In the Lap of Luxury by Unsweetened Chestnuts

Xander glanced at her after he finished speaking. What he meant was evident enough.

Grace tightened her grip on the seatbelt as she calmly asked, "What did you want to tell me? Was it something that could be done with just a call?"

Xander replied, "You only had Luke with you. I was worried that you might have been forced to drink."

Grace asked, "You were the one who introduced Mr. Thorne to me. Don't you know the kind of person he is?"

Xander answered, "He's a gentleman. He wouldn't make it hard for you."

Grace continued, "Then you still-"

"I wanted to see you."

Xander tilted his head and looked at her as he made it clear. "Would you be able to accept this answer?"

Grace was stunned. She was clearly surprised.

She replied, "We just met yesterday."

"Meeting once isn't enough for some people."

Xander glanced over at the rearview mirror and drove out of the city center. He then slowed the car down and stopped by the roadside.

Grace asked, "Why did you stop the car?"

somewhere further down when I came over earlier. They haven't cleared up the road yet, so I figured

glove compartment. There was only a pack

to stop him and said, "This is

Xander took out a cigarette and held

said, "Light it

clear and

lighter and lit it up. The flame

smoke in

was looking after me in Pamore. I just

his cigarette and tossed the lighter

she had been married to Benjamin. But none of the Hawkinses

was too mild for him. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to

the window

I did it willingly. Even you're blaming me

thought what things might have been like if

the ending wasn't the best, at least I was

regret it, even though the Hawkins family and

down and begged, "Can you

continued, "Are you regretting it, or do you still

was pressing on. Perhaps the smoke was too strong, but Grace

rubbing

not. It's just