Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 260: Quit Flirting...

Genevieve leaned her back against the door, her cheeks still burned from Stefan’s teasing, and she pressed her palms to them, muttering, ”Why does he have to say embarrassing things like that?”

She waited until she heard his retreating footsteps before opening the door slowly to bring in her suitcase which sat by the door like a quiet reminder of her flustered escape.

With a sigh, she dragged it inside and placed it near the wardrobe. The room smelled faintly of flowers, and the curtains danced gently in the evening breeze drifting in through the balcony door. She moved toward the balcony, sliding the door open, and stepped outside.

The view took her breath away. The ocean stretched far and wide, silver under the soft glow of the setting sun. The waves rolled and broke against the shore with a perfect rhythm. Genevieve leaned on the railing, letting the salty air kiss her face.

For a moment, she closed her eyes and tried to push away her nervous thoughts about her father and Abigail. Instead she let Stefan’s voice, his laughter, his teasing words fill her mind. A smile tugged at her lips. She loved that she could be herself around him and he accepted her as she was without judgment.

After a moment she returned inside and freshened up quickly. She changed into a pair of leggings and tank top, allowing her hair to fall loosely around her shoulders.

When she stepped out of her bedroom, she followed the sound of cupboards opening and closing in the kitchen.

The delicious smell of food drifting from the dining table reached her nose but she ignored the food that was covered on the table and paused at the doorway of the kitchen when she saw Stefan taking out plates and cutleries.

He was yet to freshen up, but his sleeves were rolled up as he moved about the kitchen with confidence. The light from the kitchen lamps bathed him, and she found herself staring.

Genevieve folded her arms in front of her and leaned against the doorframe as she watched him.

As Stefan turned to take the plates to dining after washing them, he saw her standing there and he grinned. ”Admiring me?” He asked, his voice breaking the silence.

Genevieve laughed. ”You seem awfully full of yourself.”

”Am I?” Stefan asked as he jerked his head to the sink, ”Instead of just standing there, come help me. Bring the glasses,” he said as he walked past her with the plates and cutleries.

Genevieve laughed softly as she went to pick up the two glasses. ”I thought you said we were going to do the cooking ourselves?” She asked as she followed him to the dining.

Stefan glanced over his shoulder, ”We just got here and I believe we need to get some rest after the long flight, hence I ordered dinner in. We can go grocery shopping tomorrow and cook.”

”Grocery shopping. I’ll be looking forward to that,” she said as he pulled out a chair for her, bowing slightly like a gentleman, which made her laugh.

”This smells amazing. What did you order?” She asked, taking the lid off the bowls.

His lips curved into a grin. ”Seafood pasta. You’ll love it,” he said confidently as he dished the food.

She rested her chin in her palm, watching him. ”You look too comfortable doing this.”

He chuckled. ”Was I supposed to be uncomfortable serving myself dinner?”

”Not exactly. It’s just that wealthy people are used to being served and...”

”No talk about our background, remember?” Stefan interrupted and she pressed her lips together.

”Yeah. Sorry.”

”Good. Right now I’m just Stefan and you’re Genevieve. Two average people, okay?”

”Okay,” she said with a grin as she picked up her cutlery to eat.

Her lips curved as she chewed. ”Mmm. This is really good.”

”Told you, you’ll love it. Everything is gotten fresh from the market here. I once volunteered at their kitchen,” Stefan said with a grin.

”You can do that? Wouldn’t they think you want to steal their recipe?” Genevieve asked, and Stefan chuckled.

”What’s there to steal? The chefs share their recipe if you want it. The resort was made to feel like home away from home. You run errands and observe. And there are security cameras around the kitchen to make sure nothing goes wrong,” he assured her.

”Hm. Sounds interesting.”

As they ate, she found herself smiling quietly. It felt different. Dinner was warm and intimate. It felt like they were already building a life together.

A small voice in her head reminded her that this wouldn’t last and soon reality will set in and they’d go their separate ways, but Genevieve shook off the voice.

Even if she knew how the vacation was going to end she’d rather focus on enjoying their time together than worrying about the end.

