Love's New Bloom by Simone Hastings

Chapter 49 Awkward Encounter

“What?” Erin thought she misheard him.

Her surprise looked like disappointment in Caleb’s eyes. If he had made the right guess, that wouldn’t be her reaction.

He lowered his gaze and said calmly, “It’s nothing. I was just joking.”

“Joking?”

Erin was still a little confused, but Caleb had already changed the topic. “What would you like to eat? I’ve already ordered some food. Have some with me. If you don’t think it’s enough, we can order more.”

Erin shook her head at Caleb, who passed the menu to her. She said, “It’s my treat! You paid for coffee last time.”

Caleb found it hard to accept her way of thinking. He said with a smile, “You don’t have to count down to the penny with me. Do you think I’d be so broke that I can’t afford to buy you a meal? If that’s the case, it would humiliate me as the director!

Erin immediately explained, “Mr. Grant, don’t take this the wrong way! That’s not my intention! I just think that as colleagues, we should pay for ourselves.”

What she said instantly drew a line between them. Caleb’s hand that was picking his glass of water up stiffened in midair. He looked at Erin for a long while, speechless. Naturally, he looked unpleasant. When he came to his senses, he took a sip of water and placed the glass down.

He sighed and said, “You don’t have to reject me so fast. I’ve already said that I’ll wait for you to deal with your relationships.”

Erin didn’t know what else to say. She felt if she were to continue being overly polite with him, it would hurt him, so she merely smiled at

Caleb and remained silent. 1

When the food was served, they ate in silence.

Right at that moment, lan and Tracy exited the booth to pay for their meal. Walking past the open seating area, they noticed Erin and Caleb sitting by the window.

Tracy sneered and said, “lan, look at how desperate Erin is. She has barely divorced you, yet she has already found a new lover.”

no longer pretend he didn’t see them, even if he wanted to. After all, they were in public, and he didn’t want to get into an argument

Tracy grit her teeth. She knew that what

and Tracy right at that moment. When she saw

and placed her cutlery down.

was dressed in a

had already guessed who they were. He ignored them and merely placed a piece of steak

at how thin you’ve

him that this good–looking man liked Erin! His suppressed anger was instantly raging. He walked over to Erin and said mockingly, “Erin, what a coincidence! Who is he? Shouldn’t you

Caleb stood up and reached his right hand out, saying, “Hello, I’m Erin’s friend.

at Caleb’s hand and shook it out

From what I can remember, I

ex–wife. It’s only normal that you won’t know

have an interesting friend, but how come he doesn’t even know you don’t like beef? Turns out your friendship is not

said. Erin was also speechless, being put on

it no longer interesting. He said, “Have a nice meal. We’re leaving.”

little angry at him for not introducing her

left, Erin looked at Caleb and forced a smile. “I’m sorry you had

and looked at her. He said with a guilty tone. “I’m sorry, I don’t even know what you like to eat.”

since I’ve never told you.

his excitement and asked her seriously.

gotten divorced from lan, she no longer

nodded.

to grab her hand. “Congratulations!” he said excitedly. “You’re free! Erin, please don’t reject

please?”

by Caleb’s sudden confession.

by when this happened, and he witnessed the entire scene. He

a lakeout box in his

furrowed his brow. He thought that since Erin had already become Mr. Frost’s woman, how could she still be