by Rosie Praks
“I knew it. Avocado? What are you doing here? Stalking me?”
“What?” Clarice almost burst out laughing. “I don’t have any stalking genes in me, thank you very much,” she said. “Now, would you please back off a bit? You’re squeezing me into the wall here.”
“Ahhh, I’m so happy, Avocado. Must be my lucky day to see you all the way out here,” Hunter said teasingly, his mood lightened up all of a sudden. He couldn’t believe his lovesickness with his mysterious goddess could be cured in a matter of seconds when he saw the avocado.
“Let go,” Clarice yelled when Hunter refused to unpin her from his body, but he also gripped her hands too. “And give me back my mask and glasses.”
“No. Why were you wearing these?” Hunter asked, suspicious. “Were you planning on stealing something?”
Hunter knew thieves these days came in all shapes and forms. He knew Clarice wasn’t one to steal, but he wanted to ruffle her feathers a bit.
“I am not a thief. I just don’t want to see your face, that’s all.”
“Really? You don’t want to see this handsome face?”
“Handsome?” Clarice scoffed. “Have you checked yourself in the mirror yet? You look like a sparrow just decided to house her babies in your hair. Did you even brush it this morning?” she retorted.
“It’s style, avocado,” Hunter said smoothly, running his hand through his short hairstyle in a cool posture. “It’s new fashion. Old people like you wouldn’t know.”
“Really?” Clarice quirked one of her eyebrows as a challenge. “Young kids these days sporting that kind of hair style?”
“Yeah. You got a problem with that?”
“No, just asking, since it looks really good on you,” Clarice replied. “Just add a week’s worth of stubble; then you have yourself a barbaric caveman.”
“Hah? A barbaric caveman. That’s a good one.” Hunter laughed. “And you look like a medieval old woman who just had a roll in the hay.” He motioned to her crinkled blouse, which he had just noticed for the first time. What had she been doing last night to be in this condition?
“Hunter!” Clarice had enough of this bickering. Of course her clothes were all wrinkled because of what happened last night with Anton.
“What? Giving up your verbal fight already?” he asked slyly.
Clarice was fuming underneath her cool demeanor, but since she was the older one, she had to compose herself like a responsible adult would when the younger party refused to back down.
“Hasn’t anyone ever told you not to argue with adults?” she asked.
“I don’t consider you an adult. After all, you’re just an avocado,” Hunter said.
“You!” Clarice clamped her mouth shut again. She knew if she continued to converse with Hunter, she could guarantee colorful profanity would come gushing out of her lips. There was no use talking to him at all.
“I’m leaving,” she said.
“Wait! I haven’t finished playing with you yet,” Hunter said, holding her in place.
“I’m not a toy, Hunter. Go and find someone else for your amusement.” She struggled within his grasp.
“I don’t want to find another. You’re amusing enough already. I want to continue playing with you,” Hunter confessed, not really understanding what he meant by that himself.
“Dear heavens, let me ask you something.” She stopped her struggling and took a deep breath, then turned her eyes toward Hunter.
“What is it?” Hunter asked, surprised.
“Don’t you have anything to do in life?” Clarice began her lecture. “Why are you constantly annoying me all the time like this? Why don’t you take your time to help society or contribute to the community or something? You have a job, right? Why do I always see you wandering around like you have nothing to do? I’m telling you; stop this wayward style of yours. It doesn’t benefit anyone, especially yourself.”
“Clarice, stop.” Hunter didn’t like hearing about his wayward, Casanova life. It just hurt. He knew he was stupid. He knew his behavior was beyond repair, but how could he stop? He just needed a human body to make him go to sleep. Last night was the very first night he had sleep soundly, after sharing intimate moments with his mysterious goddess.
“No, you need to hear this.” Clarice continued. “I know we’re still strangers, even though I feel like I’ve known you like a lifetime already, but please, just stop it with that—”
“Clarice, stop!” Hunter repeated.
