Chapter 4 Four

FIVE MONTHS LATER

"The relationship between demand and price is a fundamental concept in economics, often described as the law of demand. This law states that, all else being equal, as the price of a good or service increases, the quantity demanded..."

Dr. Gregory's voice trailed off into Maya's subconsciousness on a Thursday late afternoon. It was her last lecture for the day, and her mind was not on what the lecturer was saying. She was thinking of Hank; her secret pastime in recent times. She just couldn't stop thinking about the handsome silver fox rancher.

Despite his age, Hank was still so handsome more than all the younger men she knew. Maya was always fighting the urge to stroke her fingers through the thick beard that framed his chiseled face. The man was a muscle bear, a creature of flesh and sinew. You can not fail to see the beauty of his body, whether he was wearing clothes or not.

He had given her a job as a part-time bookkeeper at the ranch and the pay was excellent. The best part of it was that she had to work for just two days; on Tuesdays, her lecture free day and on Saturdays. She and Karen had rented a two-bedroom apartment after Maya collected her second paycheck. Both girls were so happy to live together and still have their privacy.

Her mind strayed back to two days ago when she intentionally got to the ranch early. Going early meant Hank would make breakfast for both of them.

A huge smile bloomed on her face as she found Hank in the kitchen standing over the stove. His silhouette was broad and imposing. Her eyes fell on his bulging biceps, he was just wearing a pair of joggers.

"Good morning," she greeted him.

"Good morning, little cookie. How are you?" Hank replied to her with a grin from where he was standing. "I'm about to make breakfast. You want some?"

"Pancakes?" She said, looking at the ingredients he had already laid out on the kitchen counter. "Yes. I haven't had breakfast."

"Good, you just sit down," he gestured to the kitchen table. "I'll have breakfast ready soon."

"Thank you, daddy," she giggled and settled on a chair at the kitchen table. She had started calling him daddy once in a while since the day he told her about his late wife and daughter. And the look on his face was always priceless whenever she called him that.

Hank, oblivious to her gaze and whirlwind of emotions, moved with a grace that was both effortless and captivating around the kitchen, humming a tuneless melody to himself as he worked.

As Hank flipped the pancakes, each one landed perfectly on the plates. Maya wished it was her body parts he was handling in such a beautiful way. And she had to pull her legs together to stop the throbbing at her core.

The way his strong fingers danced around the spatula, the way his shoulders moved with a subtle rhythm, the way his lips pursed in concentration. It was all mesmerizing and sent heat to all parts of her body.

"Hello, little cookie," Hank called her name at a point, snapping his fingers in front of her face.

She momentarily came back to reality. "Wha...what?" She asked with an embarrassed smile.

A smile lightened up his face, and Maya's breath hitched by just looking into his green eyes.

"Ready for breakfast?" He asked, his warm voice sending shivers down her spine.

She then realized he had already placed two plates of pancakes on the kitchen counter. He removed the pot he made the syrup in from the stovetop and poured the syrup on top of the stack of pancakes.

A pang of longing shot through her as the golden liquid drizzled down the sides of the stacks of pancakes. She felt a slight drip in her panties, and she had to hold herself back from moaning out.

The collective gasp that rippled through the lecture room brought Maya's mind to the present. She sighed and looked around her; Karen was already zipping up her bag. The clatter of chairs being pushed back filled the air. She zipped up her backpack and stood up. They walked out of the lecture room with the others.

"I am just so tired," Karen said as both girls started walking away in the direction that would take them to their apartment, which was just a four minute walk from the campus.

Maya's phone rang in her backpack as they turned the corner. They both stopped for her to bring it out from her bag.

Glancing at the screen, Maya's face lit up with a radiant smile as she saw Hank's name flashing on the display. "It's Hank," Maya said excitedly and answered the call. They both started walking.

"Hi, little cookie," he said from the other side of the phone. His voice filled with warmth and familiarity. They spoke for two minutes and they ended the call. Maya returned her phone into her bag with a contented sigh.

"You know you are in love with him, right?" Karen whispered. "You really have it for him."

Maya's eyes widened. It surprised her that Karen could read her feelings so well. "What are you talking about?" She tried to feign innocence.

"Don't play smart with me, girl," Karen chided her softly. "Remember, I know you very well."

"Yes," Maya agreed, letting out a gulp of air through her mouth. "How did you know?" She asked.

"It's written all over you, girl," Karen giggled. "There's this dreamy look in your eyes whenever you talk about him."

"Really?"

"Yes, really!" Karen said exaggeratedly, and they both burst into laughter.

"Huh," Karen gave her friend a devilish smirk. "I can't imagine you falling for a silver fox. I think it's cool though. How did it happen?"

Seeing that her friend was not judging her, Maya opened up to her and told her the truth. "Honestly, I can't say. Maybe I started loving him from the night he saved me from Nolan's claws. Hank is such a good man.

"Wow," Karen said, looking on to hear more.

"And his fierce protection," she said, her eyes smoldering all over.

"I know, babe," Karen nodded. "No one could fail to see how protective of you he is. He gave you a job, pays you more than twice the actual pay." She looked into Maya's eyes, "not to talk of how he's always calling you to know about your welfare. Like he just did now."

"You can say that again." Maya smiled at her friend. "The only problem I have is that he only looks at me as a child. He told me he used to have a daughter, that if she were to be alive she would be twenty-three now."

"Really? That's sad." Karen said. "You should find a way to let him know that you love him."

"How?" Maya asked desperately.