'I did.'
'Pity' was mumbled into his drink.
'Pardon?'
'Pretty… That outfit. Hope you got everything you needed today.'
Ethan hoped he'd covered his gaffe and changed the subject to boot.
'And more that I didn't. I'm sorry that you've spent so much of your money on me. I'll pay it back when I can and-'.
'Please, consider it a gift. Drink up, you're melting.'
Cathie was startled that he could sense what she was feeling inside. Did she really look like she was melting under his scrutiny? Liquefying in his presence?
'Your drink…It's melting'
'Oh…my drink…of course.'
Ethan's amused smile made her blush even more. What was it about this man that made her feel that his innocent words were anything but? Cathie too buried her face in her drink to cover her confusion.
Chloe was oblivious to the humming tension that stretched between her two milkshake companions. After guzzling most of her drink in record fashion she began to chatter on about her day at preschool, the cookies they had baked and her news. Slurping her drink brought a frown from both adults so she shrugged her shoulders and sat back tilting the glass so that the 'heaps' of milkshake left on the bottom could slowly slide towards her mouth.
'About the clothes, Ethan?'
'There's nothing to discuss.'
'But it's not just the …underwear…'
underwear? '…there's evening dresses and tennis outfits. There's even jodhpurs for goodness sake! I didn't ask Darlene to get all those things. I just wanted the basics, to see me through until…my…situation is well…resolved. I'll pay….'
At this point Ethan interrupted to clear up the matter of the purchases once and for all and this supposed debt. 'Darlene was acting on my instructions. Whatever she bought for you and anything that is bought for you in the future is a gift from me.' Her scowl needed smoothing so he added. 'Any chance of a fashion parade?'
Thinking that he too was referring to the sexy lingerie Cathie, unable to stand her embarrassed blush at the thought of being semi naked in front of Ethan being added to her 'melted' state, spluttered an incoherent 'Oh…you!' and bolted for the door.
'It's all your fault!' was flung at Darlene as the furious young woman stamped past the stunned housekeeper to seek the sanctuary of her room and to hide her erotic thoughts and aroused state from their observant stimulus.
Ethan sat stunned.