But Clarice didn’t pay Hunter any heed as she continued with her lecture. “I mean, what happens if you get someone pregnant?”
“Clarice, stop talking now!” Hunter demanded, his voice increasing another octave.
But Clarice didn’t notice his temper darkening, so she just continued lecturing him. “Will you marry her? Will you change your Casanova ways? How are you going to support her? I’m only telling you this as a big sister would because you are younger than—”
Hunter snapped. And to shut her up, he crushed his lips onto hers, forcing her to stop talking, forcing her to stop lecturing him. But by God, it was delicious. It felt like last night with his mysterious goddess all over again.
The taste, the scent, the heat of those lips, it was all turning his mind to a puddle. He couldn’t think, couldn’t speak, but just continued to take and enjoy while he punished her with his tongue, invading her territory. His mysterious goddess, this was his mysterious goddess. Oh God, he was kissing his mysterious goddess again.
“Shit!” Hunter pulled back when reality came crashing back into him. This was not his mysterious goddess; it was actually Clarice, the avocado woman who was older than him by seven years.
He saw Clarice staring up at him with a blank expression like she was in some sort of trance. Her lips were all swollen from his invading kiss.
Then he saw her long, beautiful, slender fingers caressing her own swollen lips, moving ever so slowly on those lips he had just ravished with his hungry kiss. Hunter swallowed, wanting very much to kiss those lips again.
“You kissed me,” she said blankly. “Why did you kiss me?” Then, as if she had awakened from her stupor, she fluttered her eyes open and stared at him as if she just saw him for the first time. The situation finally sank in, and she fled the scene.
“I… I…” Hunter couldn’t form a cohesive sentence. He was confused at the moment. He couldn’t understand why he was kissing the avocado. The first time at the restaurant was an accident. This time it was not.
Wracking his brain for a simple explanation, he just couldn’t come up with any as he watched her once again flee down the stairs with her hair tossing behind her, just like the very first time she had fled from him when she’d delivered those flowers to his townhouse the day before Valentine’s.
For once, the king of Casanovas was at a loss for words.
Chapter 18
Max tiptoed to the door of the hotel suite he shared with his cousin, then turned the door handle slowly. He poked his head in first. His eyes scanned the lounge. All clear. No traces of his cousin anywhere. Must be busy making babies. He grinned at his own thought.
It was actually Max’s plan all along when he had begged Clarice to come to Queenstown after finishing all his midterm exams. He really wanted to help her get that sperm. He loved his dear cousin very much, and to see her so upset because she was aging and might have no prospect of a husband and family just shattered his heart.
Max knew his cousin wouldn’t take the first step in seducing Anton. She was too well mannered, so he’d resorted to this tactic instead.
When he mentioned to Clarice earlier yesterday that he was going out exploring, in actual fact, he went to do some networking. Max knew he was going to be a big businessman one day, with lots of influence from around the world, and so he went to start his networking then. And the information he found just slotted right into his plan. Anton Silverton would be holding an entertaining party at Torque for his VIP guests that night, so he knew h
e must take action then.
During dinner at The Burger, he had informed his cousin that she should wait at his friends’ suite in Night Love Hotel so he could get some midnight snacks before they all headed off to the Gondola to check out some nightlife. But what she didn’t know was he’d planned to take Anton to her room and lock them inside together so they could do their business.
Afterwards, he had stayed out all night, checking out the night scene with his friends until he was so exhausted that he stayed over at their place. Now it was approaching 10:00 a.m., and it looked like his cousin still hadn’t returned to their suite yet.
They must really be having fun, Max thought. At last her dream had come true. She must be really happy now. He was happy for her too. Soon he would have another nephew or niece to play with—even better, twins. He wondered what prize he would receive for being a cupid like this.
Still grinning like an idiot, Max closed the door and made a turn when—
Smack! A pillow flew into his face.
“Max, you rascal. Why did you do that?” Clarice came charging out of her bedroom with another pillow in hand, which she threw at Max also.
