Neil ran up the stairs two at a time.He wanted to curse himself for being stupid!This is what you called handing the gun to someone to shoot yourself.Taking off the offending s.h.i.+rt,Neil took out a Sponge Bob T s.h.i.+rt for himself with matching pyjamas.This was actually a set that Neil had never worn or had any intention to wear and it was actually a gift from Alicia who loved this sort of thing.In his fl.u.s.ter,Neil wore this,not realizing that this would give Mi Rae more fodder to tease him!As he went down,he tried to give himself a talking to so that he would not embara.s.s himself anymore and composed his features into the cold mask he usually wore.

Mi Rae looked up at Neil and almost spewed out the tea she had just s.h.i.+pped.The person known to be shark and who could intimidate the he** out of anyone actually dresses up as a 5 year old at home.He was a ma.s.s of contradictions!Without saying anything,,Neil poured himself a cup and sat to sip it.

Mi Rae decided that she could not resist this opportunity,so casually she mentioned,"Nice pyjamas you have."

Neil frowned at the taunting tone and did not understand why she wouyld say that.Most of his pyjamas were plain blues and blacks.That is when he looked down and realized what he was wearing and cursed in his mind!he must have definitely offended some G.o.d today that he was being punished in this way!His carefully managedimage of many years was going to shatter..But,he had the gift of the gab so glibly he said,"Thank you!These make me the favorite among the kids!"

Not believing him,Mi Rae just nodded her head.Just then a loud growled echoed in the room.Mi rae was embara.s.sed.She had not eaten anything since the morning and her stomach was letting her know.Sadly it had let her nemesis know as well.

With a smirk,Neil asked,"Are you hungry Mi Rae?"

Angry at his smirking,Mi Rae said,"Yes..I have not eaten since this morning..."

"Do you know how to cook noodles?"

"No.I don'tDo you know how?!What,should I know because I am a girl?"

"Whoa whoa!where did that come from?I just asked because if you did I could re heat the stew in the fridge.Because my kitchen skills are limited to brewing tea!There is no need to bite my head off just because you are hungry.I'll just go heat up some fried veggies and rice for you!Geez!I did not say that you had to know how to cook.",Neil mumbled to himself.

Feeling bad for snapping at him as he left,Mi Rae put her hand to her forehead and cursed herself.

Bringing the food tray out,Neil served some rice and veggies in a bowl and placed them in front of her.Taking the bowl,she looked down at her hands and said in a small voice,"I am sorry!It's just that usually in our profession,people tend to look down on girls.I have had to fight to establish my place and so when you asked,I just felt disappointed that you would also be of the chauvinist category.I am sorry!And thank you for being so nice.You have helped me so much and that is how I repaid you.."

Just then a few droplets of water splashed on her face.She looked up shocked to see Neil had made some fake tears on his face with water and splashed some on her face.Her mouth fell open at his audacity!Here she was apologizing seriously and he was making fun of her.But he shut her mouth with his finger on her chin and said,"Relax.I am known never to disappoint.Do not tie yourself in knots over small things!And now eat!The food is getting cold!It won't taste well.And regarding the help,I'll treat it as you owe me one.I will cash in the favor when I need it!"

Mi Rae nodded her head and started eating.Neil looked at her and smiled.She was as p.r.i.c.kly and sweet as a rose.

Looking her over,he saw the small tattoo of a rose on her ankle.Sweet!She really was a rose.The tattoo distracted him as it brought to his attention her slender ankles.Her ankles which then moved up to her mile length long,white and creamy legs..His eyes traced their way to her tjighs which were a bit exposed as the hem of the t s.h.i.+rt moved up a bit.He could see a bit of a color over there as well..making him wonder which tattoo she had hidden! Suddenly the clink of a bowl being kept on the table brought him back to the reality.Good Heavens!He had really turned into a pervert!

Hastily,to hode his reaction,he stood up and said," Come,I will show you to your room.All the necessities are there in the ensuite bathroom under the sink.Let me know of you need anything."With that he almost shoved her into the room and closed the door behind him with a bang.Mi Rae was perplexed.The man was odd!One minute he was friendly and another minite abrupt!