Jay's POV
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“Remember” Taylor is saying to me, I was roped into making the martinis this time around. After having more than a few, it’s harder than I could have imagined. Matthew is watching her of course. Utterly charmed by her as he lounges back at the head of his table the fire roaring behind him. Rachel has been flirting with me all night long, her hands casually finding my own. Matthew seeing me charming Rachel, keeps him off of my back.
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“Heat it up baby, until it sugars up” Taylor says to me over the noise of the music, her playlist. A fancy groove playing in the background, and if she keeps talking to me like that I will have no option but to grab a hold of her hips again and pull her into me.
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“Like that” I say to her instead softly as she looks up at me.
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“Mmm yes” she laughs and I’m convinced she’s trying to turn me on.
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“Are you doing this deliberately” I smirk and she laughs, pulling out the meat from the stove. The steam rising, the scent of garlic and beef filling the kitchen.
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“Doing what” she smirks, leaving the meat on the side to cool. I yearn to make her smile like that all day and all night long.
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“You know exactly what” I tell her.
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“Okay no heat” she laughs telling me to take the syrup off of the ring.
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“Jay” she says softly and I watch her.
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“You did good” she smiles looking at the pan.
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“Now you can carve, I’ll finish the martinis” she smiles. I watch her as she places everything into the cocktail shaker, singing along to the song that’s on and swaying her hips. And, I do have the carving knife in my hand but I haven’t even taken a glance at the meat yet. She glances at me and smirks telling me to get on with it.
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I finally do as I’m told and carve the meat up like a pro, briefly thinking of my mother and how she taught me to do most things in the kitchen. Hitting me on the head and telling me that one day I would appreciate her teachings when I could show off to a girl about being able to cook. I laugh briefly to myself and Taylor looks up at me wonder in her eyes.
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“What now” she smiles and I blush slightly.
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“Good carving” she looks down at my quick work of the meat.
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“I couldn’t possibly tell you Taylor” I say softly and she smirks as I laugh again.
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“No, what has tickled you Mr southern Viking” she smirks and then blushes absolutely scarlet.
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“Mr what now” I say turning to her, absolutely shocked that I have a nickname.
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“Tell me yours, I’ll tell you mine” she laughs.
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“You gave me a nickname?!” I laugh and she swats me, moving me away from the meat.
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“I was laughing at the fact that my mother taught me how to cook, how to carve meat and even how to make my own gravy. Yet I live off of takeaways and protein shakes. And I can’t make cocktails” I say watching her place the carved meet onto the plates.
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“Okay that’s a whole load to unpick” she chuckles.
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“Potatoes” she says to me and I bend to grab them from the gas oven.
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“What’s my nickname?” I say facing her, arms folded over my chest, smiling.
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“Your nickname is Mr southern Viking” she giggles and I smirk.
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“Southern because of your slight accent, Viking because well.” She says laughing again and I just wait for more. It’s the most I’ve ever wondered about the inner mind of a girl, I find I just have to know exactly what is going through her head. I spoon up at potato and taste it, it’s absolute heaven. I’ve never tasted potatoes like them. Even my own mother’s.
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“Viking because of your hair and your ugh chest and tattoos” she whispers, chastising me for eating the food before it’s been plated up.
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“Sorry, they smelt good” I laugh and she chuckles taking a large serving spoon out and serving up the roasted carrots and the heaven like potatoes. Lord, I’m in deep. I watch her wondering how to sort through this new information, why she has been wondering about my chest and why she feels the need to give me a nickname.
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“Jay baby, can you please take the cocktails over” she says concentrating, and I just stare at her. Another nickname? Who knew. She looks up at me absolutely shocked at herself, and embarrassed. My mind races through scenarios where she could say that to me again and I like every single one of them. I glance in her eyes and she pauses watching me.
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“I just got carried away” she whispers. I have never allowed any girl to call me anything, ever. I smile down at her my usual grin and pick up the cocktail jug.