“Aaaaahhhhhh. Cuz,” Max screamed at his cousin who had now been transformed into a wild boar.
He had heard many times from Elise and Whitney that his cousin had a tendency to turn into a boar when she’s upset, but he’d never experienced it firsthand. But now he really didn’t want to experience it at all as he made dodges and turns just so he could escape her flared temper. “I’m sorry, okay. I thought you would be happy that I arranged it for you,” he managed to say through his escape.
“Why the hell didn’t you tell me? You set me up, you rascal?” She ran after him again.
They both stopped for a few minutes to catch their breath before proceeding with their chase again.
“Clarice stop,” Max shouted at her. He was puffed out of air. This was ridiculous. Why were they running and screaming at the same time? What a waste of energy. They should just talk civilly. “Let’s just talk like adults, okay?”
“Fi… fi… finnne.” Clarice was also puffed out air. She walked to the couch and collapsed. Max did the same.
“That was exhausting. I haven’t run like that in ages,” Clarice said.
“You should exercise more, cuz,” Max said. “Exercise is good for you.”
“Don’t try to change the subject.” Clarice glared at her cousin once her breath was intact again. “You want to talk like an adult? Let’s talk like adults, then.”
“Fine. I’m sorry. I thought you would be happy I did that for you.”
“Max, I just don’t understand how you would think it would make me happy. Yes, I have a desire to have his sperm. I was going to ask him nicely for it, so he could donate it to me. If he says no, then I’ll just look for another option. I don’t want to steal it.”
“I’m sorry, okay,” Max said sadly. “I just want you to be happy, that’s all. I love you, Clarice. You’re the only one that’s very close to me, despite our age difference. And I moved all the way to Auckland just to look after you.”
Clarice couldn’t help giving in to her cousin when he talked about his life like that.
“Oh, Max. Stop it with the sad face. Come here.” She hugged him. “I appreciate that you care and love me. I love you too. But this is very important. We’re talking about a person’s life here. I don’t feel it’s right to do this. Plus, I have my own value. I don’t want to devalue myself just for the sake of the sperm. Perhaps it’s my fault too for putting my problems into your hands. I’m sorry for that, so next time, if you have some elaborate plan that involves messing in other people’s lives, I think it’s best to talk to that person first. Do you agree?”
“Okay,” Max said, still looking sad. “Do you forgive me, then?” he asked with unshed tears in his eyes. He knew after Clarice had said all that, it did make some sense. He was being too hasty in helping his cousin that he forgot to take into account her feelings. He just assumed she would be happy that she got her sperm. But he should have known that Clarice had class and dignity. She valued her innocence more than anything. So he was wrong and he admitted it.
“I forgive you. But promise me before you start interfering in other people’s lives, ask their permission first.”
“I promise.” He smiled. And then they both hugged each other again.
Later that night after dinner, Clarice was sitting at the dining table, rubbing her lips profusely.
“Urrr? Cuz?” Max asked from behind when he noticed his cousin rubbing her pouty lips all red and raw.
“Mmmm?” Clarice answered while still unconsciously rubbing.
“Why are you rubbing your lips like that?” he asked in concern. “Did you eat something wrong? Or did a bee sting your lips?”
“Huh? Huh? What? Of course not. No, nothing.” Clarice turned away from Max’s prying eyes. “I’m going to bed now.”
“What? Cuz.” Max stepped in her way to block her path, drawing his eyes forward to examine her lips. “They look really red, cuz. It looks like someone kissed you.” Then his eyes popped wide open at the realization. “Shit, did Anton eat your lips or something?”
“Max!” Clarice clamped his mouth shut. “Don’t say things like that.”
“Did he? Did he kiss you?”
“Max, I am not having this conversation with you. I’m tired. Would you just go to your room now? I’m going to sleep.”
“Don’t give me that excuse,” Max said. “Your face is all red. He kissed you, didn’t he? And he gave you that sperm!”
