Chapter 375
His proximity sent her pulse racing, and she jerked back to the present moment, retreating two quick steps to establish breathing room. Heat climbed her neck and bloomed across her cheeks. On the yacht, Merlin had laid his intentions bare—he wanted her as his woman. Though she’d rejected him without hesitation, she couldn’t erase what had transpired between them. Standing face-to-face with him again made her skin crawl with discomfort.
Honestly, she wished she could avoid him entirely, sever any connection before it deepened. Yet, their brief history told a different story—twice they’d crossed paths, and twice he’d become her unexpected savior. He’d carried her down five flights on that yacht, and yesterday at the Craig family’s engagement celebration, he’d shielded her from humiliation with fierce determination.
She owed him everything and had repaid him with teeth marks on his wrist. Turning him away now would brand her as the worst kind of ingrate. Despite her internal turmoil, she forced her features into a strained smile. “Mr. Blakely… Please, come inside.”
Merlin studied her with eyes that seemed to see straight through her facade. When she extended the invitation, he inclined his head with quiet grace. “Thank you.”
He moved toward Loftus’s Comfort Eats with measured steps. Hailee maintained her careful distance, trailing behind him like a reluctant shadow.
Once they stepped inside, Briggs appeared from the kitchen’s steamy depths. The sight of Merlin in his impeccable attire prompted an immediate bow of respect. “Sir, have you come for our spaghetti?”
Merlin had arrived with plans to whisk Hailee away, but stepping into the cozy restaurant awakened an unexpected hunger that made his stomach contract with longing. He offered Briggs a polite nod. “I have.”
Briggs puffed up with pride, convinced by neighborhood chatter that his culinary reputation had reached the city’s elite circles, drawing powerful men to sample his humble creations at this modest establishment.
“Hailee, get these tables and chairs sorted immediately!” Briggs commanded with newfound authority.
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Hailee chose not to enlighten her father about Merlin’s identity, simply murmuring her acknowledgment before beginning to work.
Merlin cut an incongruous figure against the restaurant’s worn furnishings, his tailored suit worth more than most people’s annual salary. He watched Hailee navigate between tables, fighting the urge to assist her directly, and instead caught Lucas’s attention with a subtle gesture.
Lucas read the signal perfectly, rolled up his sleeves, and joined Hailee’s efforts without hesitation.
Hailee startled at his approach. “Please, sir, be careful not to dirty your clothes!”
Lucas flashed her a disarming grin. “Don’t worry about it, Ms. Loftus. Many hands make light work, and Mr. Blakely prefers efficiency.” He turned to the bodyguards with mock severity. “What are you waiting for? Lend a hand!”
The security team descended upon the scattered chairs and tables with military precision.
With so many helpers, Hailee found herself redundant, reduced to watching Merlin’s entourage transform chaos into order.
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