looking at me sternly.

"Tell me something, Cara Griffin. What man is going to look at you and not be interested? , you are beautiful! . It's not far behind Can.''

I bite my lip and when we both turn at the same time, Can stops running and turns towards us. Caught in the act, we threw ourselves on the floor, my nervousness was so great that I slipped and the cup of coffee flew into the air, falling all over me.

Within seconds the kitchen door was practically broken down and a very agitated Can appeared, taking me off the floor and placing me on the chair.

'' Are you well ?? ''His hands touched me and his eyes searched my face for any scratches.

''Yes..yes, of course. I just slipped'' He lets out a sigh and then his expression closes

My breath catches

With his hands on his hips, Can began to give me the table of good care to avoid a domestic accident, however I couldn't pay attention to anything except the sweat that came down from his neck and was lost somewhere on his chest, wetting his face. shirt .

''You could have hit your head! '' He growls and then in agony lets out a loud sigh, plunging a hand that was on his waist through his hair, messing it up, as it was wrapped in a bun. '' Do you understand me, Man? You need to be more careful or I may not be here to help you next time.''

''Helooou'' We heard Jess's voice, which until then had become a plant in her corner ''I'm here too'' Humming approaching us.

Can looks at Jess and then at me, then scratches the back of his head and then runs his hand over the spot.

''Sorry, I hadn't seen you. I'm Can Griffin'' He gives a half smile, still tense

''I'm Jess, Cara's best friend'' She says, almost jumping in place, like a child very excited to be presented with a gift.

He nods and looks at me again with a frown.

My goodness, he looks really angry.

''And you be careful.'' He points a finger at me

I nod as he turns on his feet, stomping around and turning down the hallway that leads to our rooms.

''I'm freaking out here my friend!!! ''Jess begins, as I get up from the chair trying to clean up the mess with a cloth on my clothes.'' Did you notice the way he was looking at you? and how worried were you?, and my daughter, what is that ass inside that sweatshirt?!''

Jess fans herself as I let out a sigh

''He looked like he was irritated with me.''

"Dear my dear! If that outburst of worry was irritation because you fell, I'm going to fall too. Of course he was angry because he worried about you! What guy would freak out like that if he wasn't actually worried about the person he had a crush on?

Unintentionally, a smile appeared on my face

Was Jess right? , is Can being interested in me? .

No, I couldn't believe that. It could be a concern for his brothers, he is older and seems to have a very protective attitude. With this action he took today, something tells me that Can has already been through an episode that left him scarred in some way. However, what would it be?