Chasing His Rejected Wife
Chapter 33 -

"What are you talking about?" I gaped at her, taken aback. Kenzo was checking me out? I cast my mind back to our encounter in front of his door and the elevator, trying to figure out if I'd missed any hints he'd dropped but came up short. "I'm saying that your hot neighbor, Kenzo, is interested in you." Anna enunciated each word carefully as though she were talking to a toddler with comprehension difficulties. Seeing that I was standing there, seemingly unable to move, she tugged me forward again, and we continued our walk, though I barely noticed my surroundings.

"How..." I began and shook my head to clear my thoughts. "How could you tell?"

"Well, for starters, he kept sneaking looks at you." She began ticking off points on her fingertips. "He was interested in knowing more about you - notice how he only asked you where you were from? Even though it was me who asked first." I made a non-committal sound. "I'm his neighbor, of course, he'll want to know about stuff like that."

She rolled her eyes. "Oh please. Okay. Fine. He looked really disappointed when he found out you were married."

I was about to protest but remembered I'd seen that same look of disappointment on his face. "Oh...right. I noticed that, but didn't think much of it."

"Well, you need to start thinking a lot about it."She nudged me playfully, "Kenzo could be just what you need to get over Whatshisface and finally move on."

I wrinkled my nose in doubt. I highly doubted I was ready to jump into another relationship, not while I was having a baby.

"Eh, I'm not sure that's a good idea." I said, shaking my head.

"Why not? Please don't tell me you're hoping you and Aiden-"

"No, of course not." I cut her off quickly. "It's just " I trailed off and waved a hand to brush off the matter. "Can we drop this, please? I'd appreciate a little break from talking about Aiden and my marriage." "You're right, I'm sorry." Anna looked genuinely contrite. She gave my arm a comforting squeeze and a warm smile. "Let's just enjoy this walk, okay?"

"Okay." I return her smile with one of my own.

For the next hour, we explore the neighborhood which is a typical inner city area, with rising buildings towering over the streets on either side, and trees lined intermittently along the road.

There's a Home Depot nearby and we spend some time browsing through the aisles and choosing some needed furniture and decor pieces for my apartment.

I'm hungry again by the time we leave the store, I stopped in my tracks right in the middle of the street and sniffed the air, took a deep breath, my mouth watering. "Oh my god! Do you smell that?" Puzzled, Anna also took an experimental sniff, her brows wrinkling in disgust. "Smell what? Overflowing garbage and exhaust fumes?"

"Not that! It's divine!" I breathed, and let my nose lead the way toward the tantalizing aroma, past a line of shops, dodging between other pedestrians.

Excited, I turned to Anna and gripped her arm. "I think there's a noodle shop nearby, and whatever they're making, it smells absolutely delicious, and I want some."

"Oh lord! Don't tell me this is one of those fabled pregnancy things where your sense of smell gets hyper-sensitive?" Anna chuckled as we headed toward the source of that mouthwatering scent.

I nodded enthusiastically, my hand on my growing baby bump. "Yep, it's one of those. Pregnancy perks, I guess. But seriously, you have no idea how incredible this smells!"

"Well then, Detective Smells, lead the way." She waved her hands forward with a grin. I rolled my eyes but ignored her and guided us to the next block.

We reached the corner and Anna finally picked up on the aroma, which meant we must be close to the source. Soon, we found ourselves in front of a cozy little noodle shop with a red lantern hanging above the entrance. The sign read "Kenzo's Noodles" in elegant calligraphy.

Anna raises an eyebrow and smirks. "Hmm...Do you think it's the same Kenzo?"

"Could be. It's not a common name," I replied, adjusting the shopping bags I was carrying so I could open the door.

'Well, if it's Kenzo's place, maybe it's fate, right?" Anna waggled her eyebrows at me suggestively, an impish grin on her lips.

I give her a playful shove inside the restaurant. "Fate or not, I'm getting some of those noodles."

We entered the restaurant, to be greeted by the welcoming aroma of simmering broths and sizzling woks. It's a small, intimate place with dimmed lights and soft jazz playing in the background. The sound of chatter and clinking utensils filled the air as patrons enjoyed their meals. Towards the back, there was an open kitchen and our suspicion was confirmed when I spotted none other than my hot neighbor busy manning the industrial stove.

Kenzo had on an apron, hair covered by a black bandana, an intense look of concentration on his face as he expertly flipped the contents of a large wok in the air several times, then stirred it, his arms flexing so nicely with every move. It was captivating to watch him work.

