Chapter 44
Tyler scooped up a spoonful of soup and tasted it.
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Olivia watched him with anticipation and asked, “How is it?”
The soup had a delightful sweetness and the fragrance of truffle oil. But Tyler responded in a matter- of–fact tone, “Not bad.”
Olivia couldn’t tell if he was just being polite, and her disappointment showed in her flat response,
Oh.”
Tyler noticed the change in her tone but acted as though he didn’t, asking, “What’s wrong?”
She shook her head and replied, “Nothing,” before taking her seat across from him.
The maid brought in the dishes and shared a bit of information with Olivia. “Mr. Tyler is hardly ever home for dinner. This is the first time in half a year.
Olivia was taken aback and looked at Tyler for confirmation.
Setting down his spoon, Tyler explained, “I’m usually busy entertaining. But since it’s your first day here, I should at least have dinner with you.”
Olivia felt touched. “You don’t have to do that, Tyler. Just stick to your routine. I can manage on my own.” Despite the imposing size of the house, she offered to be by herself.
The maid informed him which dishes Olivia had prepared, and he tasted each one.
Olivia was not sure if he liked them or not. She stared at him, relieved to see no signs of displeasure.
As dinner came to an end, Olivia’s heart raced, and she felt increasingly flustered. She stood by the table, unsure of what to do.
As if not noticing her awkwardness, Tyler asked, “Do you want to take a walk?”
She shook her head. “I’ll help with the dishes.”
Tyler let her go, but he called her back, saying, “Wait.”
Olivia stopped and turned toward him, wondering why he had called her back.
He could no longer hold back. He walked toward her, gently lifting her chin with his hand and patting the tip of her nose. “There’s flour on it.”
Olivia felt like she was suffocating as he drew near, her nose tingling from his touch. She felt too embarrassed to meet his gaze, so she nodded in response.
Tyler, sensing her nervousness, said, “Go.”
Even though he didn’t make things difficult for her, Olivia still felt flustered. She quickly headed to
the kitchen, feeling lucky that the maid hadn’t witnessed the interaction.
