But as her thoughts settled, she reminded herself of their current relationship. Such moments of affection were no longer unusual—they were a natural progression. A shy smile tugged at her lips as she looked up at Vincent.

Just as he turned to leave, she reached out, kissed him lightly on the jaw, and whispered, “Good morning, Vinnie.”

Her voice carried a soft intimacy, and it was the first time she had called him by that name. It felt like their relationship had taken a step toward deeper intimacy.

Vincent paused mid-step. Instead of pulling away, he sat beside her again, taking her hand in his. He placed a lingering kiss on its back and teased, “You’re seducing me.” Katelyn’s eyes widened in disbelief.

What was going through this man’s mind? Did he even understand the true meaning of seduction?

“Seducing you?” she echoed, biting back a laugh. She tilted her head mischievously, her eyes sparkling.

Slowly, she tugged her neckline just enough to reveal a hint of skin. She said with a playful smirk, “This is what seduction looks like. What I gave you was merely a morning kiss.”

The heat in Vincent’s usually composed gaze was unmistakable. He swallowed hard and turned away abruptly, his voice a little strained. “Change your clothes. Let’s go eat,” he muttered.

Things could get heated if he didn’t take his eyes away.

Katelyn watched him retreat in haste, a sly grin spreading across her face. So, the ever-composed Vincent had his limits. If Katelyn hadn’t caught the subtle yet telling sign of his lower body’s reaction, she might have believed that Vincent felt nothing for her.

As she pulled her neckline back up, she chuckled softly to herself. If her mere playfulness had him flustered, she could only imagine his reaction to a real attempt at seduction.

By the time Katelyn had dressed, Vincent was waiting by the door, his composure restored. He held her hand firmly, guiding her out with a steady, “Let’s go.”

Katelyn glanced at their interlocked hands, realizing how often Vincent initiated such contact. It was almost as though he found comfort in the simple act of holding her hand, even in public.

Unlike Vincent, however, Katelyn felt self-conscious. She wasn’t accustomed to this kind of attention, and the weight of curious stares from strangers added to her unease. At the restaurant, Vincent led her to a table.

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“Take a seat. Order whatever you like. I’ll be right back,” he said.

Katelyn nodded, watching him walk off toward the restroom before turning her attention to the menu. She carefully selected a mix of dishes, including Vincent’s favorites and a few of her own. However, she decided to wait for him to return before placing the order.

Just then, a waiter approached her with a polite smile. “Excuse me, miss. Are you ready to order?”

Katelyn shook her head. “Not yet. I’ll order later, thank you.”

She refused the waiter’s service.

The waiter hesitated, pressing a finger to his earpiece as though receiving instructions. Then, he said, “Miss, your friend seems to be looking for you over there. You might want to check.”

He pointed toward the area where Vincent had gone out of sight moments ago.

Wasn’t that direction the restroom? Katelyn frowned, puzzled. Though uncertain, Katelyn decided to investigate.

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