Rural Belle & Three Heirs
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.

Her friend Zara had always advised staying rational in situations like this. 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 engagement. Yet, amidst this charged moment, her resolution seemed to crumble.

"Grantie, next time, knock before you barge in," Chloe said, trying to regain her composure.

She thought her complaints might irritate Grant enough to keep his distance. Yet, to her surprise, he apologized. "My bad. I forgot to knock. This still feels like my room sometimes."

Chloe had commandeered the room from 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 about it.

"Alright, let's forget about it this time. Did you need something, Grantie?" Chloe asked, attempting casual indifference.

Grant gently guided her to a nearby chair and said, "Nothing serious. I have a day off tomorrow. If there's anywhere you want to go, let me know. I can take you."

He picked up 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. When Chloe remained silent, Grant looked up, concerned. "What's wrong? Can't decide where to go?"

"N-no, Grantie. You're busy with work, I don't want to be a bother. Maybe I'll ask my classmates to take me out," Chloe replied nervously, her resolve weakening. She couldn't understand why she felt so flustered, but her gut told her it wasn't a good sign. To avoid this, she decided to distance herself from Grant.

Grant's face darkened at her suggestion. "Are you planning to ask that guy, Philip?"

Chloe was taken aback. The fact that Grant knew about Philip left her speechless. She suspected that jerk Liam must have told Grant about him.

In reality, it wasn't Liam. Grant had Stanley investigate Philip, believing it was his duty to ensure Chloe's safety since Louis had brought her into the family. He was intent on eliminating any potential threats.

"Nah, not Philip. Maybe Nyla or Mica." Chloe said quickly, dropping the names of her female classmates to deflect the tension.

Hearing it was girls, Grant's expression softened. "It's not very safe for girls to go out alone. I can be your driver. As an older man, I must ensure your safety.”

His stern tone left Chloe without a decent excuse. She let out a small laugh and teased, "Grantie, you're taking this too seriously. I'm so ugly, who'd be interested in tricking me away?"

Chloe's attempt at humor sounded harsh to Grant's ears. He looked at her intently and asked, "Are you ugly?"

Chloe was struck silent. She recalled the day she fell into the water, how the mole on her face a part of her disguise had washed off. Grant had surely seen through it.

He advanced towards her slowly, his gaze fixed intensely on her. Chloe, pinned to her chair, felt trapped under his scrutiny.

Grant leaned in, his face now merely inches away, his breath almost touching her skin. Chloe, like a wary rabbit caught in the open, dared not move. If she resisted, her injured leg would likely yield to his superior strength. Yet, doing nothing left her at his mercy.

"Grantie, what do you want to do?" Chloe finally asked, her voice tinged with nervous anticipation.