Chapter 100
Tobias helped her wipe off the water and asked, “Want me to wash it now p>
“Yeah p>
He folded the paper towel and put it aside, glancing at her. “Why don’t you go chill in the living room? I’ll take care of it p>
“No need p>
Lisette shook her head.
She was the one who offered to make honey lemon tea for him and Scarlett. If she just left him alone to do the work, that’d be kinda unfair, right?
She suggested, “I’ll wash, and if you’re good with a knife, maybe you can slice p>
With those gorgeous eyes watching him, Tobias paused for a second, then nodded slowly. “Sure p>
Outside, the winter night was freezing, but the kitchen was warm and cozy. Lisette placed the washed lemons on the counter. Tobias carefully sliced them, and they worked side by side in sync.
Their white husky, Wendy, padded in with her four little black pups and flopped down at their feet, letting out the occasional soft bark.
All of a sudden, Lisette remembered a quote she’d seen in a book once-
The perfect marriage is: two people, one home, three meals, four seasons, five dogs.
That was their life, wasn’t it?
His steady breathing filled her ears, sounding oddly intimate in the quiet.
She snuck a glance over and instantly locked eyes with him. Her heart skipped. She snapped her gaze back to the lemons in the sink.
What the heck… why was her heart racing?
Her ears glowed red, standing out starkly against her pale skin.
Tobias felt his throat go dry. He swallowed and asked, “Do you want p>
They stood so close, their arms nearly brushing with every movement. His sudden gulp broke the silence and somehow made the moment feel even more charged.
Before he could finish, Lisette blurted out, “No p>
Tobias looked down at her reddened ears, voice low and a little raspy. “No what p>
Lisette: Ugh, what’s wrong with me? Why am I freaking out?
Could it be… hormonal?
“Hm?” Tobias leaned in slightly, his gaze darker.
He lowered his head, and when Lisette looked up again, her nose grazed his jaw. She met his intense eyes and instantly felt a wave of discomfort. She turned her head away, dodging his stare.
Something was weird tonight. He wasn’t usually like this-so persistent, so serious.
“Lissy p>
His voice dipped into a husky murmur, almost teasing. “Tell me… what is it you don’t want, hmm p>
Lisette didn’t answer because she couldn’t. So why was he pushing so hard p>
Frustrated, she spun around and bit his neck. Then she snorted and walked right out of the kitchen.
Tobias had been so sure-just for a second-that she was going to kiss him.
With two fingers, he touched the spot where she bit him, eyes following her as she walked away. The desire bubbling just under the surface screamed to break free. He clenched his jaw, veins standing out on his neck as he forced himself to breathe through it.
She’s only twenty-two p>
Still in school p>
Still such a kid sometimes-throwing fits, pouting, always trying to get her way p>
He ran a hand through his hair with a sigh, shook his head helplessly, and went back to slicing lemons.
Ten minutes later-
Ding.
A message from Lisette.
It was a video.
Step-by-step instructions for making honey lemon tea. From washing lemons to slicing them, layering them in the jar, adding honey, and sealing it up p>
Tobias watched and couldn’t hold back a chuckle.
Mrs. Hastings was clearly sulking. She’d ditched the kitchen and dumped the whole tea-making project onto him. He watched the video twice-seemed easy enough. Following the steps, he neatly sliced the lemons she picked and tucked them into the fridge.
The next morning, Elliot came to pick up Tobias for work. As soon as he saw Tobias’s neck, he blinked in surprise. “Whoa, Boss, did you hurt your neck or something p>
Neck?
Lisette, who’d been pretending Tobias was invisible, sneakily turned her head.
Tobias had unusually fair skin for a guy-probably from spending all day in an office. On his slender neck, near the Adam’s apple, was a very noticeable reddish mark.
She blinked.
Wait a sec.
Did she really bite that hard last night?
He’d been teasing her, and she’d snapped without thinking. Now there was a mark? And it still hadn’t faded by morning?
Twisting her fingers nervously, she debated whether to apologize. Maybe buy some ointment?
I mean, it’s only fair she made up for it, right?
Elliot stared at the mark a bit longer, then suddenly let out a laugh. “My bad, Boss, I thought it was an injury, but… that’s not a wound, huh p>
Grinning, he gave Lisette a quick glance. “Looks more like a love bite, if you ask me p>
“Pfft p>
Lisette nearly choked.
Her face turned scarlet as she shot Elliot a glare. “What makes you think that’s a love bite p>
Elliot laughed. “C’mon, who else could’ve left it there except you, Mrs. Hastings p>
Lisette froze.
Elliot kept going with a smirk: “I mean, it’s on the boss’s neck, and you’re right here. If it’s not from you, who else p>
Ugh!
Not worth explaining to this guy with a trainwreck of a brain. Lisette stomped off in her heels, not looking back.
It was Elliot’s first time seeing his straight-laced boss with such an obvious mark. No wonder he was chatty. “Man, you and your wife really have it good, huh p>
So that’s why the boss ran home every day right after work-guess love was booming day and night.
Tobias shot him a quick look. No coldness, no reprimand. Actually, there was the hint of a smile playing on his lips. “What did you expect p>
Elliot, catching the vibe, chuckled and sucked up. “Congrats, Boss. Hope you and the missus welcome a little one soon p>
Tobias’s smile deepened, clearly pleased.
As Elliot turned to leave, Tobias pulled out his phone and snapped a photo.
Owen had shown up early at the office that day.
As soon as he saw Lisette, he rushed over. “So? Any word from Director Young yet p>
Lisette shook her head. “Nope.” She opened her laptop and pulled up an online almanac.
Owen leaned over. “Seriously? You actually believe in that old-school stuff p>
He squinted at her. “Okay, what’s going on? You look totally off. Don’t tell me you and that freeloading hubby of yours got into it p>
Lisette: p>
Owen frowned. “Come on, talk to me! If he’s giving you trouble, I’ll bring twenty bodyguards to back you up p>
Lisette gave him a side-eye. “Will you shut up already, you weird duck p>
Owen rolled his eyes. “Sheesh, no appreciation for a concerned friend p>
Lisette wasn’t in the mood for his drama. She stayed glued to the almanac, thinking – seriously, did she jinx herself lately? Every time she opened her mouth or did something, she messed up, especially in front of Tobias.
And right there, the almanac read: Speak less, do less, avoid trouble.
“Told ya!” she sighed, leaning back in her chair.
She had originally planned on getting Tobias some ointment and saying a few nice things… but maybe it was better to pretend it never happened.
Yep-mute mode on from now on.
Ding!
Her phone buzzed.
She picked up.
Ten seconds later, her eyes shot wide open, and she almost jumped out of the chair.
“Wait, can you say that again p>