Sweet Flash Marriage with the Restrained Tycoon (Isabelle and Damien) novel Chapter 744

Chapter 744 An Accidental Kiss

From her questions, he’d pieced together what was going on.

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She likely believed Darrell and the Bowmans had confined her just to pressure her into marrying him, And with the Joyce situation–which she’d apparently gotten wind of–she’d probably already blamed him completely for the whole lockdown mess right then and there.

Claudia didn’t reply. She shut the car door and took a step back.

The vehicle pulled away slowly and disappeared down the street.

She flagged down another cab and gave the driver the address to Moonhaven Villa.

Once there, she unlocked the front gate, stepped inside, and closed it behind her.

Her first move was to head to the ground–floor storage room for fish food, then walk out to the gazebo to feed the koi in the pond. After that, she made her way to the study to pick out a few books.

It was around five in the afternoon. She wasn’t hungry yet–the fondue earlier had filled her up completely.

Barefoot, she stepped onto the plush rug and settled into the beanbag chair by the floor–to–ceiling window in the study. Picking up a book titled The Art of Strategy, she began reading intently.

Compared to Serene Manor, she much preferred the quiet and calm here.

She knew she shouldn’t stay too long, but she got so absorbed that she lost all track of time.

When she finally looked up, it was past seven in the evening, and the sky outside had grown almost completely dark.

Rubbing her tired eyes, she stood up, switched on the light, and wheeled the rolling library ladder over to reach for a few more titles.

Her eyes landed on a copy of The 48 Laws of Power sitting on a higher shelf.

She locked the ladder in place, climbed up, stretched slightly on her toes, and reached for it.

“When did you get back?”

A low, steady voice from behind startled her.

Claudia flinched, her grip loosening. The book slipped from her hand, bumped against the shelf, and fell softly onto the carpet.

The voice hadn’t been loud, but it was rich and resonant.

Claudia instinctively grabbed the shelf for balance. Her footing slipped, and she tumbled backward.

“Umph. Harold let out a muffled grunt.

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Chapter 744 An Accidental Kiss

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He’d caught her as she fell. They both landed in a heap on the carpet, Claudia sprawled across his chest.

She could feel the strong, steady rhythm of his breathing vibrating beneath her palm.

Her hair cascaded down like a waterfall, spilling over his chest, brushing against the bronze skin of his neck, his shifting Adam’s apple, and the sharp line of his cheekbone.

His Adam’s apple moved noticeably.

The soft strands of her hair tickled his chest–an itchy, distracting sensation.

Her light, clean scent mixed with the crisp, woody aroma of cedar that always lingered around him. The air between them grew thick, charged with a tension magnified by their heavy breathing.

If she remembered correctly… she had just kissed him.

Their lips had met under the warm glow of the lamp, sparking waves of heat that seemed to ripple through them both.

The warmth spread, turning the very air around them scorching.

Harold had held her before, but never had she felt so soft, so close… so undeniably tempting.

When Claudia came back to her senses, she realized–he wasn’t wearing a shirt.

He isn’t wearing a shirt?

She gasped, pushed herself upright, then turned her back to him, covering her face with both hands as a flush crept all the way up her neck.

The image of his toned torso was already seared into her mind–the firm, defined planes of his chest and abdomen.

Harold sat up slowly, a faint, knowing smile touching his lips.

“You okay?” His voice came out unusually rough.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she managed, using the moment to take a steadying breath.

“What brought you back here?” Harold didn’t seem in any hurry to leave.

Instead, his gaze drifted to the books she’d pulled out–The Art of Strategy, half–read, and The 48 Laws of Power lying on the floor.

Not exactly typical reading for most women, he noted inwardly.

“I just came to feed the fish and grab a few books,” she answered.

“What a coincidence. I came back to feed them too,” Harold said casually.

He’d already told her he’d be working late, and here she’d caught him away from the office. It looked like

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Chapter 744 An Accidental Kiss

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he wouldn’t be spending the night here after all–he’d have to head back to Serene Manor with her.

Not the worst outcome, he supposed.

He leaned in slightly from behind, inhaling the faint, fresh scent of her hair.

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