Chapter 0037
Was it possible… that Elijah was the man I had slept with all those years ago?
The thought made my heart pound for reasons I wasn’t quite willing to admit. But I pushed those thoughts away, Instead focusing on the present.
Retracing my steps, I headed back toward the shopping center and made my way inside. There was nothing I really wanted, but to maintain appearances, I decided to purchase something anyway. Spotting a pretzel kiosk near the entrance, I joined the short
line.
“One salted pretzel, please,” I ordered when it was my turn.
As the vendor prepared my order, my gaze drifted to a nearby stand displaying an assortment of books and trinkets. Without much thought, I picked up a book with a colorful cover and added it to my purchase, just to make my little shopping trip more believable. I didn’t look at the title, and barely even glanced at the cover. I didn’t read much these days, anyway.
“Have a great day,” the vendor said, handing me the pretzel and my bag.
“Thank you,” I replied, clutching the items as I made my way back to where the driver was parked on the street. I took a big bite of my pretzel, savoring the salty taste. A little treat like this was welcome after everything, to be honest.
But as I approached the car, I nearly dropped my pretzel on the sidewalk. There, leaning casually against the sleek black vehicle, was Elijah. He was engaged in conversation with Thomas, his expression relaxed and his arms folded.
“Elijah?” I blurted out, my heart hammering in my chest. Did he follow me, I wondered? Did he know that I went to the DNA testing center?
Elijah turned at the sound of my voice. “Agnes. Fancy meeting you here.”
“What… what are you doing here?” I stammered, trying to steady my racing heart.
“I was passing by and spotted the car,” he explained with a shrug. “Thought I’d check in.”
“Oh,” I said, forcing a smile. Thank the Goddess; he didn’t seem to know what I had really been up to. “That’s… thoughtful.”
He glanced at the bag in my hand. “Find anything interesting?”
“Just a snack,” I replied, holding up the pretzel. “Care for a bite?”
He shook his head. “No, thank you.”
An awkward silence settled between us. Finally, he gestured toward his car. “Ready to head back? We can go together.”
“Sure,” I agreed.
We made our way over to Elijah’s car, which was parked nearby. I avoided his gaze as he opened the door for me and I settled into the passenger seat. A moment later, he circled around and climbed into the driver’s seat. The soft hum of the engine filled the
+15 BONUS
quiet as we pulled away from the curb.
“So, what else did you buy?” he asked, glancing at my bag as we pulled up to a nearby traffic light and came to a stop.
alk around more than
“Just a few things,” I said nonchalantly, taking a small bite of my pretzel. “I really just wanted to
anything.
He nodded slowly. “Mind if I see?”
Before I could protest, he reached over and gently took the bag from my lap. Not that I cared; it was just a book.
He pulled out the book, his eyes scanning the cover. Suddenly, his ears turned a deep shade of red, and he quickly looked away,
clearing his throat.
Perplexed, I frowned. “What is it?”
He handed the book back to me without meeting my gaze. “Nothing. Just… interesting choice.”
Confused, I looked down at the book in my hands. My eyes widened in horror as I took in the image: a shirtless man with rippling
muscles, a woman draped over him, their lips locked passionately.
The bold title on the cover read: “Desire’s Embrace.”
Instantly, I felt my face turn beet red. I’d purchased… a smut novel
