NovelBookChapter 695
"I'm fine, just a random wave of nausea," | muttered, watching Wayne carefully.
He looked genuinely concerned, but even that annoyed me. Funny how not loving someone can make their
kindness feel like a trap-or worse, a crime.
"Good. Go drink swater," he said, still sounding too caring for my liking.
| headed back to my office, but before | got there, someone stepped out of the elevator-a familiar figure.
""Mr. Hart!"
""You're back?"
"Everyone missed you!"
The staff lit up like Christmas lights, but, of course, they were mistaking Xander for Hayden. Typical. Xander
didn't correct them, just smiled politely and walked straight toward me. Wayne's mood? Instantly icy.
"What are you doing here?" | asked Xander, keeping it curt
He wasn't Hayden, and letting people think he was would only stir up | didn't have the energy to handle.
He held up a food container. "Brought you lunch."
My stomach growled, like perfect timing, dude. | hadn't eaten since last night, and my body wasn't about to let
"Wow, thoughtful of you," | said, taking the container. Then | glanced at Wayne, throwing in a little shade for
good measure. "Wayne, you haven't tried his cooking yet, right? It's pretty good. Almost as good as Hayden's.
Almost." Yeah, | said it on purpose.
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Part of it was to protect Xander. After last night, | was sure Wayne had sent someone after him-a test, for both of
us. Wayne wasn't exactly known for letting things go.
"Is that so?" Wayne's tone was calm, though his gaze was distant. "So now cooking is the way to win someone
over?"
Classic Wayne-drenched in that smug, alpha energy. | was willing to bet he'd never even boiled water. Not back
at the Johnston house, and definitely not now.
Sthings don't change. Wayne might act easygoing, but deep down, he was all control..
"This isn't about 'winning someone over. Haven't you heard? If a guy's really into you, he'll roll up his sleeves and
make you food," | said, lifting the container closer for a sniff. "Smells legit."
Xander didn't miss a beat. "You didn't eat much last night, so | made saucy braised meatballs with a cucumber
salad. Try it, letknow what you think."
Wayne's expression darkened like a thundercloud.
"Meatballs?" | echoed, glancing at Xander.
He gave a small nod. "Not your thing?"
Chapter 695
+25 BONUS
They were, actually. As a kid, | was
obsessed with saucy braised mn
meatballs-espegiall)the whyThy dad
made har But since my parents
died, I'd avoided them. They never
tasted the swithout him. The
content is on novelenglish.net! Read
the latest chapter there!
"She doesn't eat braised meatballs," Wayne cut in, his tone flat.
That was just like him-assuming my years of avoidance meant dislike.
Xander didn't flinch. Cool as ever, he met my gaze. "Not eating something for a while doesn't mean you won't
now. You should at least try it."
The air between them was thick.
Wayne's temper was a loaded gun,
and | could feel him bristling at
Xander-not just for the 3ubaejabs,
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
byt for fhe@act that he looked like
Hayden. That alone was enough to
provoke Wayne into something
dangerous. "Fine. I'll try it later," | said,
keeping my voice breezy as |
dismissed Xander with a wave. "You
can go now." The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
Xander didn't even seem awkward
about it. He just eR thencthrew
Tere m&kh w if you're home
for dinner-I'll start cooking early." The
content is on novelenglish.net! Read
the latest chapter there!
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