Even though she would hardly deny that longing that would find her each night that Taylor wasn't able to make his way into the bistro, she also was entirely understanding when he wouldn't come walking through that front door to greet her with that smile which said more than any endearing greeting ever could as he would settle in that usual spot of his with that rolled up paper in his hand. Townsend hardly ever saw it fit to give the man a break with simpler, easier tasks and in all honesty Adelaide was surprised at just how much the Englishman could find the keep Taylor so busy and preoccupied that the poor man surely couldn't have much energy left in him half those days when he was sent home until the next morning. She hadn't really thought that the yard had needed so much attention, and perhaps a large part of the French woman was almost entirely certain that Townsend was simply making unnecessary projects suddenly so very critical that it would be at the alleged point of needing near immediate attention and completely diligent focus to be done appropriately. If anything, she would almost suspect the Englishman was truly trying his best to keep the two younger people apart, but Adelaide was determined to show Townsend that she was more than capable of getting around those barriers he tried to place between herself and the only man she'd ever been so drawn to. The dark-haired woman would need to think of a crafty way to get Taylor a few days off here soon for fear that he might tire of all that constant work the blonde man seemed startlingly capable of finding. It was almost a wonder that with the cold weather and near constant exertion of energy the roguishly handsome man was able to stay healthy, having yet to catch the smallest of colds or coughs that would quickly have Adelaide sending him home to rest so that he didn't worsen. And besides, if just maybe she could get poor Taylor away from Townsend for a day or two, they might be able to slip away together as she has so been craving ever since that night. It was all these thoughts that flickered through the woman's mind as she would be working on those more lonesome evenings when her not-so-secret admirer would be found absent from his usual place on the couch in the corner of Beachside Bar and Bistro that were able to offer some degree of comfort or reassurance to her that it was best for him to stay home and rest on those nights he truly felt like he needed it, even when it meant she would have to be content with missing him.

Content to miss him during those hours as she tended to the people that came into the bistro today with empty stomachs and a readiness to perhaps try something different for the first time since it had become inescapably clear to the dark-haired woman that genuine French cuisine had yet to reach this part of the world, when those doors had closed for the night, she had suddenly found herself unable to satisfy herself with nothing but the fleeting thoughts of just what it was that he did on those nights when he didn't come to her bistro. Just like that, she was no longer capable of maintaining that contentment quickly replaced with a wanting unable to be ignored or pushed aside as she had all day. No, there was not even the smallest fragment of suspicion that could be found in her. Why should there even be such a thing to exist within the woman when they weren't exactly together? Or were they? She still wasn't entirely sure what it was that tied them together, but it was strong and she would even venture to say that it was faithful. Why, though, would faith need to be present if there wasn't truly a defined promise and commitment to remain monogamous? What had happened that night under the stars had been very much real. Not just for Adelaide, but for Taylor as well. And yet, still there was uncertainty to place a name on whatever all these thoughts and feelings amounted to, how it was that they could exchange nothing more than a look or a touch and still "say" everything - well, almost everything - that the filled every heartbeat. Maybe she truly was entirely aware of that name which belonged the way that Taylor made her feel, how she could look into those hunter green eyes and forget about everything else in the world and see only him. And yes, it was clear to Adelaide that he felt it, too. So what, then, was it that made her inwardly hesitate to even allow for that four letter word to give all those thoughts and feelings that both exhilarated her and soothed her, emboldened her and softened her in the very same breath and fleeting moment? She'd promised him that she would wait for him to be ready. This was what she'd said to him beneath those countless stars. And just maybe, she needed to force herself to search in every part of her heart, mind, and soul, just so that she could be just as sure... even if she felt certain that she already was.

Had it been any man other than Taylor to look at her in such a way as he allowed for those hunter green eyes to rove over her womanly figure, she would have been more than quick and sharp to correct such a gesture. She was no stranger to lustful gazes with the beauty that she held about her, though it was much to her relief that she hardly had to worry about such bold and hungry glances from those the men that did come into her bistro since most of them tended to have a female companion with them already or else they were in the company of family. There had been one man at the bar who had eyed her for a few moments longer than was necessary, but all it had taken on the French woman's part was a raised brow and he'd diverted his attention elsewhere. In that small moment, she had dared to amuse herself with the thought of just what Taylor might have done had he been there that night, if he had seen that lone man look at her with that unmistakable glimmer of lust. Whether or not she and Taylor were together, Adelaide would hardly tolerate such stares or advances of any kind from any other man that wasn't the one she yearned to be near. With Taylor, it was different. She could see that while he found her beautiful in appearance, the dark-haired woman knew that he saw her for much more than that. He knew her dreams and her ambitions and only ever encouraged them. When he looked at her and she looked at him, it was more than for physical attraction that brought that light to her sage depths. And so, as Taylor drank her in, she was more than happy to return the favor as glittering green eyes caress everything about him. From those broad shoulders to the sinew of his defined arms and the faint outline of his pectorals beneath that cotton shirt to the way that he'd bitten at his bottom lip and run a single hand through long dark hair, she found herself all too satisfied in those explorations of his physique, also entirely certain that he would hardly mind as she appreciated him for the attractive man that he was.

