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.

felt an immense guilt for a long time. While abroad, Elle indeed brought home a box of apple turnovers once, offering him a taste. Without a second thought, he had refused. He also told her plainly that he didn't like the taste

threw the entire box of turnovers in the trash, which were never

fish once and burned her hand in the process. While he applied medicine to her burn, he told her not to bother cooking such things anymore, claiming

occurred to him that the very things he disliked were Elle's favorites. Reflecting on this, Anders couldn't help

His voice was husky. "From now on, I'll like anything that you like." After saying that, he plucked an apple turnover from the box and held it to Elle's lips. "Go on, give it a taste. They're still warm. Won't be

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

a bite of the turnover from Elle's hand. His tongue inadvertently grazed her fingers. Then he nodded in

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

Anders was always the epitome of a gentleman,

you don't have