“Of course he did. You set us up, didn’t you?” Clarice let her tongue loose, and before she realized it, Max had dragged her to the comfy couch and demanded she tell him the whole story.
“Aren’t you too young to listen to this kind of story?” She was about to leap off the couch again, but Max’s arms were firmly on her shoulders, holding her in place.
“Come on, cuz. Just spill a bit,” Max pleaded with puppy dog eyes. He knew Elise and Whitney couldn’t resist those eyes so he was sure it would work on his cousin too.
“There is nothing to tell. I’m going to bed,” Clarice said quickly, then ran off to her room, but Max’s voice still drifted into her room when she’d closed the door.
“Someone’s shy right now,” Max teased her from the other side. “Ooo-la-la.”
“Shut up. Don’t make that stupid noise. You are so annoying. Go to bed now,” she shouted. “We’re leaving early tomorrow morning, so go to sleep.”
“Aye, aye, Clarice cuz. See you tomorrow morning all bright-eyed and fluffy-tailed. Hope you have a good dream about that baby of yours. I so can’t wait to have a nephew or a niece,” Max said.
Once she was sure Max had gone off to his room, she sank to the floor, her knees weak.
Dear heavens! So many things had happened to her in the last twenty-four hours. Getting confessed to by Anton that he wanted her, sleeping with Anton, and then getting kissed by that Casanova Hunter.
“Urrggggg…” Clarice moaned as she felt her heart beating for both men. “Why oh why did that Casanova have to kiss me?”
Chapter 19
The slim woman in the four-inch heels strode along the hallway to the head office of Silverton Hotel like she was parading on a catwalk, her gait sly like a panther stalking her target. She dismissed anyone who got in her way, only heading toward her destination, which lay hidden in the private sector of the hotel. Her target: the young heir of Silverton Enterprises, Hunter Silverton.
Winton, who was busy dashing between errands for Anton Silverton, just stood in the hallway, watching her glide past him, his mouth gaping open in awe as he admired her beauty. She was a sight to behold all right, with her long, glorious fiery red hair cascading all the way down to her waist.
Winton didn’t realize he was gawking and drool was forming on the corner of his lips until she slid past him toward the restricted staff-only area. Blinking a few times
for his wayward mind to return back to reality, he clamped his mouth shut, swiped the drool off the side of his chin, and raced to catch up to the beauty that had caught his eyes.
“Miss, I’m sorry, but you can’t pass this area. This is a no patron area. Only staff is allowed in here,” he said sweetly by way of blocking her passage with his body.
The woman gazed at him under her lashes. “But I have someone I need to see. Can’t you let me in? It’s very important.”
Winton couldn’t handle being spoken to like this. He felt his legs turning into jelly. He always had a soft spot for sweet beauty like this woman here.
“I’m sorry, miss, but I can’t.”
“Really?” she asked, her eyes twinkling with sadness, her lips pouting. And she even batted her eyelashes again just for effect.
“I… I could get that person for you.” Winton tried to woo her and stood a little straighter so he could look manlier.
For someone who was on par with Anton Silverton, the same age and everything, Winton couldn’t help feeling inferior to the man. Where Anton was blessed with thick brown hair, Winton was starting to turn into a silvery grey fox, what with the silver lining on his temple already. And it didn’t look good either when there was a potbelly on its way too. He needed to get those extra pounds off if he wanted to attract any woman at all. He just needed a beautiful woman to motivate him to do this. And he just hoped this woman in front of him here would be his prize for losing all that extra weight.
“I… can’t.” Winton still stood his ground. “Who do you need? I can call for him. You can just—”
Blue blazes, the woman was winding her arms around him, and Winton almost peed in his pants. He had never been this close to a beautiful creature before. He couldn’t even think straight, let alone react. This was outside the bounds of their office rules. No sexual conduct in Silverton Enterprises between strangers or office workers. She was a stranger, but he had no doubt he’d just broken the rules.