”Here,” Stefan said, raising a prawn to her lips.

Genevieve smiled as she opened her mouth to eat, ”Thank you,” she said softly as she chewed.

His gaze softened, and he reached for her hand gently and lifted it to his lips. ”I love being with you this way. I can’t get over your new look.”

Her heart thudded in her chest as she looked at him, her lips curving in a shy smile. ”Maybe you don’t have to get over it.”

”I never want to get over it,” Stefan said with a nod.

”So, you were going to tell me about how your uncle’s proposal got ruined,” she reminded him, and Stefan chuckled.

”Yeah. About that. So, they had a misunderstanding. According to the story, while he was planning the whole surprise engagement stuff with the planner, his girlfriend saw him and assumed he was cheating with her and accused him of infidelity. My Uncle being a very principled man decided he couldn’t propose to a woman, who didn’t trust him. So he asked they take a break until she sorted out her trust issues...”

”Ouch! That’s harsh,” Genevieve cut in. ”Couldn’t he just have reassured her? I mean, if your partner feels insecure you should reassure them rather than ask for a break. Who knows? He might have been cheating. Just how was he talking to the planner lady for his girlfriend to have misunderstood them? Ladies have a sixth sense you know?” Genevieve asked, and Stefan chuckled.

”First of all, Uncle Harry would NEVER cheat on anyone especially not on aunt Jade. He’s my role model and mentor for a reason. Secondly, his wife was reacting from her past hurt. If she believed he was cheating they wouldn’t be married now, would they?” Stefan said, and Genevieve pursed her lips.

”If he knew his fiancee had trust issues why did he choose to surprise her that way? Why didn’t he get a male planner? I blame him for it. Let’s say you were your uncle and I was his wife. Would you handle it the same way?” She asked, and he shrugged.

”Well, maybe not. I can’t tell unless I’m in such a situation and I hope I never get to be in one. Maybe he could have handled it better, but everyone agrees it was for the best. She was able to work on herself because of that. It all worked out well eventually. If we go to the Resort’s hall of fame you’d see their pictures there,” he said with a proud smile.

”Good for them. How about we get ours there too? What does it take?” She asked, and Stefan chuckled.

”You have to be a regular at the resort for at least five years and you have to have won the couple’s contest at least two times. So, if you want our name and pictures there, you have to come back here with me next year, and the year after,” Stefan said with a grin.

”Won’t we have to be a couple first to do that?” Genevieve asked with a sweet smile and Stefan chuckled.

”Yeah. Sure.”

”So, when are we going to be a couple if we are sleeping in separate rooms?” She asked, batting her lashes.

Stefan chuckled. ”Quit flirting with me. Let’s eat before the meal gets cold.”

Genevieve gave him a dirty look as she returned her attention to her food while he laughed.

When dinner was done, they washed the plates together, their shoulders brushing now and then. Stefan sang under his breath as he dried the dishes, and Genevieve found herself smiling without even realizing it.

”Why are you smiling?” Stefan asked with a smile when he turned and caught her smile.

”This just feels so ordinary and nice,” she confessed.

”Do you like it?” He asked, and she nodded.

”I love it. It is perfect,” she said softly. It was better than the tension filled dinner she had every night at home.

”Good. I’m glad you do.”

Afterward, they drifted out to the porch. The night had fallen fully now. Stars dotted the dark sky, and the sound of the ocean waves rolled in soft and steady.

Genevieve curled up on the wooden swing, and Stefan sat beside her. The swing creaked gently as they rocked. For a long time, neither of them spoke. They both were too aware of each other to notice much else.

Stefan leaned back, his arm stretched over the swing’s backrest. His fingers brushed the edge of her shoulder lightly. ”What’s on your mind?” he asked at last, his voice low.

Genevieve turned to look at him, and realized just how near his face was to hers. ”This. You and me like this,” she whispered.

”What about it?” Stefan asked, his voice husky as his breath fanned her face because of their nearness.

Her throat felt tight as she held his gaze. She wanted to say something, but her words tangled inside her chest and her eyes dropped to his lips.

So instead of responding, she leaned forward and kissed him.