No Strings Attached

Elle gazed at him with an impassive expression. "Where's my mom?"

"She had to leave for a bit. Clara sent me to pick you up. Orin has already gone ahead with Eddie."

Anders gently coaxed Elle into the car with an arm around her shoulders.

Casually reaching into the back seat, he pulled out a small box and handed it to her. "Your favorite apple turnovers from that bakery you love. See if they taste like the real deal." Elle stared at the apple turnovers in her hand, with a faint smile flickering across her features. "Did Orin tip you off?"

The question hit Anders squarely in the chest. Indeed, it was Orin who told him that his mother's favorite dessert was apple turnovers, and her favorite dish was simply grilled fish.

turnovers once, offering him a taste. Without a second thought, he had refused. He also told her plainly that he didn't

threw the entire box of turnovers

process. While he applied medicine to her burn, he told her not to bother cooking such things anymore, claiming

he disliked were Elle's favorites. Reflecting on this, Anders couldn't help but mentally

it to Elle's lips. "Go on, give it a taste. They're still warm. Won't be as good once they cool off,"

filled her palate, while the

in and taking a bite of the turnover from Elle's hand. His tongue inadvertently grazed her fingers. Then he nodded in satisfaction. "Definitely not bad. Crispy and flaky.

taken aback by his bold move, staring at her fingers that Anders had just licked.

Anders was always the epitome of a gentleman, never one to

her composure, looking at him with a neutral expression. "Anders, you don't have to do this. If you don't like