Chapter 40
The order was placed, and soon, their steals aired–perfectly seared, sizzling on cast from plates, with wisps of steam rising into the air. The rich aroma of butter and herbs filled the booth. The whole scene screamed indulgence…
Samantha glanced across the table at Leonardo. Having someone to pack on extra calories with made her feel surprisingly better. Besides, after spending a small fortune on this meal, s be an idiot not to eat her money’s worth
She was happily thing into her steak when Leonardo’s voice cut through the moment, smooth yet unmistakably amused. “I thought you weren’t that hungry.”
The excuse she’dod earlier had just come back to slap her in the face.
Feeling awkward, she slowly set her life and fock down. “I just got a little hungry earlier. But I’m full now. Please dig in without me
Heatched his brow, dearly entertained. “I fell ton.”
“What about all this food? Are you just going to let it go to waste?”
she’d
“That’s such a waste!“
“Why don’t you —‘
“Forget i lelp you finish it!”
Leonardo was about to offer her a way out, but apparently, she didn’t need one. She’d be her own escape route and walked right through it. Hence, he simply sat there and watched as she
By the time they left the restaurant, Samantha wasn’t just stuffed–she was financially wounded. She wasn’t sure if she’d be able to sleep without shadding a few tears that night. Slumped in the passenger seat of Leonardo’s sports car, she turned to him, her face etched with genuine sincerity. “So are you willing to help me now?“
“But I bought you dinner!”
“Lie’s not that easy. That one meal isn’t enough to buy me off.”
Samantha owned her gaze, fiddling with the hem of her sleeve. She was growing impatient. Eventually, she blurted out, “Then, what exactly do I have to do to get you to help me? “That’s something you’ll have to figure out on your ow
“But I don’t even know where to start”
o you want me to point you in the right action?”
she nodded eagerly.
Leonardo’s gaze darkened, and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. His grip on the steering wheel tigh
tightened just a fraction
mantha kept hat eyes locked on him, full of curiony “Can’t you tell me?
Samantha blinded Soon? What was that supposed to mean? He could’ve just told her about it right then but instead of answering, he fell silent.
After a smooth turn, the car dilled effortlessly into a parking space. The movement was so seamless and sharp that Samantha barely had time to process it belure she heard a click. Sha turned her head, confused, unly to find Leonardo had already unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned toward
His stilling face inched closet, and lips were just about to touch her when her tellenes kicked in. Het hunk shot up, owing her mouth. “You can’t!”
His pare dained. “Why not?”
“Late garlic when we had didel
Tur ait between them went still (onardo just stated at her, while Samantha blinked back at him, innocent
Without another word, Leonardo pulled back, exhaled sharply, and pushed open the car door. “Tiweda smoke.” Samantha watched as he stepped out onto the empty street.
רון
widę ryed. Second ticked by in heavy rain.
He stood beneath the dim glow of a streetlamp, his tall frame straight as he lit a cigarette. The flame flicketed before he took a slow dag, the tip glowing in the dark. Smoke curled around his lips as he exhaled, and there was something cold about the way he stood there.
Samantha lowered her head, nervously playing with her fingers. The auth was, she’d indeed eaten gale during dinner. Her bath probably wasn’t ideall at that moment
Hot she also knew that wasn’t the real reason the stopped him.
She wasn’t used to this kind of imacy. They weren’t in a relationship. She’d never even had a boyfriend before. This was too much, too fast, and too unfamiliar. Most of all, she had no idea what Leonardo’s actions actually meant, and she wasn’t naive enough to think it was love-
