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.

first heard about it, he felt an immense guilt for a long time. While abroad, Elle indeed brought home a box of apple turnovers once, offering him

his words, Elle threw the entire box of turnovers in the trash, which were never seen at home

the process. While he applied medicine to her burn, he told her not to bother

occurred to him that the very things he disliked were Elle's favorites. Reflecting on this,

plucked an apple turnover from the box and held it to Elle's lips.

and bit into it. The sweet flavor of cooked apple filled her palate, while the flaky, soft texture brought a subtle smile

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

at her fingers that Anders had just licked. Her cheeks flushed

a gentleman, never one to flirt so openly. In the

him with a neutral expression. "Anders, you don't have to do