Waking Up With You Read Online Free Page A

that the serene landscape blends so well with the rest of the house. He has clearly spent a tidy sum on the exterior. The sound of rippling water from a vertical waterfall, and the symmetrical pattern of stones and pebbles, lend an air of tranquility to the site.
    I turn my attention indoors again and spot a magnificent wildflower arrangement on one of the side tables. I smile, thinking how lucky I am to have a husband with such impeccable and original taste. Husband? How easily the word slipped into my thoughts.
    I plop on the bed, feeling like I don’t have a care in the world. Jake chuckles at my child-like action. “I’m glad you have decided to make yourself feel at home,” he says.
    “Well, it’s a beautiful room, and the bed looks so cozy and inviting,” I reply in amusement.
    “The bed does look inviting,” he murmurs, but he’s looking into my eyes and not at the bed. A shiver goes through me and I immediately get up from the bed and smooth my clothes. I turn to the flowers and give them my undivided attention. “You surprise me with your choice, Jake.”
    “What choice would that be?”
    “I would have thought you’d go for a more traditional arrangement of pretty roses, but you chose these instead, “ I remark, pointing to the flowers.
    “Let’s just say that wildflowers remind me of you.”
    “Oh,” I say, unable to add anything else.
    He abruptly changes the subject. “You know, I made reservations for dinner at Antonio’s. I’ll bring over your luggage so you can dress up.”
    “No… I mean, if you don’t mind, I’d rather just cook and spend a quiet evening with you at home,” I say shyly.
    He looks surprised. “Are you sure? Aren’t you tired?” I quickly shake my head and he finally agrees to my suggestion. “Okay, but I must warn you that I may not have every ingredient you need.”
    “I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to whip up something up,” I say confidently.
    “Will you be alright, then, if I take a quick shower while you putter about the kitchen?”
    “Sure. Go ahead.” It’s rather disconcerting to imagine him naked in the shower, but I hurriedly shake my head to clear the image. Don’t go there .
    I go to the kitchen and stand in the midst of it for a few minutes, checking every feature. The room is like a dream come true for every cook – from the stainless steel countertops to the Thermador professional range and the integrated Sub-Zero refrigeration. I almost feel like a famous chef on the Food Network. I catch sight of an apron on the towel bar and quickly tie it around my waist. I have every intention of keeping my dress immaculate.
    I open the built-in fridge and take out some butter, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese. The vegetable compartment yields some broccoli, asparagus, and red pepper. The pantry is more stocked than I expected and I easily find a box of pasta noodles. Did he fill up his pantry for my arrival, or does somebody else use this kitchen?
    I boil water in a five-quart pot and wait for it to boil. In the meantime, I chop the veggies, toss them with olive oil and garlic, and bake them for eight minutes. I warm the butter and cream in a skillet to make white sauce. While still waiting for the water to boil, I turn on the Mac Pro at the corner desk. I check my email and see that there are at least a dozen messages from Paige in my inbox.
    I hurriedly email her two sentences: “Married. Lunch tomorrow?” That’s when the water starts to boil and I go back to cooking. I have to put in the pasta and stir for a bit. Once again, I’m about to read the very first email when Jake strolls in, casually dressed in a plain white T-shirt, jeans, and with no shoes on. Even in the most informal of clothes, he still looks terribly dashing.
    “Back so soon?” I inquire lightly.
    “Yup, and I can see you’ve been pretty busy. You want your fettuccine al dente, so maybe you should drain it right now,” he suggests, as he peers into the pot.
    “I