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“On it, baby” I tell her smirking and she laughs.
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Matthew settles his eyes on me as I place the jug down, he stands and heads over to the kitchen island where she is serving up. Deciding I will not be third wheeling them I take my seat next to Rachel and pour her some more wine. Considering myself to be Taylor’s baby, Taylor’s southern Viking, I smile to myself and sip the cocktail that we made.
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“This is great” Ryan smiles over at me and I laugh.
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“I take no credit she made them” I smirk, eyes flicking up to Taylor as she laughs, approaching the table in that gown. A dress that I cannot keep my eyes off. A woman that looks wonderful in any garment, but that dress on her is nothing short of sensational.
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Taylor serves up my plate over my shoulder and I glance up at her smiling as she brushes past me to set her own dish down. Matthew joins us at the table with a jug of water, taking the head position at the table and smiling over at her.
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“Wow” Rachel smiles down at her plate and Taylor blushes.
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“Thought about being a chef” she asks Taylor and Matthew smirks. He definitely thinks that he has it all. It’s beside the point that he does have everything in her. She just called me her baby, and now I’m sitting here grinning like the blonde bear Ross.
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“I haven’t no” she laughs and Rachel scoffs.
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“It’s not hard, I can show you” she smirks and Rachel nods excitedly. I stroke Rachel’s arm, tactically, Matthew sees and he is encouraged by the interaction. Rachel beams up at me.
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“Or actually Jay may be able to help” Taylor smirks over at me and I laugh.
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“Believe it or not he can cook.” Taylor adds forking up some beef.
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“What Mr let’s order a pizza” Rachel laughs, she doesn’t see any side of me. Just the side that entertains her. She has never dug any deeper.
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“Jay you need to show off your skills” Taylor chastises me and I smirk.
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“Men that can cook are definitely my thing” Rachel smiles and I scoff.
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“This is wonderful, Taylor” Ryan interjects as Taylor nods at him, wearing her new gold earrings. What most of these men would do to entertain this woman astounds me. Gold earrings and all. I glance at Taylor and she eyes me quickly before looking back down at her food, a quick stolen glance.
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“Thank you Taylor it’s delicious” Phillipa adds squinting through her dark rimmed glasses. She pushes her dark ebony hair back and smiles at Taylor won over.
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“You’re welcome” she says looking into her food and smiling. Her eyes dart up to me again and I beg her to behave, continually stealing glances at me is a bad idea. I will act upon them.
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“We visited a dance performance today” Matthew says opening up a new conversation, Taylor ruffles his hair as he’s eaten his entire plate of food. Ross nods enthusiastically placing his knife and fork down, delicately.
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“How was it” Ross asks Taylor and she smiles over at him, genuinely.
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“It was the ABT. It was completely inspired” she comments and he nods, totally aware of what she means. He’s dignified, he’s classy. Most probably writes her a poem everyday. Romantic fool.
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“Actually I would really like to see some drama too, maybe a classic?” She says to Ross and he nods pleased with the direction of the conversation.
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“We could always check out some ideas tomorrow” he replies planning in his head, Matthew stiffens just perceptibly and then relaxes. Turning to Taylor and smiling before he brushes her arm and then begins clearing the plates.
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“I think that’s the best idea” she nods and I look at Rachel who is utterly clueless.
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“What do you mean drama” Rachel says, undignified. Ross appraises her softly like a younger sister.
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“The theatre” he says simply.
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“Oh right got ya” Rachel laughs and I stifle my embarrassment.
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“The theatre? Isn’t that like super boring” she laughs and he chuckles.
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“No it’s art” he says simply and she scoffs.
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“Soon you’ll be heading to art galleries and sipping shandy” she laughs.
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“Nothing to wrong with an art gallery” Matthew calls over his shoulder as Taylor laughs.
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“One of our first dates, Matthew took me to an art gallery” she says softly.
