Rural Belle & Three Heirs by Harper Hall

Chapter 30 He Wants to Kiss Chloe

Chloe had no inkling that she was exposing more than intended. As she bent over too far, her equilibrium faltered, and she met the ground with a resounding thud. Lying face down, a wave of mortification surged through her how could a lady of the Davis Family make such a spectacle of herself in front of Grant? Grant, catching sight of her mishap, wordlessly reached down and gently lifted her from the ground. Before she knew it, Chloe found herself securely cradled in his arms. The heat radiating from his chest permeated her flimsy nightgown, sending her heart into a wild, erratic rhythm.

She felt lightheaded.

And Grant? He wasn't faring much better. The instant Chloe's scent enveloped him, he battled to maintain his composure. An inexplicable urge to kiss her surged within him, leaving him bewildered by its intensity yet powerless to shake it. "Grantie," Chloe murmured, her cheeks flushing a delicate rose hue.

Grant snapped out of his trance. He had encountered a plethora of women-ravishing, plain, alluring, innocent-yet none had ever unsettled him like Chloe did. His experience was vast, but this slip of a girl, with her naive charm, threw him completely off balance, despite how little he knew of her.

"Your leg's hurt. If you need help, ask Mia. If she's not here, you can come to me. See, trying to be tough got you falling, right?" Grant's voice, usually tinged with icy detachment, softened conspicuously.

This was an anomaly to Chole. Grant was known for his cold, distant demeanor, his words always laced with a dispassionate edge. Yet with her, there was an unexpected tenderness, a gentleness that belied his usual reserve and left her silently questioning the reason behind it.

"Does it hurt?" Grant asked, noticing Chloe's flushed cheeks. With an instinctive concern, he reached out, but she quickly turned her face away, evading his touch. The spark between them was undeniable.

Before coming to Sovereign City, Chloe herself had vowed to avoid entanglements with the young Martins too, hoping that her aloofness would prompt them to call off the

barge in," Chloe said, trying to regain

Grant enough to keep his distance. Yet, to her surprise, he apologized. "My bad. I forgot to

him, only to now lecture him about boundaries in his own former space. The irony was not lost on Grant, yet, he didn't feel petty

time. Did you need something, Grantie?" Chloe

a day off

a fallen ointment bottle and knelt beside her, rolling up her pajama pants to apply it. His long, adept fingers warmed her skin, and his touch was so gentle that she felt no pain, only the turmoil within her.

my classmates to take me out," Chloe replied nervously, her resolve weakening. She couldn't understand why she felt so flustered, but her gut

darkened at her suggestion. "Are you planning to ask

aback. The fact that Grant knew about Philip left her speechless. She suspected

believing it was his duty to ensure Chloe's safety since Louis had brought her into the family. He was intent on eliminating any

or Mica." Chloe said quickly, dropping the names of her female classmates