1BR Apt.

“After you milady.”

Luke was already winning points as she climbed into the car. He hopped in and started the car backing out of the driveway. On the way to the to the store Ellie drew him out asking what he was going to school for, and what he planned for after. He didn’t do sports or really anything with friends. She could tell he was one of those quiet loner types, and he had a lot going on in there that nobody ever saw. She decided then and there that she’d make it her goal to draw him out of his shell.

“Maybe you can build my swanky café for me when you graduate.” She winked at him.

Luke looked over at her for a moment and smiled. “Yea I’ll get right on that.”

“Seriously, that apartment is awesome. I bet it wouldn’t be much of a stretch. Your dad said you planned it nearly free hand. You don’t do something like that without real talent.”

Luke just shrugged and said thanks.

They pulled into a parking space and Ellie grabbed a cart and hopped up on the rail, riding it a few feet towards the store like a kid. This gave Luke a great view of her backside and she knew he was looking by the expression she saw when she looked over her shoulder. He looked slightly shocked then looked down and away. She bit her lower lip and grinned. This was going to be fun, she thought.

They made their way into the store and Ellie took the long way around to housewares and chose a cheap set of dinnerware, then some glasses and flatware. She went over the cooking stuff with a fine tooth comb looking at labels and chose a few items. The cart filled up fast with the large items. She decided that she’d done enough damage there and wandered around a corner and started up the aisle. Luke just pushed the cart along behind her watching her walk. He was pretty sure she hadn’t wiggled her butt like that on the way in. She reached out to a blouse hanging next to the aisle and felt the fabric and held it out and let it go and she walked past a rack of lingerie.

Ellie let out a little ooh when she saw a little yellow bra and panty set hanging up and took it off the rack. “What do you think?” She asked holding the cups up to her chest, grinning devilishly at Luke. His face turned red and he looked around.

“It’s definitely your color.” He said and mumbled something after.

“What?” She asked, making him repeat it.

He breathed deep and replied. “Did you want to pick up some food while we’re here? The basics at least?”

Ellie gave him a sly smile. “Chicken.”

“I don’t know if they have chicken, but they’ve got groceries. You know, canned, boxed and frozen food, stuff like that.”

She walked right up close to him and reached over and set the lingerie right in the top of the basket where he was sure to keep it at the forefront of his mind. “Sure, let’s go stock the cupboards.” She chose some basic dry goods, a couple cans here and there. “If I’m going to be a chef, I can’t be relying on packaged goods too much, but sometimes a girl needs a night off.” She grabbed a couple cans of soup and found some microwave popcorn piling it all on top of the cart. They made their way to the check out and the lady behind the counter was scanning away and looked up at the two of them noting what they were buying.

“You kids setting up home for the first time?” The lady smiled.

Ellie wrapped an arm around Luke pulling them together and laid her head on his shoulder. “Yes, we’re going to be so happy.” She peeked out of the corner of her eye and noticed Luke had gone red again. She pursed her lips and slid her hand across his lower back taking her time letting it drop and grazing his butt. The feeling sent a shock through Luke and he wasn’t sure how to react so he did his best to forget it happened. They brought their cart out to the car and packed it away. On the trip home they didn’t speak, and just listened to the radio. Luke turned off the car and reached for the door when he felt Ellie put her hand on his and give it a squeeze.

“Sorry, I was just…” She said softly, biting her lower lip.

Luke looked at her and nodded, and got out and began unloading the car. The little table was piled with boxes and bags were strewn around the floor.

Luke was about to turn and leave when Ellie stopped him.

“I was just having a little fun. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

“I know, it’s okay.”

“Are you busy this afternoon? I could use a hand unpacking all this stuff and washing the dishes.”

“Sure, I can help.” He took the first box and opened it up and brought it into the kitchen and started loading the dishwasher with the plates and bowls. “We forgot cleaning supplies. I’ll run downstairs I’m sure we’ve got plenty. He headed for the door and trotted down the stairs, and his own kitchen.

