Chapter 656
Across the street, after Elysia had tucked Emmett into bed, she hurried back to her own room for a quick shower. Stripping down, she caught sight of the red marks on her neck in the mirror, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. She wondered if it was the longing of her body as she got older or the fact that he was in her heart that made her nearly give herself to him tonight. If Emmett hadn’t woken up suddenly, she might have crossed a line. She was surprised at how quickly her disciplined heart had become so restless. When he kissed her, she felt nervous, yet thrilled p>
Elysia swallowed unconsciously, closing her eyes and tilting her face under the shower, hoping the water would calm her agitated heart. It took a while for her to cool down, reminding herself to keep in control. Even though they were fond of each other, they hadn’t defined their relationship-it was definitely too soon for intimacy p>
After getting ready for bed, Elysia checked on the kids again before finally laying down, by which time it was quite late. Out of habit, she glanced at her phone, finding several messages from him:
11:10 PM, [Got home. Did you manage to get Emmett to sleep p>
11:15 PM, [Went to grab some water from the fridge and found those potatoes and carrots you bought a while back have sprouted. Talk about resilience p>
Attached was a photo of the sprouting vegetables.
11:18 PM, [I planted them in a pot. Wonder if they’ll grow p>
Another photo followed, showing them buried in soil.
11:35 PM, [Just got into bed after freshening up p>
11:36 PM, [Don’t wake up early to make breakfast. Sleep in, I’ll bring something over p>
11:40 PM, [Elysia, going to sleep now p>
11:45 PM, [My phone is on 24/7, call me anytime p>
11:46 PM, [For anything or nothing at all p>
11:48 PM, [Elysia, goodnight p>
He didn’t mention the events of the evening, nor did he express his feelings directly, but his fondness for her was unmistakable. Elysia’s heart raced with excitement, a feeling beyond words. She didn’t reply to his messages, instead pulling the covers over her head, tossing and turning restlessly. “Ding”
Another message. She peeked from under the covers, it was him again.
[Elysia, are you asleep p>
Her heart fluttered at his message, but after typing a reply, she deleted it. Just the thought of their encounter earlier made her too flustered to engage in a normal conversation p>
In Sunshine Community, Tarquin was propped up against his headboard, staring at his phone. Her silence left him anxious, his mind racing with reasons she hadn’t replied. Restlessness had him pacing from his bed to the kitchen for water. He thought about calling her directly, but hesitated, fearing he’d wake her. Not wanting to disturb her rest, he tormented himself instead.
That night, he went through two ashtrays, took four cold showers, and made over a dozen calls to Lowell, brainstorming ideas for confessing his feelings. Sitting at his computer, he searched for advice on declarations of love, instructing Lowell to buy various items he thought might help. His mind was a whirlwind of scenarios involving Elysia’s possible reactions, the thought of her surprised face making him chuckle to himself. Sitting alone, chuckling in his study, he looked nothing like the CEO he was, more like a lovesick fool.
The next morning, before dawn, Tarquin was already up, preparing breakfast. He remembered she loved his omelets, so he made them. He recalled her once mentioning how much she enjoyed his sweet porridge, so he made that too. He also whipped up some side dishes, fried heart-shaped eggs, and boiled her favorite sweet corn. After breakfast, he took another shower. At just past six, Tarquin, dressed in a tailored suit, adjusted his tie, slipped on his watch, and left with his homemade breakfast.
Elysia, like him, had a restless night. But unlike him, she managed to catch a few hours of sleep, waking up around five and starting her day, albeit a bit frazzled.