The billionaire's only desire
Chapter 118: proposal part 4

Chapter 118: proposal part 4

"Are you okay?" Maya asked Dalton as she sat across from him in a café in Manhattan, taking a bite of the best cheesecake she had ever had. New York has the best cheesecake in the world.

"You look distracted. Is it about work?"

Dalton shook his head. "No, I’m alright."

Maya paused eating her cheesecake and gave Dalton a dissatisfied look. "I don’t like this. We promised to get better at communication, but you are hiding something from me, Dalton." She narrowed her blue eyes at him. The way he quickly looked away confirmed her suspicion.

"What are you hiding, babe?"

"It’s just work-related, Dalton dismissively answered.

Maya shrugged. "Okay, if you say so." She didn’t push further because Dalton had never lied to her or hidden things from her, unlike her.

Dalton fished a note out of the pocket of his jeans. "What next on the list do you want to eat?" Instead of planning to tour interesting places in New York City, Maya is more fascinated with tasting the rich and diverse cuisine that New York has to offer. So, she made a list of the best food in New York City.

So far, she is almost finished with the food on the list.

Maya beams with excitement. "Let’s try food truck meals next."

"Okay," Dalton pulled dollar bills from his wallet and placed them on the table. The money was enough to cover the bill and leave a generous tip for the waitress.

"Let’s go," Maya said, grabbing Dalton’s hand. She was giddy as they ambled out the door and into the streets. She nearly skipped as they darted across the road, buzzing with pure, childlike excitement, like a teenage girl on her very first date. She wonders if it’s the New York air that’s making her feel so bubbly, or if it’s the famous New York City cookies she ate earlier, called black and white: half vanilla, half chocolate iced cookies—that are making her act this silly.

Nevertheless, she was a happy girl. She was exploring New York City, enjoying delicious cuisine with her partner. They stopped at a taco food truck. The tacos were so good that Dalton, who doesn’t have a big appetite, ate three. By chance, they also discovered a food cart serving South Indian dosas accompanied by sauces like coconut, tamarind, and mint chutney, along with spicy sambar soup. They had their fill. They were so full that they only took a small bite of the hotdog they ordered at their next stop.

"I feel like a big teddy bear," Maya said, rubbing her belly and grinning widely.

"Let’s go burn those calories," Dalton entwined their fingers.

"Where are we going next on the list?" Maya asked, her eyes growing bright with anticipation.

"My late grandfather had a restaurant in Clinton."

"Oh, wow... wait, Clinton? I thought it was in Hell’s Kitchen?"

"Yeah, that neighborhood is called Clinton now, or Midtown."

Maya’s lips formed a big "O."

"I can’t wait to see what a 60-year-old restaurant looks like," she squeals. "Of course, I know it has gone through a lot of remodeling and renovation, but still."

Dalton’s lips pursed. "You’re still going to love it."

**

A homely scent wafted into Maya’s nose as they walked into the restaurant. Maya’s curious gaze studied her surroundings. The interior of the restaurant was warm and inviting, evoking a sense of comfort and familiarity with its soft lighting, comfortable seating arrangements, and personal touches such as family photos and local artwork.

"This place looks like...."

"It’s like being in your grandmother’s home," a man in a chef’s uniform completed her sentence.

"Yes, exactly." Maya blinked at the man

"Hello," he smiled warmly at Maya.

"Hi," Maya waved in return.

"Bro," he said, giving Dalton a bear hug. "Good to see you back. I missed you, man.

"Same," Dalton said, a crinkle appearing in his eyes.

Oh, he really likes this man, Maya thought.

"Anthony, meet my girlfriend, Maya," Dalton introduced her.

"It’s great to finally meet the sous chef Dalton has been raving about," Anthony said, offering Maya a hug.

"Nice to meet you too. I really like how beautiful your restaurant looks," Maya praised.

Anthony smiled. "I hope you will like our kitchen too. Shall we?" He led the way as they navigated through the tables, with waiters bustling in and out of the kitchen.

"Wow," Maya exclaimed as they walked in. "I’ve never seen a restaurant kitchen with this much character. It looks like a big kitchen owned by a sweet old lady who bakes you an apple pie every day."

"I want my restaurant kitchen to look like this," she said dreamily.

"Well, then you will have fun cooking here today," Anthony remarked.

Maya frowned. "Cooking here?"

"We are having a cooking date tonight at this restaurant," Dalton announced.

"Really?" Maya squealed.

Dalton nodded. "I know you’ve been eager to cook with me."

Maya grinned. "I’ve been dying to do this ever since I learned you can cook during the cooking lessons with your brothers. I know it will be fun cooking with you." She nudged Dalton’s side with her hip, and he pulled her close and kissed her.

"Hmm," Anthony cleared his throat, and they both pulled away like two teenagers caught making out by their parents.

This is your first order" Anthony handed a notepad to Maya.

"Impress me," he winked at her.