"Yum..." Anna gushed, one hand propped on her chin, a dreamy look in her eyes as she watched him work. "I bet he'll taste as delicious as whatever he's cooking." "Stop staring at the man." I scolded, shaking my head in amusement as I turned away from the sight of him.

"Girlie, I'm sitting facing the man, what do you want me to do?" Anna protested and gestured at the room. "Besides, don't you see other people checking him out too?"

I looked and sure enough, Kenzo had quite the audience; male and female alike, including the gaggle of schoolgirls seated at the table closest to the kitchen area, watching him like he's the messiah. I grinned, willing to bet that most of these patrons were here for the eye candy, the food merely a fringe benefit.

As if reading my thoughts, Anna remarked. "I bet he's the sole reason some of these people are here."

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We shared a laugh, just as a waiter approached our table, a pitcher of cold water in hand, notepad in the other.

"Welcome to Kenzo's," She chirped happily. "I'm Miko and I'll be your server for the day." She filled our water glasses, set down the pitcher and drew out two menus from her apron, handing us one each. "If you need to clarify anything, or need a recommendation, please ask."

"I have a question," Anna piped up and leaned forward. "That chef...is he single? I'm asking for a friend." She pointed at me and I gasped.

"Anna!" I narrowed my eyes at her, but she merely waved away my protest. I turned to Miko, ready to apologize, but Miko had already leaned forward conspiratorially to whisper a reply.

"Oh he is," she said and winked then turned to me. "Don't worry, we get asked that a lot, so it's not rude or anything. He's 27, an Aries, his favorite color is blue and he likes cats."

"Don't encourage her, please." I groaned to Miko. "Anna, we're here to eat, not ask inappropriate questions." I flipped open my menu, but Anna continued gossiping with the server. "So, does he own this place? Is he a good guy?" Anna prodded on

"Yep, and he's the best boss and a great friend."

"I'm sure he'll be a good neighbor too." Anna winks at me and I roll my eyes in exasperation.

"Oh wow! You're his neighbor?" Miko's eyes went wide as she stared at me, awed. "Cool."

"Okay, I'm ready to order now," I announced and set down the menu, done with the conversation.

Thankfully, Miko assumed a slightly more professional air and held up her notepad. "Of course, what will you have?"

We placed our orders and she moved off, promising to get our food quickly.

"Oh look, she's telling him about us," Anna said, and I whipped my head around in time to see Miko standing close to Kenzo. She said something and nodded in our direction.

Kenzo looked up, his gaze seeking us out. He smiled upon seeing us and I waved, smiling too.

He tapped a guy on the shoulder, said something, and then stepped away from the stove, tugging off his apron. He made his way towards us, his gait loose and easy, drawing admiring glances from the patrons. "Hello again." He said when he stopped at our table. "Jessica and Anna. Welcome to my little restaurant."

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"Hey," I replied, giving a silly little wave again, then felt foolish for doing so so I placed my hands on my lap. "We found this place quite by chance, but the food smells so good already."

"Yeah, Jess' amazing sense of smell spotted this place from a mile away." Anna joked. "It's great to see you again, Kenzo."

"Same here. I was gonna suggest you ladies drop by earlier, but I didn't want to sound like I was pushing my business on you."

"Oh you totally should have mentioned it." I protested. "I love discovering new places to eat."

Kenzo looked pleased to hear that. "Well, in that case, Mrs. Brown, let me treat you to the best we have to offer." He said with a flourish.

I felt my cheeks heat. "Please, call me Jess."

"Yeah, she'll be dropping that title soon enough anyway." Anna quipped, a mischievous smile playing on her face.

"Anna!" I stared at her, my eyes wide.

Kenzo looked between us, then focused on me; his expression filled with sympathy. "Oh...I'm sorry to hear that."

"Please ignore her," I said, my face burning hot. "She tends to vomit words when she's nervous."

Anna merely laughed and shot Kenzo a knowing wink. "Isn't she adorable?"

"Yes, she is." The way Kenzo looked at me sent little butterflies fluttering in my belly and I ducked my head, silently chastising myself for being so affected.

I picked up my glass and took a deep gulp of water, looking everywhere but at him.

Thankfully, his attention was diverted by an elderly couple calling out to him and he excused himself, promising to ensure we got the best foods on the menu.

"And it's on the house." He finished with a grin and moved off before I could offer up a protest.

I sighed and shot Anna a disapproving look. "Why did you tell him that? You know I haven't decided what to do just yet and besides, I don't want everyone knowing my business."

"I'm really sorry," she said, chastened. "I got carried away with my desire to see you end up with someone deserving of you...I'm sorry, Jess."