Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Roseanne's gaze shifted as she noticed the man's hands first. They were slender and well-defined, contrasting the ready meals in his shopping cart. When she looked up, she found him already looking down at her.

Roseanne chuckled. "You're not seriously going to call that dinner, are you?"

With a slight cough, Owen replied, "Sometimes, after a long day, I can't be bothered with takeout. These are quick and easy."

"I did the math. These provide enough protein, vitamins, and carbs for a day," he added with a seriousness that made her laugh.

"Looks like Mr. Reynolds has figured it out with scientific calculation and precision," Roseanne teased. "But, what would it be if you had to choose between these and a fresh, hot meal?"

Owen fell silent. The answer couldn't be more obvious. No one would choose a microwave meal over something freshly cooked.

With a sly smile, Roseanne said, "So, Mr. Reynolds, how about I cook dinner tonight? In return, you only need to do one thing for me."

Half an hour later, Owen was staring at a fish on the cutting board, "This seems a bit tricky to deal with."

Roseanne cleared her throat. "Usually, the supermarket has a butcher to handle this, but they're too busy today. If you prefer..."

While rolling his sleeves and removing his glasses, Owen said, "I'll try."

"Okay," Roseanne nodded, secretly hoping to cut a corner with the tricky task of slicing fish.

But watching Owen in the kitchen, she suddenly felt guilty, wondering if it was too much to ask a physicist to slice the cod fish.

Seeing the evenly sliced fish pieces five minutes later, she dropped her earlier thought. Far from being an overkill, Owen was astonishingly talented.

"Will this do?" Owen asked.

"Sure. You could rival a professional chef with those skills," Roseanne complimented.

Owen chuckled at her comment, a smile tugging at his lips. "I've never cooked before, but my biology background includes some dissection, so... ahem!" Roseanne bought the fish, and Owen got some meats and tomatoes, resulting in a lavish barbecue dinner.

After dinner, Owen insisted on washing the dishes.

Once they cleaned up everything, Roseanne spoke, "It's getting late. You'd better head back. I'll take care of the trash."

Owen usually went for a night run, but it was nearly midnight, so he decided not to linger.

Roseanne had napped earlier and thought she'd struggle to sleep, but she drifted off soon after Owen left. She slept soundly, waking up refreshed before seven.

"I envy you, going to the library to study and then just sleeping. Me? I have to go on a blind date first thing in the morning," Leda complained while applying her makeup in front of the mirror, her enthusiasm waning at the thought of meeting a stranger.

"Envious? Why don't you join me at the library instead?" Roseanne teased, trying to lighten the mood.

Leda grimaced, "I'd rather go on the blind date."

She had never been the academic

type. Getting into KingswellThis content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .

University was a surprise. One

genius-like Owen in the family was

plenty. There was no need for her to compete.

Leda remembered something. "Oh, I've edited the photos we took last time. I'll send them to you."

"Alright."

Ding. Leda sent the photos.

Roseanne flipped through them, pausing at a few where she had a fox ear headband on, pulled into a face by Leda, looking innocent and pitiful.