Chapter 17
Gram tervet expected to encounter Cole in such a secluded place, on the traditional wooden boat in the garden.
“Mr. Temen, thank you,” she said politely, her voice softer than
Even when she spoke normally, her voice had a natural allure
Cole’s
. The len rocking of the boat had left her breathless.
lingered on her eyes. “Now see why Zane was willing to wait by your side for three years, even without making any progress with you
The slowly leaned in, his lips drawing diet to hers. His hand, which was still wrapped around her want, tightened slightly. The air around them grew thick with tension….
His voice, low and Innere, drifted to hear “Ms. Harper, has Zane ever told you met to speak semen in hawan
Grace the closeness, her body pressed against his as he held her in place. His grip waction, and the position they were in could neverbed as intimate
She furowed her brow “Mr. Jensen, please release me. It wouldn’t be proper il someone sees us like this”
His pyes weer ved en hers with a look that seemed to pierce through her. Dengite his worth, his band around her waist radiated heat, sending a wave of with through her body, ren through the fabric of her light, delicate traditional dr
His tone ocedure.commanding, “Why would it be improper? Dida’t you want a marriage alliance with me? This would just solality our criationship,
Tin the heiress of the Harper family,” she replied.
dn’t want tobe known as the woman who “dimbed into bed with someone. Please,
e, thow some respect.” Grace’s words were steady, laced with a gentle yet forceful conviction.
e’s response was unexpectedly calm, “Alright“||
› fext moment, without warning, he released her. Before Grace could understand his intentions, she felt her body lose the support of him and began to fall toward the water
As she fell toward the water, she saw the umirk playing at the corner of his lips.
This time, Cole could be caught her, but he didn’t. Instead, he watched as she fell into the water with a heavy splach
He teased her. “Mc. Harper, you’re quite the entertainer. Coming over to visit and putting on quo the spectacle. Though I must say, your entrance could’ve been a little more graceful.”
Grace emerged from the water, her hair dripping strands clinging toher face, and her features covered in waren drople
In the sunlight, her sin sparkled with a radiant, dry low.
Grace stood amid a cluster of vibrant water lilies and lily pads, her beauty resembling a fairy emerging from the water, ethereal and enchanting
Her delicate features were ached with a faint town, her anger now butweighing her previous compose. As that moment, all pretenses of grace and decorum erre
had down
Befour Grace could speak, Cole, who was standing above her by the edge of the boat, suddenly crouched down. He pressed his finger into her mouth, silencing her completely
Grace was caught off guard by his unexpected move.
She thought “What on earth was he doing?”
She had been furious, and now, her anger intensified as she bir down hard on his finger.
Just at the did, a video from the opposite shore called out, “Mr. Jemen, Thearda loudsplash. Do you need help?”
Only then did Grace realize his intentions. Thankfully, the maid was on the opposite shore, and her body was hidden beneath the thick cluster of lily pads.
A that moment, she was so focused on leping an eye on the muld’s movements that she forgot to pull his finger out of her mouth.
Her var eyes were closely watching the maid’s every move, unaware that Cole was being affected by her pane. Combined with her vulnerable appearance, be swallowed hard
His voice calmas he replied, “Don’t worry about it. I was just throwingrocks into the war to pass the time.”
He felt a slight pain in his finger, jmirking as he realized her he was sharper than expected
Istine now. You can go back
“Yes, Mr. Jensen,” the inaid replied.
Goethe mad had been gone forseti, Cole booke the silence. “How long are you planning to bite my finger
Graceted her grip on his finger, and to pulled its hand back slowly. His skin was pale, his fingers well–defined
in contrast to let emlananem, Cale moved slowly in the water, unaffected as he gently szinted the water with his hand
When she first met him, he had thought him compased, with a dangerous aura that was hissed mystin bed, he was gentle and considerate af het emotim, grang bet anunexpectedly pleasam expertised.
Later, when he had shown up at the hospital and suggested taking responsibility, she had found it a big stherving
Then, at the
sport, her annoyance ladenly grown she was always decisier and independant, not the type to tolerate men who chang to her or refused to take na bar an answer.
kutafter learning about his identity, she made a more still, he had limbed bei sil with disdain.
bow, he was jubelitiually trasing ber
Grace Bought, “khat kind of person to be?”
Grace didn’t have to dwell on tew thoughts. Na polpped the edge of the boat and tied tocumbup
The boat wobbled, and with hari nane strength dating hea, has beg couldn’t quite teach the edge. She slippert, falling (the water with asplash, the droplets rolling of her chin.
Cole couched by the edge of the bolden calm and collected the war a white button–down shirt, the top two buthana undan, and his sleeves robed up to his elbows
He wasn’t wearing a watch, and though he lacked an air of refinement, be rouded a relaxed, cactive charm. His deep, umestible eyes locked out his as he extended his hand towards her. “Malteper, do you need help?”
Grand bit heilig, silently renung hersell that a start person knew when to take a step back.
She placed her wet hand into his brood, des dy palmi and feigned gratitude. “Thank you.”
Colo’s lips cualed is a small, playful saile “This time, M. Harper, your’d better held anna my hand. Don’t let go so rally”
317
Before Grace nould respond to his teasing, his large land tightened around her, effortlessly paling her up. As she rose out of the water, he quickly wrapped his arm around her waist and
The former won so strong that when she fell into his arms, Cafe en knocked over by her as well.
She sprang from the water like a fish, splashing water everpehere, and in the process, drenched most of his body
titate wasn’t any better off. Her hat stuck to her face, and her form–fitting traditional dress clung to her body. The outline of her waist and legs was fully visible, and water droplets fell from her body with every movement,
Surveying her drenched disheveled state, Grace couldn’t help but feel embarrassed Her first vide terrible impression.
the pushed herself off his chest, looking like the was on the verge of tears. “I’mused. I’m completely soaked
i duster, and she traced it would leave a
