Chapter 398
Chapter 398:
The way he spoke — gentle, unhurried — was the same tone Colton had always reserved for Elyse.
Alma’s reaction was immediate and unmistakable. She made a sharp, dismissive sound, dropped Kristine’s hand, and announced she wasn’t feeling well before turning and disappearing toward the restrooms as fast as she could manage.
Kristine moved to follow, but the man stepped into her path.
“I’m Goodwin Yates,” he said pleasantly.
The surname landed like a stone. Whatever warmth Kristine had been prepared to offer evaporated at once.
“I’ve been trying to win Alma over,” he continued, offering a small, easy smile.
She studied his face. His manner was perfectly agreeable, but his eyes were flat and distant — the same quality she had always noticed in Colton’s gaze, that absence behind the surface.
She stepped to the side to leave. He moved with her.
𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘯
“I’ve been pursuing her for a month, and she still won’t give me the time of day,” he said. “You’re her friend. Help me get close to her, and I’ll give you whatever you ask for p>
Kristine understood exactly what was happening. He wanted to use her as a means of forcing his way into Alma’s life.
“I’m not the person you’re looking for,” she said evenly, and walked past him.
Goodwin watched her go, a faint crease of irritation forming between his brows.
When Kristine walked back into the private dining room, the relief that crossed Asher’s face was visible enough that he couldn’t quite conceal it.
“Where did Alma go?” he asked.
Before Kristine could answer, Leo’s phone buzzed on the table. He read the message and let out an amused laugh. “Alma says she ran into a friend and went out for the evening p>
Asher nodded and looked at Kristine. “It’s getting late. We should head back p>
“All right,” she agreed. She rose and wheeled him toward the exit as Leo led the way out.
Once they were settled in the car, Asher turned to her. “Did Alma give you any trouble out there p>
Kristine smiled and met his eyes directly. “What makes you think Alma would try to bully me p>
Asher kept his expression measured. “She’s Leo’s only child. She’s had her way her entire life p>
“I still don’t quite follow,” Kristine went on. “We barely know each other. Why would she feel threatened by me?” She paused, letting the thought finish itself. “Unless, of course, she had a reason to feel threatened p>
Asher’s composure flickered for just a fraction of a second.
Kristine leaned in slightly, a playful smile pulling at the corner of her mouth. “Does she know something I don’t? Do you actually have feelings for me p>
Asher felt as though the air had been removed from the car.
She was close — closer than usual — and the shyness that typically softened her had been replaced by something light and teasing. As she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, the warmth of the low evening light caught her face in a way that made it genuinely difficult to look away.