Page 32 of Blazing Joysticks
Cat giggled but considered the idea. It wasn’t bad. “What else do you have?”
“All right, I see you’re not trying to properly thank the man. Why don’t you cook him dinner? Or better yet, bake him something special?”
Cat perked up at the suggestion. “That’s... actually not a bad idea. Keir mentioned once that his favorite dessert is sticky toffee pudding.”
“Perfect!” Laura exclaimed. “I’ll send over a delivery with all the ingredients. You can surprise him with a little taste of home.”
“You’re a lifesaver, Laura,” Cat said gratefully. “Give Ayers a big kiss from his Aunt Cat, okay?”
“Will do,” Laura replied. “And Cat? Maybe Ayers would like a cousin to play with sometime soon, hint, hint.”
“Laura!” Cat spluttered, her face burning as her sister-in-law’s laughter rang out before the call disconnected.
Cat set her phone down, her mind whirling with possibilities. She glanced at the clock—Keir wouldn’t be home for hours yet. Plenty of time to prepare a surprise.
With renewed energy, Cat carefully made her way to the kitchen, determination overriding the lingering ache in her ribs. She pulled up a recipe on her tablet, surveying Keir’s impressively stocked kitchen.
As she gathered ingredients, Cat found herself humming softly. The familiar motions of measuring and mixing soothed her, even as her heart fluttered with anticipation. She wanted this evening to be special, a way to show Keir how much his care had meant to her.
The sticky toffee pudding was in the oven, filling the penthouse with a warm, sweet aroma, when the doorbell chimed. Cat answered to find a delivery of fresh flowers and candles—courtesy of Laura, no doubt. She arranged them on the dining table, transforming the space into something intimate and inviting.
With the dessert cooling, Cat retreated to the guest room to prepare herself. She slipped into a deep burgundy dress that hugged her curves, wincing slightly as she navigated the zipper around her tender ribs. Her hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders, and she applied a touch of mascara and lip gloss.
Cat surveyed her reflection, barely recognizing the woman staring back at her. Gone was the shy, awkward programmer who’d first walked into Sharpe Drakon Games. In her place stood someone confident, someone who knew what—and who—she wanted.
She returned to the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on the meal she’d prepared. As she worked, Cat’s mind wandered to Keir, to the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, to the gentle strength of his hands. She found herself counting down the minutes until he’d walk through the door, eager to see his reaction to her surprise.
The sound of a key in the lock sent a jolt through her. Cat took a deep breath, smoothing down her dress one last time. She was ready to show Keir just how much he meant to her and to take their relationship to the next level.
Cat’s heart raced as she heard Keir’s footsteps approaching. She positioned herself near the dining area, smoothing her dress one last time and taking a deep breath to calm her nerves.
The door swung open, and Keir stepped in, his tall frame filling the doorway. He froze, his eyes widening as he took in the scene before him - the candlelit table, the aroma of home-cooked food, and Cat standing there in her burgundy dress.
“Cat,” he breathed, his voice low and filled with awe. “What’s all this?”
She smiled, a mix of shyness and determination in her eyes. “Surprise,” she said softly, moving toward him. “I wanted to do something special for you, to thank you for everything.”
Keir’s gaze softened, a smile tugging at his lips. “I don’t need thank yous, Cat. I will always love taking care of you,” he murmured, reaching out to gently cup her face.
Cat leaned into his touch, her eyes meeting his. He lowered his head and their lips met in a deep, hungry kiss. When he pulled back, his eyes were glowing with the power of his dragon.
“You’re my mate, Cat. I’ll always take care of you.”
“I wanted to,” she insisted. “You’ve been so wonderful, taking care of me. I just... I wanted to show you how much it means to me.”
Keir’s thumb traced her cheekbone, sending a shiver down her spine. “You look absolutely breathtaking,” he said, his eyes roaming appreciatively over her form.
Cat felt a flush of pleasure at his words. She took his hand, leading him to the table. “I hope you’re hungry,” she said, a hint of nervousness in her voice.
“Starving,” Keir replied, his eyes never leaving her face as he sat down.
Cat busied herself serving the meal she’d prepared - a hearty beef stew with crusty bread, one of Keir’s favorites that she’d learned about during their late-night conversations. As they ate, the conversation flowed easily between them, punctuated by lingering glances and soft laughter.
“This is delicious, Cat,” Keir said warmly, reaching across the table to squeeze her hand. “I can’t believe you went to all this trouble.”
Cat smiled, her heart swelling at his appreciation. “I may not know how to cook, but I know how to read and follow directions.” She grinned. “That’s not hard. Just wait until you see dessert.”
As they finished the main course, Cat stood to clear the plates. “Close your eyes,” she instructed, unable to keep the excitement from her voice.