Dominic smiled. Did Vespera think he was the one she should avoid?


    Vespera dared not meet his gaze and lowered her head, "I have ns in the aftermonis, so I''ll go for lunch now,"


    This time, she did not ask whether she could trave, Instead, she decisively turned to leave the nom


    Dominic was an excellent kisser. His kiss was enough to make her melt.


    But Dominie had always been a man who could charm any woman. As long as he put his mind to it, he could make any woman his. It would be a plece of cake.


    But Vespera truly no longer had the energy to go against the world past to have another man in her life.


    conherlips had not faded away, and his scent was still


    Once Vespera returned to the restaurant, she sat down and reached for a ss of water. The numbness on berlip suponding her like a ding.


    As Vespera drank her water in a daze, she heard Rebament softly. "It''s only been 20 minutes. Is that all Mr. Reid needed?"


    Vespera choked on her water.


    Calvert spoke to Gerard. "Do you think she took the lead? Most likely, right?"


    "Oh... What I meant was their conversation didn''t take long. Your mind was in the gutter!" Reba waved it off withagrin.


    Vespera was speechless, she would prefer If Reba stopped exining. She was making things worse


    Calvert was rather protective of Dominie. "I can prove that Mr. Held definitely can go for


    more than 20 minutes! Am right, Gerard?"


    Realizing that Gerard had not responded, Calvert turned back and eximed, "Gerard, say something!"


    Gerard looked pitiful. How could he even prove that?


    Reba was extremely entertained. Any difort she had from her diarrhea was mostly gone. "Oh, you two know about that! Not bad! That means you both had ago with him before?"


    Taken aback by Reba''s words, Calvert instantly went quiet.


    "Calven, don''t be shy." Reba reached out to pinch his cheek,


    "Reba!" Embarrassed, Byron pulled Reba back "Bve, won''t you? You''re embarrassing me!


    "How could you say that? Reba pinched Byron''s check instead. "You''re not on my side, huh? How dare you lecture me?"


    vespera had no idea whether to cry orugh, so she continued drieideg her water. Thanks to Byron, she was nowpletely sober.


    Lunch was almost ever, but there was no sign of Dominic. He probably didn''t n on showing up at all.


    Then, Calvert''s phone rang. He answered the call, hummed in response, and got up to leave the restaurant.


    "I''m outside. Tell me what to do."


    "No need to follow me in the afternoon. Help me keep an eye on her, and don''t let her get into danger."


    "Mr. Reid, I don''t understand Why don''t you tell Vespera what you''re up to? Aren''t you two doing the same thing? Why must you go your separate ways?


    "she doesn''t want to owe me anything, she''s afraid I''ll demand favors from her for helping ber. She can do whatever she likes on her own.


    "okay, got it. Since you''ll always back her up, Vespera can do whatever she likes, right?"


    "Something like that."


    "But Mr. Held, what favors would you even ask of her?"


    "That''s all from me. Call me if anything happens." Domine ended the call ruthlessly without giving an answer.


    Calvert tucked his phone away in his pocket while wondering about the question that went unanswered.


    In the restaurant, Vespera sat next to Gerard and asked tentatively, "If Mr. Reid isn''t here for a date, what are his ns in Ashford? Did he tell you? Is he here to meet some mysterious big shot?


    Gerard answered, "I told you that I still have no idea, would you believe me? Vespera nodded. "Of course. You have no reason to be to me."


    Gerard asked, "Then, what brings you and Ms. Snyder here? You two even brought Byron along. Mr. Chandler saw you two getting into his car this moming and assured you were dating him. All of us thought he was your boyfriend."