The Savage Casanova [Published under LIB] had been a mini series on TV5

Chapter 23

Moira sees that her plan to seduce her husband is working well. She wants to blurt out, I love you, but keeps her mouth shut. Not yet, she tells herself. She loved Kristoff but never had a driving desperation to make him happy. Despite Ivo's warning and her mother's, she admits to herself that she is in love with her husband. She knows it against their agreement, but she admits defeat-she lost because she falls in love with a scarred man-like Alex. Love itself defies common sense-like gambling and taking drugs. She wants all of him-including his rough edges.

"What's all this?" He lifts one of the lids. He smell chicken mixed with herbs-way more tasteful than adobo.

"Dinner." She lifts other lids and shows him other food for dinner. "To tease your appetite, I have here fresh salads, Italian toast, Frutti Mare-Italian pasta and my favorite, Parmesan Crusted White Fish. What do you want for dinner?" She gives him a seductive smile while biting her bottom lip.

You, he thought. "Anything-it doesn't matter," he says in an uneven voice. Nanginginig ang kalamnan niya. Hindi niya alam kung dahil sa gutom o dahil sa nakakaakit na babaing kaharap niya.

"How about dessert? May gusto ka bang kainin para sa dessert?"

Same thing I want for dinner, he answers in his mind. "No," he says while fighting down the clamoring demands of his body.

"Oh my, you are very easy to please." She smiles and reaches for his arm and looks at him with desire. He captures her wrist and looks at her questioningly. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Nothing. I missed you. You've been out for several days-forgetting that you have a lovely wife who's waiting for you to bed her." She comes nearer to him. Puts her hand on his shoulder. "There are always doors between us."

"I know-more separating us than doors." He distracting himself by looking at the delectable food on the table.

"Want some wine?" She flashes him a dazzling smile. She picks the wine from the bucket full of ice. Gets the glass and pours the wine generously in the glass goblet. "I know this one is your favorite." He gets the wine and drinks the whole in the glass. Don't drink too much, Ivo, he reminds himself.

"Pinagpahinga ko na sina Jun at ang iba. Ako na ang mag-aasikaso sa'yo ngayong gabi. Nalaman ko kay Jun na birthday mo noong isang araw. Matagal ko na pinaghandaan ang celebration mo. Kaya lang hindi ka umuwi noong isang gabi." Malungkot na sabi niya kay Ivo.

"B-Busy kasi sa work."

"Di ba sabi mo dati, kailangan mo lang magpunta sa office pag kailangan ka nila. Bakit ngayon, napapadalas ang pagpunta mo sa office?"

Napatingin lang si Ivo kay Moira. "You are beginning to sound a jealous wife."

"I can't help it-I am a wife," she answers in a serious tone.

Napangisi si Ivo at napailing. "Aren't we going to eat?" Umupo na siya at pinipilit niyang tumingin sa pagkain at hindi sa kaakit-akit na suot ng asawa niya. Kumuha na siya ng kaunting pagkain, inilagay sa plato niya at tinikman ang luto ng dati niyang mayor domo. The salty taste of parmesan is blending well with the white fish. He has never tasted such delicious food in his lifetime.

"So, how was it? Delicious, right?"

"It is okay," he answers nonchalantly-hiding his satisfaction with the new dish in front of him. "Mas masarap ito kaysa sa adobo ni Pacquiao," natatawang sabi ni Ivo.

"Ikaw kasi, kung anong pinaggagawa mo. You fail to see the potential around you. Kailan ko lang nadiscover na mas magaling na kusinero si Jun kaysa mayor domo."