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“An art gallery and you slept with him!?” Rachel laughs.
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“It was special” Taylor defends him as he walks past the kitchen island over to her. Planting a soft kiss on her lips.
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“The art or the sex” Rachel asks, and I sigh. Everything is about sex with Rachel, or alcohol. Or both together combined.
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“The art was incredible. The sex was more than incredible” Taylor smirks, I pour myself another cocktail. That the last one before driving becomes utterly unmanageable.
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The snow eases off outside as Taylor glances up and out of their window and smiles to herself.
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“Matthew, would you show them” she says over to him and he knows exactly what she’s talking about.
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“Sure, if you’re okay with me showing them” he chuckles.
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“Lord” Rachel laughs.
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“You haven’t made a sex tape have you” she finishes laughing and downing her wine. Taylor smirks as Matthew leaves the room presumably to retrieve whatever it is he needs to show us.
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“Not a sex tape no” Taylor laughs.
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“A secret baby” Rachel snickers and Taylor throws her head back laughing.
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“No keep guessing” she smiles.
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“I’m stumped just show me” Rachel laughs. Matthew returns with a large rolled up canvas, Taylor eyes him with wonder and I stop my jealousy from boiling over and making me angry.
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Pushing his brunette locks back he unrolls the canvas and smiles looking down at Taylor and then at a sketch of her. The likeness is truly striking. Of course she had to be almost entirely naked in the sketch; yet it’s beautiful. Not sordid or overly raunchy. It’s the first time I’ve considered myself to be unrefined, without any special talents. I couldn’t draw if you begged me too, I can’t write poems. My only skill is assessing stock, making the right calls and winning at all situations. My mother would wonder at a piece of art like that, it’s enthralling and Matthew is truly talented.
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“That’s stunning” Rachel smiles.
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“Matthew you drew that” Rachel says absolutely stunned eyeing him, we all knew that he could draw. I guess he never showed us, he didn’t believe in himself. Taylor stands and I eye her as she strokes his arm.
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“Taylor, and I went to this art shop. It was my stupid idea. I was itching to draw again. I wanted to show her and win her over” he blushes and she laughs.
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“I bought canvases and pencils and just lots of stuff that I thought would work. I’ve never invested time and money in it before. But I wanted to make this canvas, so badly. And so I spent hours on the porch sketching and shading and smudging all over the page until I got it right. I wouldn’t let her see of course. I couldn’t show her half of her face or all of the times I got the lines completely wrong” he smiles.
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“That’s pretty romantic” Rachel laughs, only the tiniest hint of regret in her voice. Most probably from their time together, and of how he never drew her.
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“And hey you’re definitely going to be a top artist” she smiles up at him nicely.
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“Man you’re really talented” Ross says clapping him on the shoulder. He laughs and pushes his brunette hair back, not used to the compliments. Taylor smiles happily at him.
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“He’s pretty good isn’t he” she nods and Ryan smiles.
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“That is a beautiful print” Ryan comments. Taylor looks like a model, but more than that, her eyes in the print are just right. Absolute perfection. He’s watched her over and over again, captured every single line. Every little shadow, the curve of her lips and the way her tummy dips down to her hips. I look away mesmerised.
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“Matthew, have you ever thought about opening up an exhibit” I ask him, talk business stop gazing at the way he’s captured her clavicles, her chin, her breasts.
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“That’s an amazing idea” Taylor nods at me enthusiastically.
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“Thanks at the moment though it would just be like a room full of Taylor’s” he laughs. I hasten to imagine that room.
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“I can only draw her” he smirks and she laughs.
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“I dispute this” she sighs sipping her wine.
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“I think it would be a great way to get yourself out there. You’re talented, hugely so” I admit, credit where credit is due.
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Matthew smiles over at me genuinely and toasts his brandy to me. I eye Taylor and she smiles at me pleased, her southern Viking that plays by all of the rules.
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