Chapter 277: Allison easily saw through Floyd's intentions. The box of artisanal chocolates was no small expense, and the message on the packaging was both bold and sentimental.
"Thanks," she said, leaning casually against the doorframe. "But I've been cutting back on sugar recently, so sweets don't really appeal to me anymore."
Between adults, some things didn't need to be spelled out. It was a clear rejection. Disappointment flickered in Floyd's eyes for a brief second, but he quickly masked it with a smile.
"I get it. No worries. Maybe next time, I'll take you out for something different." He understood exactly what Allison was implying.
Back in Leswington, Floyd had encountered rejection more times than he cared to count, but he never let it stop him. Still, he wasn't the type to linger when unwelcome. His perspective was simple: just being in Allison's presence felt like a win in itself.
However, Kellan's face shifted when he spotted the chocolates, especially as he watched Floyd and Allison talking and laughing like old friends. They seemed so at ease, comfortable in each other's company. But after hearing Allison's refusal, Kellan's expression remained calm on the surface, though beneath it, a rush of excitement stirred.
"People's tastes do evolve, don't they?" he said, settling onto the couch with his legs casually crossed. When his gaze lifted, it felt endless, like an ocean of unspoken thoughts. His words carried a subtle meaning.
"Since Ms. Clarke's been favoring spicier dishes lately, perhaps next time, Mr. Pierce, you'd check before gifting her," Kellan added, his voice laced with barely concealed slyness.
Floyd was briefly thrown off by the comment, unsure how to respond. Kellan's ambiguity stung a bit, but Floyd simply chuckled.
"Well, just because her palate's shifted doesn't mean her interests have."
Kellan's smile softened. "Is that so?" He neither affirmed nor denied it as he tied off the last bit of gauze, his movements slow and deliberate. "If memory serves, it's time for you to help Lorna with her recovery session," Kellan remarked, a subtle challenge in his tone. "Looks like you'll have your hands full, Dr. Pierce."
Floyd sighed inwardly, realizing that now was indeed the time for Lorna's treatment. Kellan's timing was impeccable, almost as if the entire conversation had been orchestrated to push him out the door.
"I should also thank you for earlier," Kellan continued, his tone sincere. Despite the underlying tension between the two men, Floyd had stepped in when Hoyt and Nova had stirred up trouble. Kellan's gratitude was genuine.
"You're too kind, Mr. Lloyd. I hardly did anything," Floyd replied, giving a reluctant wave to Allison. "We'll catch up over dinner tonight." He wondered, not for the first time, if Kellan's timing was always this precise, whether by accident or design. But now, duty called, and with one last nod to Allison, he headed off to tend to Lorna.
As the others trickled out, only Kellan and Allison remained, a rare stillness settling into the large room. Allison stepped forward, curiosity gleaming in her eyes.
"How did you know I've been into spicy food lately, Mr. Lloyd? We've barely shared a handful of meals."
"Last time we ate together, you added extra hot sauce to your roast beef," Kellan replied smoothly. His attention to detail was always sharp when it came to Allison. For instance, he knew that when they kissed, she craved passion, not mere passivity.
"You're awfully observant, Mr. Lloyd," Allison remarked, though she couldn't quite decipher what was running through his mind. She had intended to bring up the matter of Hoyt and his mother but decided against it; it seemed irrelevant now. But she had another question on her mind.
"By the way, could I take a photo of the necklace you wore the other day?" She had only glimpsed it briefly before, and the moment had passed too quickly for her to study it. Since she had found no further clues about the matching bracelet her mother had left her, Kellan seemed like the next logical lead. Her face remained calm, which proved that she didn't hide anything.
"My mother left me a bracelet that matches the necklace you wore. I've been searching for information for years, but haven't found anything. I thought…" Kellan's eyes met hers.
"Of course." His swift agreement caught her off guard. She tilted her head. "But I recall that necklace being a family heirloom, reserved for the future lady of the house. Aren't you worried I might swap it out?" Kellan's response was calm, but his eyes gleamed.
"Would you really do that, Ms. Clarke?"
Allison smiled lightly. "Maybe I would."
"If you want it, you don't need to swap anything," Kellan said, his voice dipping low. His dark eyes held an intensity that was impossible to ignore. "I can just give it to you."
Suddenly, the necklace felt like more than just an old heirloom. Allison understood he was being playful, but for a fleeting moment, the offer left her speechless. Kellan was indeed hard to figure out.
"This is your mother's keepsake," she said finally, suppressing the emotions tangled within her. "I wouldn't dare take it from you." She smiled, breaking the tension. "A photo will do."
Expecting Kellan to have a servant fetch the necklace for her, she was surprised when he started undoing his shirt.
"The clasp at the back is tricky," he said casually. "I might need your help." Kellan rarely loosened his shirt collar, always keeping it buttoned up to the top. As he unfastened each button, his long fingers revealed more of his collarbone, along with the necklace. Its snake-shaped design, adorned with jewel-like red eyes, glittered in the light.
"Or," he added, reclining slightly on the sofa, his gaze pulling her in like a sky full of stars, "you can just take the photo now." He was wild and magnetic, as ever.