Chapter 203
Elara’s face burned instantly. Through the phone, she heard the sound of body wash being squeezed out, and her mind spiraled out of control. Just what part of himself was Theodore washing now?
His voice, deep and rich, echoed through the bathroom, making it even more seductive. “Why’d you call?”
Elara pressed a hand to her feverish forehead. Her brain fel like it had been tossed into a boiling pot. Clinging to the last shred of her rationality, she quickly explained why she had called.
“It’s like this–my friend is coming back next week. You know her too, Mr. Snapp–my navigator, Lesley Lupone. So, I wanted to borrow Corona. Would that be okay?”
Theodore agreed without hesitation. “Sure. Then, as a former owner of the Moonchaser Racing Club, can I apply to pick her up myself?”
Elara chuckled. “Of course.”
Just then, she suddenly heard a soft hiss from Theodore. She froze for a moment and glanced at her phone–only to see Theodore’s damp face appear on the screen.
It was a man fresh out of the shower with droplets of water trickling down his neck in thin, winding streams. Elara was so startled she nearly threw her phone.
“Oops, I meant to hang up, but my hands were too wet, and I tapped the wrong spot,” Theodore said, his voice smooth and unhurried.
Finnegan, still focused on driving, didn’t glance at her but asked, “What’s wrong?”
Elara panicked. “Nothing!”
“Oh.” A loud thud came from the phone.
The screen now showed Theodore’s muscular, well–defined thigh… Water was splashed onto the phone, blurring the image on the lens.
Elara squeezed her eyes shut in a panic, silently chanting, “See no evil! See no evil!”
Fumbling blindly, she tapped at her screen in a desperate attempt to exit the call.
Seeing her frantic fingers appear on his screen, Theodore let out a teasing murmur, his voice like a feather brushing against her ear. “Elara, stop groping.”
Elara’s entire face turned a deep shade of red. At that moment, the traffic light ahead switched to red. Finnegan brought the car to a stop and glanced at her.
Elara instinctively hid her phone behind her back. Why did this feel like she was sneaking around in front of Finnegan, as if she were cheating right under his nose?
Realizing how suspicious her actions looked, she broke into a nervous sweat.
Finnegan’s voice was low and steady as he asked, “What were you talking about with Theodore? Something I’m not allowed to hear?”
Elara quickly shook her head. “No! Finn, just focus on driving!”
She ducked her head and used her body to shield her phone from his view.
Squinting, she stole a quick peek at the screen. At that moment, Theodore had already hung up.
1/2
Chapter 203
+25 BONUS
Relief flooded her, and she instantly relaxed as her body went limp. Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Theodore bit down on his curled index finger, barely restraining a chuckle.
Finnegan’s car pulled into Oakread estate. After stepping out, Elara opened the back door and gently called to Merida and Xavier, trying to wake them.
The two children, however, remained groggy and unresponsive. Finnegan spoke up, “I’ll do it.”
He reached in and lifted Merida into his arms with ease. Since holding Merida with one hand was effortless for him, he instinctively reached for Xavier as well.
Sensing the unfamiliar presence approaching, Xavier’s eyes snapped open, filled with alarm. Noticing Xavier’s reaction, Finnegan immediately withdrew his hand and only carried Merida out of the car.
“He got scared of me,” he murmured.
