章 22: Stress buster...

She was waiting for a particular white t-shirt and black jacket guy, when she heard her name being called from her behind..

"Katherine…"

The masculine voice was a little husky but very much deep. It held a kind of tranquility which could calm any stormy night down.

Kathrine swirled around to see the person and when her eyes met with those brown orbs of the most handsome man she had ever seen in her life, she felt her breath getting hitched..

Those brown orbs were looking at her with so much intensity that she felt, it was piercing through her heart to have a peek inside it..

But it was not paining her at all. In fact, a red hue crept on her cheeks, feeling his heated gaze which was reading her like an open book.

Ethan noticed her blush and a small smile appeared on his lips. Seeing her in that sky blue dress, Ethan felt his heart missing a beat on it's own.

She was looking astoundingly beautiful!

Her face had a bizarre combination of sweetness along with a hint of fierceness..

Although she looked like a modest lady but there was a different kind of aura which could brought any man to his knees..

Her features were sharp which was illuminating a sexy kind of aura but she was not like any seductress who lusted over his look..

Coming out of his dreamland, Ethan stood up and introduced himself by extending his hand for a handshake, "Hi… I'm Ethan Jones. You must be Katherine.. right?"

Katherine who was still lost in checking Ethan out, finally snapped back to her sense and replied while shaking his hand, "Hi Ethan. Nice to meet you."

The moment their hands touched with each other, Katherine felt an electricity ran through her spine, making her squirm a little.

On the other hand, Ethan was completely bolt out, seeing the sweet and innocence filled smile on her face.

Pulling a chair for her, he said, "Please, have a seat. Then we can order something."

Making herself comfortable, Katherine ordered a cappuccino for her while Ethan opted for latte.

"Do you wanna have some pastries too? You know you can order anything from here. There is no need to be shy." Ethan slowly muttered, looking at her beautiful hazel eyes.

Katherine just smiled at him and replied, "No.. I'm fine with this. Actually I had some handmade chocolate cake before coming here only?"

"You love to bake also?" Ethan asked, amusement dancing in his eyes.

Nodding her head at him in response, she said, "Yes.. I love baking."

"Woah! That's really good to hear. Though I don't know baking but I love to eat." Ethan said while chuckling a little.

Katherine too grinned widely and muttered, "Noted it! So that when we'll meet for the next time, I'll bring some of my special bakery dishes for you, like cakes, cookies and chocolates maybe.."

Although Ethan felt happy hearing her list of items which she'd bake for him, but what caught in his ears were something totally unexpected.

"So… We're gonna meet for the next time?" Ethan asked, arching his eyebrows questioningly at her.

Katherine's whole body froze for a second as she tilted her head up to stare directly into his eyes, only to notice a hint of anticipation waving in those mesmerizing eyes of him.

Feeling her getting uncomfortable, Ethan thought to divert her attention into another topic.

"Uhmm.. Katherine, I must say that your gardening skill is tremendous. The way you've kept every plant accordingly was truly commendable. Your garden is so amazingly beautiful that I've already fallen in love with it." Ethan said genuinely, changing the topic very smartly.

A full blown smile appeared on her lips as she said with a small blush, "Thank you! Actually, I treat those plants like my own babies. I just love them. By the way, I heard from dad that you too love gardening. Is it true?"

"Yes.. It's true. You should check the garden of our New York home. I'm sure you'd not want to move from there, leaving that beautiful view." Ethan informed her as his eyes shone with excitement.

"I'd love to visit your house then." Katherine said, clasping both of her hands together with an excited gleam on her face.

Ethan nodded his head and was about to say something when the waitress finally came to serve them their orders.

As they took a sip from their own cup, Ethan suddenly asked, "So what do you like to do in your free time other than gardening and baking?"

Katherine's eyelids lifted up from her cup and she stared at him with a hint of mischief before asking him teasingly, "Are we going to play twenty questions right now?"

Smirking at her question, Ethan shrugged his shoulders and replied her in an equally teasing tone, "Well, you can say so. So now answer my question."

A soft giggle escaped from her lips as she muttered with her pupils dilated in excitement, "There is a swing in my balcony which Dad had gifted me in my twentieth birthday as the previous one was too much damaged to use anymore..

It's so beautiful that whenever I feel bored or my mood turns a little down, the swing becomes my stress buster. As I love the combination of nature and book very much, so most of my free time is spent by reading a romantic novel while enjoying the fresh air of nature, sitting on my all time favourite swing.."

An amused smile etched on Ethan's lips, getting to know about her love for the most unobvious things. But what made his smile wider was a certain word.

"So you're a romantic person also?"