Chapter 330

Grace ate her lunch quickly, her head bowed. All she wanted was to finish and leave.

"Eating so fast? Eager to get away?" Jason's voice was soft, yet it cut through the office quiet.

Grace choked, nearly spitting out her food. She coughed, her face flushing crimson. Finally, she stopped, noticing grains of rice on her hand, which had been over her mouth. She reached for a tissue.

Before she could reach it, his fingers closed around her hand, pulling it toward him. She tried to pull away, but he held firm. "My hand is dirty," she said, "I need to wipe it."

He chuckled. "Dirty? I don't find it dirty at all." He leaned down, his lips pressing to her palm, his tongue licking the rice grains clean.

Grace stiffened. A burning heat spread through her from his touch. The sensation was intense.

"All right," he said, his voice reluctant to leave hers.

Grace was shocked. He had eaten all the rice. But he still held her hand, his eyes amorous and intense. "The rice was sweet," he murmured. "I wish you had more."

Her heart pounded. His words, and the desire in his eyes, hinted at something more. She lowered her gaze, unable to meet his intense stare. It felt as if his gaze held some magical power.

Finally, he released her hand.

Grace quickly finished her lunch.

A moment later, he said, "Dining with you feels like going back in time."

She paused. Going back in time—a dream now lost, a memory buried deep within her heart, along with everything associated with "Jay."

By the time Grace returned to the small restaurant, it was almost one o'clock. Kyla Corbyn didn't seem suspicious of the delay. "Sorry it took so long," Grace apologized.

"It's nothing," Kyla Corbyn replied. "You probably made several trips delivering so much food by yourself. Thank you for your hard work. They didn't complain, did they?" As the owner, she was naturally concerned about customer feedback.

"No," Grace said, a strange sense of guilt washing over her.