After Betrayal - I Married a Handsome Tycoon-Chapter 41: Scandal

Moira Sloan was wearing a dress made of Scented Cloud Silk.

It was a Floral Vine Scented Cloud Silk design with an eyelet jacquard pattern, making it breathable and cool.

And because the fabric was so thin, she was especially sensitive to anything pressing against her.

Moira Sloan paused in the middle of changing her shoes. Her slender, pale fingers hooked around the lambskin strap that wrapped around her ankle. She tilted her head slightly, an ambiguous smile playing on her lips as she looked at Connor Quinn standing behind her. "Master Quinn, what are you doing?"

At the sound of her voice, Connor Quinn looked down. Their eyes met, and both of their expressions faltered for a moment.

Moira had misunderstood.

Apparently, Connor hadn’t realized it either.

Connor was trying to place the shopping bag he was holding onto the entryway cabinet. But with Moira in the way, he had to get close, no matter how long his arms were.

He hadn’t thought anything of it at first, but after Moira’s comment, he glanced down. When he saw the scene before him, his eyes darkened.

"Am I pressing into you?" Connor asked.

At his words, Moira’s ears flushed red, and she instinctively bit her lower lip.

The next moment, Moira finished changing her shoes and stood up. Just as she straightened, a hand landed on her waist and pulled her back against him. A cool, magnetic voice sounded from above her. "That was my belt. I have body heat."

Moira, "..."

’He only mentioned the body heat, but he didn’t deny the hardness. Such confidence.’

Moira let him hold her from behind, and they stood there, wrapped up in each other for a moment. Then, Connor’s hand on her waist loosened, and he said in a deep voice, "Your shop can open tomorrow."

Moira turned to him, slightly surprised. "So soon?"

Connor confirmed, "Mhm."

A smile touched Moira’s eyes. "I didn’t realize Master Quinn was so well-connected in Everwood County."

Connor carried the groceries into the kitchen, his expression impassive. "My next-door neighbor happens to be in charge of that."

Moira was skeptical. "What a coincidence."

Connor’s feet, clad in black ankle socks, were planted firmly on the floor. "Everwood County isn’t that big to begin with."

Moira raised an eyebrow, remaining noncommittal.

’That much was true.’

’Moira suddenly found herself thinking how mysterious the connections between people could be.’

’Take now, for instance. She was curled up on the sofa playing a game, while Connor was busy cooking in the kitchen.’

’Just a month ago, they had simply been set up on a blind date. And now...’

’Great. Now things were even worse than a month ago.’

’At least a month ago, their status as "people on a blind date" was something that could be openly acknowledged.’

Moira scoffed at the thought and went back to her game.

She was engrossed in her game when Connor poked his head out of the kitchen. "Do you want the ribs sweet or savory?"

Moira looked up, pretending to be deep in thought.

Connor said blandly, "Don’t be polite."

The corner of Moira’s eye quirked up. She asked tentatively, without much hope, "Half and half?"

Connor replied, "I can do that."

With that, Connor went back to his work.

Moira watched him get back to work, stunned for a few seconds.

’Was he really granting her every wish?’

Half an hour later, the meal was on the table: three dishes and a soup, all of which looked, smelled, and tasted divine.

Moira had been rushing to finish some work recently. Sometimes she got so absorbed she’d forget to eat. There were fewer than two days a week when she actually managed to eat three full meals.

Moira’s head snapped up instinctively at the smell of the food.

Connor happened to be looking her way. "Time to eat."

Moira, "Oh."

Connor was a good cook. Even Moira, with her discerning palate, ate a bowl and a half.

After dinner, Connor cleared the dishes while Moira went to the water cooler for a drink.

After her drink, she walked back to the sofa. She was just about to start another round of her game when her phone, which she’d tossed on the cushions, suddenly rang.

Moira glanced down. Seeing the two words "Flora Rhodes" on the screen, she bent over, picked up the phone, and answered.

"Speak."

Noticing the impatience in Moira’s voice, Flora Rhodes tsked. "What, did I interrupt something?"

Moira was in a post-dinner food coma, her brain sluggish. "Huh?"

Flora asked, "Is lover boy there?"

This time, Moira understood. The corner of her mouth twitched.

Moira didn’t answer, which Flora took as a yes. She lowered her voice. "Moira, are you actually falling for him?"

Moira gave a light laugh. "No."

Flora made a skeptical noise, clearly not believing her. "If you haven’t, why have you been keeping him around this long?"

Moira stretched her legs out, resting them on the coffee table. As she wiggled her toes, a tiny bell on her ankle let out a faint, crisp jingle. "He hasn’t served his purpose yet."

Flora knew what she was referring to and teased, "Be careful you don’t end up losing more than you bargained for."

Moira’s lips curved into a smile. "Don’t jinx it."

After a bit more small talk, Flora suddenly remembered why she’d called. Her voice filled with laughter and a touch of excitement. "Oh, right! Moira, you dated Shane Jennings for so long. Do you know any gossip about the Jennings Family?"

Moira scoffed. "Not interested."

As if she hadn’t heard a word, Flora plunged on excitedly, "I just heard about this myself! Apparently, Shane Jennings has a cousin. They say Master Jennings gave Shane an ultimatum: if he doesn’t get married, the Jennings Family is going to pick a new heir."

Moira laughed nonchalantly. "Is that so?"

’Serves him right!’