"Alright, sure,"

"I will leave you to it," he said as he walked out. Maya prepared the dish she had ordered for herself without Dalton’s help to prove to Anthony that she would not serve his customers bad meals.

And Anthony loved it when he tasted it before a waiter came to serve it to the customer.

He gave them the green light, and now she and Dalton are busy preparing meal orders.

While cooking, she pauses to steal glances at Dalton. He cooks with such agility and flexibility, as if he has been a five-star chef his whole life.

She is going to stop cooking for him. He will take over cooking at home, while she sits by his side and admires how gorgeous and sexy he looks in an apron.

Right now, he looks incredibly sexy in that apron.

"Gordon Ramsay has nothing on you, babe. You’re killing it in this kitchen," Maya teased as she watched Dalton stir a sauce he was making.

"Neither Gordon nor I can compare to you, Chef DeLuca," he sent an intense flirtatious look, causing Maya to turn into a puddle inside.

"Have a taste."

Maya swiped her finger over the ladle coated with sauce and placed her finger in her mouth to taste it. "Mmm, this is good, but it needs a little something. " She sprinkled in a bit of seasoning.

Dalton took a taste. "It tastes amazing! Like I said, Gordon has nothing on you, baby."

Maya laughed and focused on the steak she was cooking. "You and Anthony seem close," she began a conversation.

"Not close, just friendly. I always eat at this restaurant when I’m in New York," Dalton explained as he plated the sauce and added the medium-rare steak that Maya had cooked to complete the dish. He handed it over to a waiter to serve.

"I see. Do you help in the kitchen? You seem very familiar with cooking and managing orders."

"Yes, I do when Anthony is short on staff."

"No wonder you’re handling orders like a pro!"

As more orders came in, they both cooked side by side, sharing kisses and, Maya’s laughter echoed in the kitchen. Maya even danced while humming a song. Cooking with Dalton was so much fun that Maya wanted to do it often.

They cooked together for hours until no waiter came in with an order.

"Hmm, the orders have stopped coming in. I will go see what’s going on," Dalton said as he strode out of the kitchen.

Minutes later, he returned.

"It appears that the restaurant is nearly closed, but a last order has come in. The dish is not on the menu, so you will need to prepare it. I’m not familiar with it."

"Let me take a look at the order."

Dalton handed the note to Maya. Maya’s eyes darted over the note as she read it:

"WILL YOU MARRY ME, MAYA DELUCA?" Maya froze and dropped the note on the floor.

Her eyes widened as she caught Dalton’s gaze. Dalton went down on one knee and thrust out a diamond ring.

"I’m not very good with words, but I will try," he said, clearing his throat. "I think I was mesmerized by you from the first day I met you at the club, and the day I found you in my house, I couldn’t help but feel a strong desire to be your protector and to care for you, to be your cliché knight in shining armour. And when I held you in my arms for the first time, it felt so natural to me, as if you were meant to be there, in my arms forever. "

Maya’s heart kept glowing with every word he uttered.

"When I kissed your irresistible lips for the first time, it felt like I was in heaven, and I had a ravenous desire to spend eternity tasting your lips. At that moment, I made up my mind that I was going to marry you; you are the woman I want to wake up kissing for the rest of my life. You are the most beautiful woman on earth, Maya. You are so incredibly gorgeous that whenever I look at you, I see paradise."

Maya couldn’t contain her blush; her cheeks were bright red. People often call her beautiful, but hearing Dalton say it makes her feel truly beautiful. His words are so lovely, They are making her heart flutter a million beats.

"Maya, you are not only beautiful on the outside but also on the inside. You have a beautiful pure soul, along with a big heart filled with so much love. You are the most hardworking and dedicated woman I have ever met. And I admire that about you. You are a star that shines so brightly, and your light has illuminated my life, brightening my dark world. Maya, I want you to continue lighting up my life,. So, will you marry me?"

"Yes, I will marry you, Dalton! Yes, I will marry you!" she said without a beat.

"Thank you. You made the luckiest man on earth, Maya" Dalton slipped the ring onto her finger. Then he scooped her waist lifting her off the floor, twirling her around. "I love you so much, Maya. I promise to make you the happiest woman on earth. And I promise to love you crazily each and every day. "

Maya cried tears of joy. She was so excited, overjoyed, and overwhelmed in a positive way. She was rendered speechless and couldn’t find the words to express her excitement to Dalton, so she could only kiss him to show how happy she was to be his wife.

Dalton asked Anthony to set up a beautiful candlelight dinner to celebrate their engagement. The last order Dalton cooked was actually the dish they were going to eat.

At the candlelight dinner table, Maya’s eyes kept glancing at her diamond ring and kissed Dalton in between, telling him how much she loves him and how happy he has made her.

Her heart kept fluttering . She was going to be Dalton’s wife! She still couldn’t believe it.

After they finished their meal and were sharing a bottle of wine, Dalton suddenly said, "Our wedding will take place in a week."

"What?" Maya nearly dropped her glass. "We are getting married in just a week?"