Perfect Match: Irresistible Desire For You
Chapter 78

After considering the situation, Ashley sensed that Joseph wanted to stay there with her, so she said, “Let’s sit down and have a chat. How about making some new friends?”

Joseph heard what she said but remained silent. He stepped forward and addressed the five, foreign men in a distinctly icy tone, “Hi. I just lost my fiancée in the crowd but now that I’ve found her, we’ll be going elsewhere. Goodbye, then.”

The men felt the change in atmosphere and sensed that there was something between Joseph and Ashley. They thought his explanation was believable, considering the circumstances. Feeling threatened by the power and iciness of his aura, they nodded in silence. Joseph then picked up Ashley’s bag and put his arm around her. The men couldn’t do anything except silently watch them depart.

Before Ashley could recover from the shock and confusion of Joseph’s reference to her as his “fiancée”, he had removed her from the scene and had placed his arm around her.

“Hey! What were you talking about? Who exactly is your fiancée?” Once Ashley had recovered from the initial shock, she quickly broke free of his warm embrace, and directly put this question to him.

Ashley was quite confused by Joseph’s inexplicable words and actions in front of the group few moments ago.

“First of all, my name is not “hey”. Second, whoever asks this question is my fiancée,” Joseph said indifferently, without answering her question directly.

Before Ashley could protest and ask for clarity, Joseph took off his coat blazer and placed it gently on her shoulders. He repeated, “You claimed to have studied the travel guides on Mexico, yet you don’t even know what the weather is going to be like. It is usually hot during the day but cools down quite significantly at night. It seems I can’t stop worrying about you.”

Night had fully fallen now and, just as Joseph had advised, the night brought cold with it. A gentle breeze could be felt against their skin. Ashley had a flimsy, long-sleeved blouse on; she couldn’t help but shiver. This small movement indicating her discomfort was immediately noticed by Joseph, who had been studying her closely. So Joseph covered Ashley with his coat, without a second thought.

His affection for Ashley had begun to affect his behavior towards her, without him even being cognizant of it. She was the first and only woman he had ever wanted to take care of in this manner, in his life thus far.

Registering Joseph affectionately placing his jacket on her while expressing words of concern for her wellbeing, Ashley was astounded. It was as if an alien had taken over his body; this was so uncharacteristic of him. She could not believe that this very man, showing her such tenderness and care, was also known as “Poker Face Yama”.

Ashley couldn’t help but blurt out, “Wow, you actually are able to speak so much in one go.”

Upon hearing the genuine shock in her comment, Joseph was struck dumb. It was clear that she thought he was a man with facial paralysis. He didn’t think the case was that bad. He was a little cold to people, and tended to speak less than the average person, but this was just how his personality was.

He truly did not know how to respond especially since he thought she was colder and less romantic than him. ‘Can’t this woman feel the tenderness and affection that I am showing for her? Or is she naturally slow at realizing what is happening?’ he thought, bemused.

Noticing his sudden silence, Ashley realized what she said had been slightly inconsiderate, and that anyone would react as he did now. She felt so disappointed and embarrassed that she could make such a stupid comment after they had begun getting along so well.

She noticed Joseph’s pursed lips, so she tried to salvage the situation, and said, “Let’s just forget this, shall we? Where to next?”

After her comment, she decided to accept his coat to warm her. Due to his dominant character, she knew that Joseph would be greatly offended if someone refused his kindness. She reluctantly drew the coat closer towards her, warming her chilled body.

The cold wind whipped them from every direction. She could feel Joseph’s residual body heat in the jacket. It seemed to penetrate through her which stirred a steamy feeling in her. She looked up at him, looking for his reaction to the situation. He looked directly into her deep, dark eyes.

Her soft hair blew gently in the wind, framing her pretty face. Although the square was bustling with people and activity, it was as if time had frozen when their eyes had met.

‘I want to give this woman every that I have.’ This thought flashed across Joseph’s mind of its own volition. At the same time, Ashley imagined their future, a life filled with affection and beautiful moments, as she gazed into his sparkling, dark eyes. She suddenly broke eye contact.

“Let’s go get something else to eat, shall we?” she said, while turning her head away and ignoring the feelings that were so strongly rooted in her heart.

Joseph’s tall 1.87m height greatly dwarfed her petite 1.70m frame, especially since she was wearing flat shoes. Flustered by this interaction, she averted her gaze and tried to change the topic.

“You’re the boss,” replied Joseph, quietly. Joseph was not thrilled that Ashley had averted her gaze but he did like that she had used the word “we” to refer to the two of them in her beautiful voice. There was no one else, just the two of them.

Taking in her slender figure donning his blazer, he thought that he could definitely spend his life with her this way. ‘Perhaps,’ he thought, ‘marriage is not as restrictive and horrible as it’s made out to be. Perhaps love isn’t that hard to accept.’

He enjoyed spending time with her, she had let down all her walls. He didn’t try to shut down the feelings he had for her. He thought that maybe his life could benefit from a dash of love. Joseph couldn’t help smiling when he thought that he would have such a beautiful and intelligent women like Ashley as his life partner in the near future.

Noticing that Joseph hadn’t followed her, Ashley turned back to look at him. She hadn’t expected to see his face with such a smile on it. It took her breath away. A smile like this on his handsome, usually serious face, made him absolutely captivating. He could win the heart of innumerable women, they would be helpless to his arresting good looks.

Even Ashley, who was not particularly enticed by men, found him irresistible. She flirted with him as he slowly walked towards her, “Turns out you’re quite handsome when you’ve got a smile on your face. Let me see it again.” She smiled playfully, and beckoned him with her finger.

It wasn’t Ashley’s first time being so playful with a person. She usually teased Yasmin this way. But now, the other party was none other than icy Joseph, who could freeze a person to death with just one look.

Realizing her silly behavior, she covered her mouth in embarrassment, her eyes wide with shock. Petrified, she thought, ‘Now I am really done for! I am probably the first person to have dared to so openly flirt with him. This surely is going to have serious consequences.’ Ashley couldn’t bring herself to look at him face on. She covered her face, awaiting his reaction.