LOVE IN PARIS: Married To My Brother-in-law-Chapter 101: Bashful Little Rabbit II

The evening was quiet except for the distant hum of crew members finishing up their work.

The air inside was warm and cozy, a dark constract to the biting chill outside.

Leila busied herself in the small makeshift kitchen, preparing a steaming pot of herbal tea.

Yvette had already been settled in her room, bundled in warm blankets on the couch to ward off the chill after her scenes. Leila then carefully poured the tea into two mugs, her hands steady despite the swirling thoughts in her mind.

She placed the first mug on a tray and carried it over to Yvette, who looked up from her script with a grateful smile.

"You’re a lifesaver, just wait until the assistant is sent over then you won’t have to do all the meagre chores". Yvette said, taking the cup Leila handed her.

She blew softly on the tea before taking a small sip, her lips curling into a grateful smile. "This really hits the spot."

Leila smiled faintly, nervous about what she was about to do. "I thought you’d need something to warm you up after that scene in the snow. You’ve had a long day, this will help you warm up".

"Tell me about it. My toes are still numb from the cold". Yvette joked, then tilted her head as Leila prepared a second cup. "Who’s that one for?". She asked with a raised eyebrow as her sight landed on the second cup on the tray.

"Tyrell, it’s for Tyrell". Leila replied softly, almost hesitantly.

Yvette’s smirk was immediate, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh? Using tea as an excuse to visit him now, are we?"

Leila hesitated for a moment before replying, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. "It’s not like that. I just... noticed earlier that he wasn’t feeling well and he caught a cold after filming the scene in the pool".

"Oh, and the balm?". Yvette smirked mischeviously, gesturing to the balm she was grasping nervously.

" It’s nothing, earlier his hands looked red. He might’ve hurt them filming so I brought some balm just in case."

Yvette nodded and smirked, raising an eyebrow. "So considerate. And here I thought you two didn’t get along."

"We don’t!" Leila protested, but the heat in her cheeks betrayed her. "I mean, we do, but not like that."

"Sure, sure, I understand very well". Yvette teased, waving her off. "Go on, then. Don’t keep him waiting. Just don’t drop the tea while you’re busy staring at him."

"You . !" Leila’s voice was a mix of exasperation and embarrassment. She hurriedly grabbed the tray with the tea, trying to ignore Yvette’s laughter that followed her out of the room.

___________

Leila nervously and quietly approached Tyrell’s room which was on the other end of the hall, the tray balanced carefully in her hands.

She had also slipped the small balm into her pocket and as she neared the door, she noticed it was slightly ajar, but she paused and hesitated for a while to gather her composure then knocked politely anyway.

No response.

She frowned, leaning closer to the door as she knocked again. "Tyrell?" She called out, her voice just loud enough to be heard.

Still nothing.

"Tyrell?" She called again, her voice barely audible over the muffled sound of running water coming from inside.

And still, no response.

"Tyrell? Are you in here? I brought you something". She said, her tone tentative as she knocked again.

She frowned and knocked again, a little louder this time. When silence greeted her once more, she hesitated before cautiously stepping inside after shifting the tray to one hand hand.

The room was dimly lit, the sound of running water from the bathroom faint in the background. Leila stepped inside, unsure of what to do as she glanced around.

"Tyrell? I brought you some tea" She said, setting the tray down on the small table near the couch. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the small tin of balm, holding it nervously in her hand.

The bathroom door opened just as Leila turned around to leave. Steam billowed out, and Tyrell emerged, his hair damp and tousled from the shower, a towel slung low around his waist. His torso was bare, droplets of water clinging to his skin and catching the light.

Leila froze in her tracks, her eyes widening as she took in the jaw dropping sight before her.

His toned, shirtless figure glistened slightly in the light, every muscle defined as he ran a hand through his wet hair and that was when he noticed her, he blinked in surprise, momentarily stunned to see her there, then a small, amused smile spread across his face.

Leila froze. Her breath hitched audibly, her eyes widening as they unwillingly scanned his form.

She quickly snapped her gaze away, spinning around to face the door, her face burning and heart racing as she fumbled for the right words to explain . "I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to— I knocked, but no one answered, and the door was open, so I thought— I didn’t—"

"So you just walked in?". Hee teased, his tone light and playful.

"I thought you might be hurt!". She defended, clutching the balm and the edge of the tray for dear life. "I wasn’t... I didn’t mean to—"

Tyrell chuckled at her expression, the sound rich and teasing. "Relax, little rabbit. You didn’t do anything wrong. You’re already here, why are you acting like a stranger now and avoiding me ?"

"I’m not acting like a stranger, nor am I avoiding you" She said, her voice muffled as she kept her gaze firmly on the wall not daring to glance backwards.

"Then do you dare to look at me."

Her grip on the tray tightened as she stammered. "You’re... shirtless. "

"And?" His tone was laced with amusement as he grinned. "It’s not like I’m completely naked."

Leila felt her face heat up even more at his words. "That’s not even the point!"

Tyrell sighed dramatically after a while than said to her. "Fine. Turn around. I’m decent now."

Leila hesitated but finally let out a small breath of relief. Slowly, she turned, only to freeze again.

He hadn’t put on a shirt at all. He stood there, the towel still wrapped around his waist, a grin tugging at his lips.

"You lied!" She blurted, pointing an accusatory finger at him.

Tyrell raised his hands in mock surrender. "Caught me."

"Put on some clothes!" She demanded, her voice higher than usual.

"Alright, alright." He grabbed a shirt from the bed and slipped it on lazily. "Happy now?"

Leila nodded quickly, trying to compose herself. She picked up the tea from the tray in her grasp and held it out to him. "I made this for you. Thought it might help after being out in the cold."

She fumbled in her pocket and pulled out the balm, holding it out awkwardly. "I noticed you might’ve hurt your hand during filming. You should use this."

Tyrell raised an eyebrow, surprised by her attentiveness. "You noticed that?" He walked over, taking the balm from her hand, their fingers brushing briefly. "Thanks. That’s really thoughtful."

"It’s nothing". Leila mumbled, stepping back to put some distance between them. "You should rest. The cold weather isn’t good for you."

Tyrell smirk softened into a genuine smile. "You know, for someone who claims there’s nothing going on between us, you sure take good care of me."

Leila’s eyes snapped up to meet his, her blush returning with a vengeance. "I-I’m just being considerate! Don’t read too much into it."

Tyrell chuckled again, as he approached her, holding the tin of balm tightly in his grasp. "Whatever you say, little rabbit."

Leila huffed, holding the cup out to him. "Enjoy the tea. And stop calling me that, will you!" She snapped and he chuckled.

He then took the cup from her, their fingers brushing briefly. Leila tried to ignore the jolt that ran up her arm.

"Thanks" . He said, his voice softer now. He took a sip, his eyes watching her over the rim of the cup. "It’s good."

She nodded, her eyes darting anywhere but him. "Good. That’s... good."

Tyrell set the cup down on the table and stepped closer to her, his expression shifting to something more mischievous. "You’re acting awfully nervous."

"I’m not nervous". She said quickly, though her voice betrayed her.

"Really?". He took another step forward, and instinctively, Leila stepped back. "Then why are you backing away?"

"I’m not". She insisted, taking another step back and Tyrell grinned, a step she took backwards, he took double forward just like hunting a prey.

And soon, her back hit the door with a soft thud. Tyrell smirked, leaning forward and planting a hand on the door beside her head in a classic kabedon pose.

And soon, her back hit the door with a soft thud. Tyrell smirked, leaning forward and planting a hand on the door beside her head in a classic kabedon pose.