He knew my name?

I turned to the Greek god behind me. He must’ve told him about my arrival.

Wrapping his hand around my waist again, he nodded back at the watchman, while I politely reciprocated his smile.

“Is everything ready, Geremy?”

The guard nodded. “Yes, Mr. Valencian. Everything is ready, just as you wanted. And the staff are gone.”

Everyone was gone? Why?

That means I’ll have to stay alone with him?

Now my nervousness leaped to a new height. Who knew? He could compel me with his charm and stormy grays, and trap me somewhere with him forever?

Not that I’d really mind.

I shook my head at my ridiculous thoughts.

“Good.”

A beautiful familiar two-story white mansion greeted me. Built with a mediaeval arc, an enormous fountain adorned its front yard, with a lush rose garden surrounding it.

But it was daisies before…

A gasp slipped through my lips. It was the place I’d visited once or twice in my childhood with my family for small get-togethers. The family of Tobias’s childhood friend owned it.

That’s why this place felt so familiar. I vaguely remembered the backyard where we used to play. And this was the place I—

My eyes snapped up to him. My heart fluttered beneath my rib cage. “Why here?” My voice came out breathless.

His eyes bore into mine. “I thought why not start our new beginning where all of it started? After all, this is the place where I saw my turquoise eyed beauty for the first time.”

THIRTY-FIVE: TEASING MR. VALENCIAN

H-he remembered that?

Though our visits here were vague in my mind, I still remembered the day Tobias brought him along to introduce his new best friend. How could I forget the day I encountered those stormy grays for the first time?

The reserved yet shy boy was uncomfortable among so many unknown people, until his gaze locked with mine. The soft smile that had tugged at his lips in the return of my own toothy one had engraved into my heart since then.

He gently brushed his thumb on my cheek. “Those adorable freckles are almost nonvisible now.”

“I still have them. It’s just the makeup,” I said, lost in his gray pools.

A tiny frown set between his brows. “The makeup that hides your beauty, you should avoid it.”

“Back to dictating me, are we, Mr. Valencian? I’m not in your office right now.” I teased, though the mushy feeling inside me at his compliment didn’t go missed.

“I’m not dictating you, just stating the truth.” He pulled me against him. “Those powders just hide your natural beauty.”

I bit back my smile. Did he just call makeup as powder?