TEST DRIVE: A Night of Forbidden Desire

Sunday morning, Vonda had already prepared herself with her casual look. She stood in front of the mirror, turned around and looked at herself from different angles. Hmmm… was it to meticulously observe her appearance?

“It doesn’t mean I want to look fancy in front of him.”

Vonda brushed the jeans that hugged her lower body, right at her butt.

“Just so it’s not embarrassingly plain.”

Vonda then turned her attention to her shoulder-length wavy hair. She deliberately let it down without any hairpins. It shimmered down her back, complementing the softly patterned short-sleeved shirt she was wearing.

She also wore a pair of block heeled shoes, five inches high. The strap details covering the back of her feet gave her a relaxed yet neat look.

Vonda had not forgotten to carry a small bag with her wallet and cell phone. Holding it in her left hand, she checked her appearance once more. One last look to make sure nothing was out of place.

“It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a free meal. So, I’m pretty excited about this. Oh!”

Vonda blinked her eyes. She remembered something.

“I think it was just last Sunday that Max’s mom treated me, and now it’s her son who’s inviting me to a free meal.”

Vonda shook her head with a funny expression.

“I wonder if next Sunday it will be Max’s dad inviting me to a free meal.”

The ringing of the bell pushed all these amusing thoughts out of Vonda’s head. She stepped out of the room.

Glancing through the small hole in the door, Vonda saw Max standing there. She opened the door.

“Max.”

Max, who had been glancing everywhere-down the hallway, to other unit doors, even to the moving elevator-suddenly turned when he heard his name called by Vonda.

Smiling, Vonda perhaps enjoyed Max’s casual appearance. It was the first time she had seen Max in a short-sleeved shirt and jeans.

Wait. Vonda furrowed her brow.

Why do we both look so coordinated in these clothes?

Max seemed to have the same thought. He realized that this was the first time he had seen Vonda outside of her crazy situation the other day and her work environment. Vonda’s relaxed demeanor was very different than usual. Her hair, usually neatly pulled back, now flowed sweetly.

“Ahem!” Vonda cleared her throat. “Do you want to come in first or just go out?”

Max blinked once. “Let’s just go. That way we can make it in time for lunch.”

“All right.”

They drove Max’s car through the busy streets. They talked all the way. They discussed light topics, like…

“I didn’t expect you to still be wearing jeans.”

Vonda’s comment made Max look tired, especially his expression, which immediately turned lazy towards the girl.

“You think I’m too old to wear jeans?”

Vonda chuckled. “Seems like it. How old are you anyway?”

“I’m only thirty-one,” Max replied with a grin. “Still young.”

“Hahaha! Yeah, yeah. But… tell me. Why haven’t you gotten married yet? You meet all the criteria for marriage, don’t you?”

Holding the wheel with one hand, the other resting casually on her thigh, Max decided to speak. “If you have your own answer to that question, I’ll give you mine.”

Once again Vonda replied playfully. “Good one, Max.”

Max smiled broadly. He felt satisfied that he had managed to shut Vonda’s question down without having to bother with an explanation.

“Besides, we’re not married, so let’s not bother each other, shall we?”

“It’s not harassment, it’s just curiosity,” Vonda replied with a grin. “But you know, I think it would be to my advantage if you weren’t married yet.”

“What do you mean?” Max asked with a slightly furrowed brow.

“Because if you were already married, the one you’d be inviting to free meals would be your wife, not me. Hehehe!”

Whether he liked it or not, Max burst out laughing spontaneously when he heard Vonda’s answer. “So, your thoughts are limited to meals?”

“Well, it’s free food… who would say no? Oh, but where are you taking me for a free meal?”

Max slowed the car down when he saw the light turn red. Nonchalantly, looking relaxed, he replied.

“Just know you’re going to be happy today. I guarantee it.”

“Happy?” Vonda immediately rubbed her neck with one hand, feeling the fine hairs there stand in unison at Max’s words. “I don’t know why, but it feels the opposite, I suddenly have goose bumps.”

Max’s laughter did not calm Vonda’s shivers, it seemed to intensify them.

“Seriously. Where are we eating?”

Max turned his face away. He looked at Vonda and smiled as he replied. “I’m taking you to my cousin’s house.”

“Cousin?”

It seemed as if Vonda needed some time to digest Max’s words. Even though her goose bumps intensified as a form of anticipation, she still asked.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“Which cousin?”

“Huh? Yeah, my cousin who’s your boss at the office. I don’t have many cousins,” Max replied. Then he blinked. “Actually, I have quite a few. Hahaha!”

While Max laughed, Vonda felt the opposite. The girl was horrified and even scared Max with her reaction.

“Huh?! You want to take me to Mr. Hernandez’ house? I-I mean Lucas Hernandez?”

Max found Vonda’s reaction beyond his expectations. Her face looked panicked and frightened. But for some reason, Max found himself laughing.

“Huh? Hahaha! Why are you acting so scared?”

Vonda’s eyes widened and she instinctively slapped Max’s free hand. “Why didn’t you tell me we were going to Mr. Lucas’ house for a free meal?”

“I did mention it,” Max replied.

“Yeah, but… you’re telling me this at the last minute. Oh, my goodness.”

“Well, is there something wrong with inviting you to Lucas’ house for a free meal?”

This time Vonda cupped her cheeks with both hands. “How can I eat with Mr. Lucas Hernandez there?”

“Ah.” Max nodded his head, and a thought flashed through his mind, causing him to swallow his saliva before he asked. “Are you afraid you’ll become too enchanted with him? To the point where you can’t even chew properly?”

*