Chapter 302


    Chapter 302


    Curtis grabbed his car keys, hoisted the cat into the passenger seat, and said, “Let’s go. I’ll drive


    you two.”


    Leanne, remembering his previous disdain for the cat, couldn’t help but tease, “Are you not worried


    about it plotting your murder anymore?”


    “How many grievances have you scribbled down against me in your world?” Curtis. chuckled,


    unabashed, “You’ll be disappointed, though. Before you arrived, we had quite the heart-to-heart and


    decided to bury the hatchet.”


    He was shameless to the extreme.


    Leanne replied skeptically, “Sure, except you’re allergic.”


    Sneezing and coughing were the least of his worries. A severe reaction could even trigger allergic


    rhinitis or asthma, and he had broken out in hives before.


    She reached out to take the cat, but Curtis, leaning against the car door, blocked her.


    “What’s the matter, trying to break us up?” he used with a stern look. “We’ve bonded, you cold-


    hearted woman.”


    Leanne nced at him expressionlessly and withdrew her hand, “Then you keep it.


    Curtis didn’t flinch, “A kitten needs its mom.”


    What a nonsense!


    Leanne retorted, “You’re crazy.”


    “I’m not even afraid of allergies. What are you scared of?” Curtis closed the door, then opened the


    passenger side for her, pulling her in.


    “Don’t you think you should buy it some stuff? A cab driver won’t apany you to a pet store.”


    “Whatever you want,” Leanne gave up struggling and got into the car, “Just don’te crying to me if


    you have an allergic reaction.”


    The cat, frightened by the car ride, meowed incessantly from its carrier.


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    Leanne spoke to it softly and patiently.


    The cat trusted her, quieting down at the sound of her voice. But as soon as she paused, it started


    meowing anxiously again.


    Leanne had to keep talking to it, responding every time it meowed.


    Curtis, in the driver’s seat, stayed silent, his expression hidden by a mask. Leanne thought he was


    focused on driving until a soft chuckle came from beneath his mask.


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    Chapter 302


    She looked over.


    At a red light, Curtis slowly pressed the brake. Sensing her gaze, he nced at her with the corner of


    his eye.


    “Why stop chatting?”


    Embarrassed by his remark, Leanne felt a bit silly.


    “Run out of topics?” Curtis helpfully suggested, “Why not tell it about our wildlyplicated love story?”


    Leanne was at a loss for words. She turned her face to the window, refusing to engage further.


    Inside the pet superstore, they found everything a cat could need. Leanne, busy with work and


    asionally on call, bought an automatic feeder, a smart litter box, and other essentials like food and


    litter.


    Curtis, inexplicably leisurely, insisted on apanying her through the aisles, a veritable minefield of


    allergens for him even with a mask. Soon enough, his nose began to itch.


    The items were plentiful and heavy. Upon arriving at Golden Grove Manors, Mr. Curtis yed the


    porter, lugging everything upstairs.


    His unsolicited helpfulness led, predictably, to another allergic reaction.


    After Leanne settled the cat and came out of the room, she found him at the sink, washing his hands,


    his arms flushed red.


    At the sight of her, Curtis asked, “Got any cream?”


    Considering his efforts, Leanne went to fetch the ointment.


    Handing it over, she noticed Curtis eyeing the familiar tube of allergy cream, a subtle shift in his


    expression.


    “What’s up?” she checked thebel, making sure it was the correct one.


    “Nah.” Curtis tried to sound serious, “Just remembered something.”


    He reached for the cream.


    Leanne’s ears, inexplicably, turned a vivid red.


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    Her lips were pursed tightly. Suddenly flustered, she threw the tube at him.


    Curtis’ eyes darkened as he flung the cream onto a nearby table, advancing closer and pinning her


    against the cab.


    She tried to turn away, but Curtis pulled her back by the waist.


    “Why the blushing?”


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    Chapter 302


    His earlier odd expression reminded Leanne of a previous and embarrassing moment in Northwood


    when she had applied cream to him.


    Instinctively defensive, she countered, “I’m not!”


    “Red as a tomato. Don’t lie to me.”


    Curtis dropped his gaze to her heated ears, watching the blush deepen, “Leanne, are you trying to


    seduce me?”


    “Don’t tter yourself.” Her eyes were icy, but the spreading pink on her cheeks undermined her cool


    demeanor.


    “Was I ttering myself that day in Northwood too?”


    Her eyshes trembled uncontrobly, brushing against the tumult in Curtis’ chest like a feather stirring


    up desires.


    “That day you wanted me too, right?”


    “I was drunk that day,” Leanne found an excuse.


    “So you admit it?” Curtis probed sharply.


    Leanne was caught off guard.


    Curtis turned her face back to his, his fingers pinching her soft and warm cheeks.


    Her face was burning, nearly hotter than his palm.


    His gaze was intense and implicit, peering into her vulnerable eyes.


    “Leanne, your lips only tell the truth when you’re drunk. They speak honestly and kiss me.” With the


    unclear and rapid pounding in his chest, his burning look felt like a sear on Leanne’s heart.


    She pressed her lips together, looked down, and pushed against his chest, stepping back.


    She avoided Curtis’ gaze, “The cat has been delivered, you should go.”


    Curtis felt a surreal disconnection, as though she was close but unreachable.


    Her face and ears heated for him, her voice cold.


    Time would tell. He reminded himself again.


    Releasing her, he tidied the hair by her ears, wanting to do much more but settling for a brief kiss on


    her forehead.


    “I’lle check on you tomorrow.”


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