The Devil CEO's Contract Wife - Chapter 228: There’s A Hottie In Town

Chapter 228: There’s A Hottie In Town

My breath shuddered before I forced myself to look away. I stepped out of my room, suddenly thirsty, but I halted when I caught Esme’s door half open.

“Esme?” I pushed the wood, poking my head to see. “Sweetie?”

Esme wasn’t on her bed, so when I walked in fully, I found her at the window nook, eyeing the house across the street while nibbling on her nails.

She flinched when she heard me and jumped on her bed using the covers to hide.

“You saw nothing!”

My mouth hung open for a while. I’m startled.

I cleared my throat and sat on the bed, pulling the covers to reveal her face.

“Am I in trouble?”

“You were watching that house, weren’t you?”

“Mister King lives there, doesn’t he?”

Mister King?

I couldn’t help it as a smile touched my lips.

“I think so… maybe. But peeking is bad.” I pinched her little nose.

“Can I see him tomorrow?”

My heart skipped a beat. “W-Why?”

“Because I have questions for him.”

“What kind of questions?”

“Not for you, but Mister King! So I’m not telling.” She shook her head.

“Alright,” I raised my hand in surrender. “I won’t ask anymore.”

“Well? Can I meet him?”

I have never seen her so eager for something before.

I hesitated for a moment, but those big, bright blue eyes were something I couldn’t resist. It had its way of making me do things even though I didn’t want to.

“I’ll ask him.”

She smiled broadly, showing me her missing front teeth. I don’t think I have ever seen her more excited.

“But under one condition. No more peeking at that house.”

“I will if you don’t.”

“What?”

“I saw you…” she whispered. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”

I gasped before tickling her, and her giggles filled the room like a gift.

~☆~

“I heard there’s a new hottie in town.”

I paused before facing Maria, who handed me the tray of freshly baked donuts, and I slid them into the glass display case.

“Really?” I stated, hoping I could brush the conversation because I knew which hottie she was talking about.

Ares has only been here yesterday and already created that impression. His presence has always had an immersive effect.

“What do you mean, really? He literally lives across from your house. I’m sure you could have taken a good look at those goods.”

I shrugged, hoping she would stop talking, but this was Maria.

“So! Tell me, I hope your nosey neighbour charm is put to good use. We need as much info as possible.”

“Um, no?” I walked the other way, and she followed. “You of all people should know that I was only nosey because of those insane couples that kept throwing shit around.”

“But this is far better and juicier! I heard he was seen jogging this morning, and the girls who came in kept talking about it, and trust me, I can’t resist a good gossip. They said he’s big…”

I snapped my gaze at her.

“Big…” she added. “Massive…huge—”

“Okay, that’s enough!” I didn’t realize my cheeks were flushing until I felt the heat spreading on them.

Thankfully, I heard the door.

“Oh, look, a customer. Time for work! Which means no more talking about this.” I turned but froze the next minute.

“Oh. My. God!” Maria whispered beside me.

Ares walked through the doors, every inch of him making the entire place seem small. He ran a hand through his dark hair, and it fell back in curved strands on his forehead, blending with his thick eyebrow.

The action caused far too much strain on his polo, the scent of him shrouding my nose and making me forget I was in a place loaded with freshly baked snacks and coffee.

Ares took off his sunglasses, his eyes roaming before he settled them on me.

I almost lost my footing if Maria hadn’t held me.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good!” I pitched, chuckling as if I was making a joke. “These shoes are killing me.”

Right at the corner of my eye, I caught a subtle smile on his lips, tracking his movement as he walked to one of the booth seats.

“Damn, he’s hot! The gossip didn’t do any justice. He can take me to Pound Town anytime.”

A deep scowl took over my face instantly, and I fixed her with a stern boss look.

Maria backed away. “Calm down! This is just my usual thirst magnet. Geez! Why so territorial? You never get like this when I sweet-talked Reed.”

“T-Territorial? I’m not being…” I wavered, not wanting to stress myself.

I nudged my chin, and she sighed, walking through the swinging door.

I resumed my arrangements, sneaking glances, but it wasn’t exactly sneaking when his icy blues were pinned on me like a hawk, following my every move. I can’t even breathe properly.

I spent an hour or more working my rounds, and it was a miracle I hadn’t broken anything because of how shaky I was.

I threw a look over my shoulder when my waitress, Harper, went to take his order. I had asked her to go to him the moment she came in for work, but Ares didn’t spare her a glance.

Our stare was becoming more intense by the minute, and I only broke the spell when Harper came back to me.

I cleared my throat. “What’s his order?”

“Actually, he wants you to take his order.”

My insides shook, but I still managed to conjure a reply. “I’ll get right to it.”

I took the notepad from her and rounded the counter. The closer I got to him, the more I wanted to bolt, but I forced myself to act as neutral as possible.

“W-What would you like?”

Shit! I’m stuttering. I didn’t want him to know how affected I was, but it’s too late now.

“The usual.”

The usual? He said as if I knew what he meant, and God, I hate it that I do.

In silence, I turned on my heels, took a mug and a coffee pot, and walked back to him.

I set the mug in front of him and poured the black coffee into it.

“You cut your hair…” he murmured, finally looking away from my face.

I had cut it to shoulder-length, but it still had its natural waves.

Disregarding his words, I asked. “Is there anything else you want? We have plenty on the menu.”

“You.”