Ellie decided to get more comfortable and wandered into the bedroom and lost the shirt and jeans. She had just pulled on her sweat pants when the door opened and Luke walked in. She hadn’t bothered to close the bedroom door and he got a full on look at her standing there in her sweat pants and a lacy pink bra. His eyes locked on hers and he froze. Ellie just smiled and reached for her hoodie putting it on and zipping it up to mid chest just barely concealing the bra. She walked out of the bedroom.

“Relax it’s the Internet age, I’m sure you’ve seen a girl in lingerie before.”

“Uh yea, sorry I should have knocked. It’s just that I’ve been up here so much while decorating that I forgot someone lives here now.”

Ellie shrugged , “Mi casa es su casa. You’re welcome up any time. I don’t make it a habit to walk around like a lingerie model, don’t worry. I don’t have the body for it.”

Luke mumbled something, and Ellie was sure it was a denial of that claim but she just bit her lip to keep from smiling. Luke started running water to clean the larger items in the sink and Ellie started putting things into cupboards. The tight space meant they were brushing against each other often. Luke noticed Ellie used him as a balance whenever he was in reach, a hand on his shoulder when she leaned into a cabinet. She placed a hand on the small of his back again to see what he was cleaning.

“No abrasives, just soapy water on that one. That’s a pro quality non-stick sauté pan right there.” She winked. “It said so on the label.”

As she leaned back Luke got a light scent of her perfume. He hadn’t noticed it before but it was sweet and flowery. Had she put it on after he’d gone downstairs he wondered. It was having an intoxicating effect, along with her touch. He was glad he was facing the sink to hide the bulge that was forming in his jeans.

“I’m going to go throw these towels in the wash real quick.”

“Okay I’ll just stay here and slave away in your kitchen like a drudge.” Luke’s response was surprising causing Ellie to bust out laughing.

“Yes! I have my own kitchen drudge!” She did a little fist pump in triumph.

Luke peeked over his shoulder as she made for the door watching her cute little butt with the store name plastered across the seat of her sweats. He’d better get out of here fast or he wasn’t going to make a safe exit with the tent in the front of his jeans. He wiped down the last dish and headed down the stairs and poked his head into the garage telling her that he was done, and if she needed anything else to just let him know. She thanked him and he rushed into the house.

Ellie went back up to find the dishes all cleaned and laid out waiting for her to decide where they’d be put. She worked efficiently putting things in their logical places and had just enough room to fit everything she’d bought. She saw the yellow lingerie she’d bought and smiled. She hadn’t intended to buy it, but wanted to tease Luke. They were cute though so she put them in with her wash.

The weekly grind began, everybody leaving the house and heading off in their respective directions. Ellie got home late from her job at the little café, and hit the books for an hour or so before taking a shower. She wandered into the bedroom and looked out the window hearing something moving around. She spied Luke hauling a trash can and recycling to the curb.

Luke turned and looked up at the light in the window and saw her outlined in soft yellow light. She stood there in a long sleeve shirt, unbuttoned part way down the front. She lifted a hand and gave him a little wave and he waved back.

Ellie noticed that after he waved he didn’t go back inside right away and she pointed to the door and beckoned him. She smiled when he knocked on the door this time.

“Come on in. You already know I’m dressed this time.”

“Well I couldn’t tell if you were wearing pants. What’s up?”

“Nothing, I was bored and wondered if you wanted to hang out and watch TV or something.”

“Sure, I guess.”

“I’m in a junk food mood. Would you like some cookies and ice cream?”

“Yes, please.” He replied with a little more gusto.

“I baked the cookies myself. The ice cream is store bought.” She chuckled. “Go ahead and turn on the TV, find us something to watch.”

“What do you feel like?”

“Anything really, nothing to cerebral I get enough of that from school books.” She scooped up a couple bowls of the ice cream, adding a couple cookies to each, and added spoons.

She walked into the living room handing him a bowl and sat next to him curling her legs under her. The fact that her nipples were rock hard from standing in front of the open freezer wasn’t lost on Luke, but he didn’t stare. They sat watching the last few minutes of a sitcom, only the sounds of spoons tapping bowls and an occasional chuckle interrupted the silence. When the show ended Luke took the bowls into the kitchen and rinsed them out. When he came back Ellie noticed he had a little ice cream on his lower lip and did her best not to laugh.