Walking together, Edwin's hand brushed against Laura's trim waist.

“You skipped both breakfast and lunch, didn't you? Why would you do that?" His tone mixed annoyance with concern.

Hoping to defuse his irritation, Laura hugged his neck and murmured, "I had some breakfast."

Edwin shot her a skeptical glance.

For someone not particularly easy-going, he certainly showed Laura a lot of patience and care.

He settled her onto the couch, draping a blanket over her.

“Where's your jacket?" Laura inquired.

Edwin paused, searching for a response.

But being a smooth talker, he managed to shift the topic with ease, and Laura's curiosity was momentarily quelled.

Heading to the kitchen, Edwin began to prepare her dinner.

Laura, resisting the urge to return to her sketches and sensing his lingering frustration, shuffled in behind him.

Watching Edwin, clad only in a shirt, work his culinary magic, Laura found herself drawn to his undeniable charm.

Hesitantly, she wrapped her arms around his waist, and on a rare whim, let her fingers brush against his abdomen.

"Did you eat?" she whispered.

His response came tersely.

"I did."

A moment of silence stretched between them until she ventured, "You mentioned you'd be back early."

Turning off the stove, Edwin turned and locked eyes with Laura.

Bathed in the kitchen's soft lighting, his features were undeniably attractive, but she sensed a depth she couldn't decipher.

She cared deeply for him, but there was so much she didn't know about him, and she hesitated to probe since he didn't share.