When she reaches for him, she can see the way that his gaze seems to soften as a quiet and contented sigh ushers from his lips. She can't help that impish smile thay dances across her lips as she watches the man practically melting into her touch, those more... intimate curiosities of her own wondering just what else she might be able to make him feel should she allow those slender hands of hers travel other places, across the hardened plains of his core or over the defined muscle of his chest. It was almost devilish, how tempted she was in that small moment to test his restraints, and yet she knew that in the same moment she would also be testing her own, and the last thing she wanted was to put him in a place where he would be uncomfortable. With that, she banishes those mischievous thoughts as she comments on the stubble that grows on hand face and she can't help the soft chuckle that tumbles in a melodic way from her lips."Yes, well, Townsend and myself don't see eye to eye on everything. You and I know this", she teases over her shoulder, as she moves easily past him to take in the small apartment. Yes, it was hardly much compared to her home, but there was a comfort here that rivaled her own home in Dupont Circle. His next words have her turning on her heels a she feigns hurt, watching that smirk pull at Taylor's lips she has to keep herself from walking over and stealing a kiss from. He gives a shrug as tenor tones reply in an gravelly manner that has her daringly closing the space between them. She can see that wanting coming to life in his hunter green gaze when she's standing there a breath away from him, sage eyes glittering with an unspoken challenge for him to reach for her. She says nothing though as she brings the bottle between them and Taylor's smirk melts into a warm smile. His words encourage that coy smile of her own again, sage eyes locked with hunter green."If that is what you wish, then I'd be more than happy to join you. Tonight, I'm all yours", she purrs up to him in soft and sultry accented words as dark lashes blink slowly, teasingly over her gaze.

Boldly, he leans in closer to her and she can feel that warmth washing over her, the delicious scent of cologne only causing that want in her to stir a little more beneath the surface. He whispers into her ear then and she can't help the invisible shiver that racing through her as his breath, his lips tickled her skin ever so lightly, goosebumps rising involuntarily at that touch she found she enjoyed - perhaps more than she should. That coy smile shifts into something more sultry and soft as he pulls away, strong hands wrapping around her own as tenor tones fall quietly between team, squeezing her hand gently before she surrenders it to him and turns to watch him move away and towards the small bar where he sets the bottle down before turning to gesture towards the kitchen complete with all the necessary appliances. They weren't stainless steel, but they were in fair shape all the same as were the counter tops."You should cook something for me sometime", she teases before following him back to the entertainment area. She observes the fair sized television, hardly caring for whatever was playing before moving to study the couch and matching love seat. Just enough room for a couple guests, or so she thought. She looks back over to Taylor who is now curling a figure as if she needed to be coaxed the follow after him, that smirk on his lips encouraging that impish smile from Adelaide as she moves after him down the small hallway, the man gesturing towards the narrow walkway flanked by white drywall. He pauses by the open door and she's almost startled at how small the bathroom was, but that was enough for one person which was all that mattered. She doesn't venture through the doorway though, instead turning to Taylor as she trails after him to the door at the end of the hall. When he opens the door and she is greeted by the sight of a dresser and king-sized bed, his tenor tones introduce her to his bedroom and she glances over to Taylor to see a smirk playing across his chiseled features. She walks into the room this time, trailing a hand over the wooden dressor before she walks over to sit at the edge of his bed, casting him that impish and daring smile."This bed is quite soft. I'm surprised you don't seem to struggle leaving it to be on time for work every morning", she remarks then as she runs her hands over the soft covers before suddenly she slips out of those black heels and slides further onto the bed with ease until her head finds that plush pillow, dark hair tumbling over the white surface as she lays there on her side with one hand snaking underneath the down cushion while the other rests on the bed beside her breast."Mmm, how cozy and comfortable", she says in lilted words, sage eyes glittering as she looks over to him with a bold and... coquettish smile, watching him curiously while also silently enjoying how everything smelled like him.