With My New Love, We Made My Ex Pay

Chapter 4 I Want to Kiss Her

Xavier's POV:

I scrolled through the website on her phone slowly, pretending to focus on the options, but the truth was, I wasn't paying attention to anything at all. My fingers brushed against hers, just a fleeting touch, but it felt like electricity. A sharp, almost painful spark shot through me, making my pulse race and my body hum with heat.

I quickly shut the screen and then dialed my number on her phone, trying to appear calm. "These are all great. Why don't you pick one for me? I'll send you my size and shipping address in a bit."

I said it with casual authority, but inside, I was anything but composed. To regain some control, I grabbed the gold cigarette case from the table, slid one out, and closed my eyes as I ran my finger along the smooth filter.

The cigarette was still unlit, but even that faint scent of tobacco couldn't distract me from the wild thought of kissing her.

Then I felt her eyes on my hand and on my fingers, and I saw the way she looked at them as if they were a piece of art.

I slowly asked as I looked up at her, "What are you looking at?"

My eyes couldn't help but drift to her lips, soft, full, the slightest parting of them, her white teeth, the hint of her tongue peeking out, inviting me in... tempting me in a way I couldn't ignore.

She blinked at me like a newborn deer, her eyes wide and sincere. "Mr. Francis, your fingers... They're beautiful, like something a craftsman would carve."

At that moment, it hit me how effortlessly we connected, how she'd felt the same pull, the same shared appreciation.

It made me smile, and when she saw it, she smiled too. There was an unspoken understanding between us, a spark that didn't need words.

Without missing a beat, she picked up the lighter and lit my cigarette for me, her hands delicate and steady. "Mr. Francis," she said softly, "please, go ahead. Don't worry about me."

The flame caught, and I inhaled deeply, the smoke filling my lungs, giving me the control I desperately needed to push back the desire threatening to overtake me.

She sat back down in her chair, not saying anything more.

The atmosphere in the room fell back into a heavy silence.

Just as I was about to say something, anything, to ease the tension, she broke the silence. After a long sip of ice water, she finally spoke, "The dessert hasn't been served yet... Mr. Francis, wouldn't you mind if I had some?"

I stared at her lips again. Their red color was so inviting. My throat went dry as my desire surged once more. But I swallowed it down, answering with a calmness I didn't feel. "Of course you can."

She was too cute, too sweet. How could I possibly say no?

"Of course," I repeated, pressing the button to call for the waiter.

A few moments later, Hudson entered, escorting Edie inside. He was followed by a waiter pushing a dessert cart.

Hudson went straight to Davina, extending his hand with enthusiasm and a grin on his face. "Ms. Ivan, I'm Hudson, the owner of Lunaris Manor and Xavier's good friend. It's a pleasure to meet you."

She stood quickly, shaking his hand nervously. "It's an honor to meet you! I'm Davina Ivan... I'm... I'm Mr. Francis' friend."

At the mention of the word friend, she glanced at me, her eyes flickering with a trace of uncertainty.

"Yes, we're friends," I answered firmly, trying to ease her tension.

Her uncertainty seemed to dissipate when I said that, and a smile flickered in her eyes.

Hudson beamed. "I've heard so much about you, Davina!"

The words seemed to hit her, her smile faltering. After a beat, she let out a self-deprecating laugh. "Oh, I'm just a nobody. I can't believe someone like you would even remember me. I'm so sorry!"

Hudson had no idea that he had accidentally reminded Davina of some painful memories.

But Davina misunderstood him. Hudson didn't know about her because of the mess with the love triangle.

I'd never wanted Hudson here. I had a bad feeling about it from the start, and now his arrival had shifted the mood in the room, leaving her uneasy. My irritation spiked, and I couldn't hold it back anymore.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice colder than I meant.

Hudson, ever the thick-skinned one, grinned unabashedly. "Can't you tell? I'm here to deliver dessert. Ms. Ivan, it's truly a pleasure to meet you. Would you mind if I stayed and enjoyed some dessert with you?"

"Of course not!" Davina replied, her voice warm despite the awkwardness.

I interrupted before he could do anything else. "I refuse."

But Hudson ignored me completely as if my words were just a suggestion. He moved the dessert cart closer to Davina, placing the treats in front of Davina, who was clearly taken aback by his enthusiasm. "You really don't have to serve me, Mr. Hudson."

"Please, let me serve you. I insist. We're friends now, after all." He handed her his business card with a flourish. "If you ever want to come here for a meal, you're always welcome."

"Thank you," she said politely, accepting the card and scanning it with curiosity.

It was then that Edie, the dog, barked loudly, tail wagging furiously. It was clearly upset with Davina for ignoring it. Davina hadn't noticed, but Edie had been trying to get her attention for a while. The dog's impatience was palpable.

Davina sighed, petting Edie's head, soothing him with gentle words. "There, there, good girl, calm down."

To my surprise, Edie settled down quietly at her feet.

Hudson chuckled. "Oh, she's such a smart dog."

Davina sighed. "Yes, she's a smart dog... but I'm not a good owner. I almost lost her, but thank goodness Mr. Francis found her and brought her back to me."

Her words hung in the air like a shadow. The room seemed to hold its breath, and Hudson's laughter died in his throat.

He noticed the look I was giving him, the sharpness in my gaze, and his shoulders shook slightly. But it didn't take long before he broke into that familiar, infuriating laugh again. "Hahaha..." He chuckled.

Davina looked at me, confused. "What's so funny? Did I say something wrong?"

I shot Hudson a glare and then muttered, "He had a bad illness when he was young, and it... messed with his head. Don't mind him."

He was laughing at me!

A few days ago, I'd hired some private investigators and animal experts to search for Edie.

My people had been asking Hudson why I was going to such lengths to find the dog. Hudson had been investigating what Edie meant to me, and now he knew the truth. He knew how I felt about Davina, and of course, he was thrilled.

His laughter was infuriating. I almost wanted to punch him.

But I wasn't going to engage, not while Davina was here!

I refused to let him keep her attention, so I swiftly changed the subject, trying to bring us back to another topic. "How did Edie get lost?"