No Strings Attached novel (Clara and Ian) novel Chapter 232

Ian felt his heart plummet.

This woman... He was sure he had seen her somewhere before, especially those beautiful eyes and the tender, watery smile that lurked within them. The memory was so distant, so faded, he couldn't quite place when their paths had crossed.

Ian realized he was losing his cool and quickly adjusted his expression. “If it bothers you, I can move to the table over there,” he offered.

“No, it’s fine. Have a seat,” Liana quickly composed herself after her initial shock.

Clara was mortified and kicked Ian under the table in a fit of silent rage, but before she could retract her leg, it was ensnared by Ian's strong limbs. No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't break free.

Watching her face turn beet red with annoyance, Ian couldn’t help but curve his lips into a smug grin. He poured her a glass of iced water and offered it with a chuckle, “Is it just me, or is it sweltering in here? Attorney Clara, you look like you could use something to cool down.”

Internally, Clara cursed Ian a hundred times over. But externally, she managed a thin smile. “Thanks, Mr. Hayes, but I can’t handle cold drinks—warm coffee suits me better.”

She proceeded to pour a cup of coffee for Liana and then for herself, hoping to move past the incident. But Ian’s voice, slightly deeper than before, broke the silence. “Why is it so early this month? I thought yours was on the eighth?”

He deliberately kept his voice low, leaning in to ensure she heard, but his attempts at discretion only served to broadcast their private joke to the neighboring listeners.

Clara’s face rivaled the hue of a ripe tomato. Even a fool could decipher the significance of that date. It alluded to a palpable intimacy between them.