Chapter 591

Chapter 591:
But Heather? Heather was radiant, positively glowing with mischief and beauty so fierce it could knock a man flat. She daintily nibbled the candy Hugh had offered her, then, with a flirtatious glint in her eyes, chirped, “You big dummy!”
Without warning, she sank her teeth into Hugh’s finger.
“NOW!” Hugh cried before he could stop himself, the sudden pain jolting him back to reality. He recoiled, face crimson and sweating, fumbling for composure. “I-I’m leaving!” he stammered, spinning on his heel.
But before he could escape, Heather’s voice rang out. “Wait!”
Hugh paused mid-step, glancing back at her, heart pounding.
Heather offered a syrupy smile. “Thanks for the candy. I really enjoyed it. And since you brought me a treat… it’s only fair I give you something in return.”
Hugh said nothing, but inside, his soul somersaulted. He felt like a puppy handed the world—tail wagging, heart thumping with bliss. A gift? From a girl? It was the stuff of his daydreams, and he was living it. His eyes locked on Heather, overflowing with boyish yearning so pure it practically ached.
Heather’s grin widened as she leaned in, her voice smooth as velvet. “Close your eyes.”
Hugh shut them instantly, almost reverently. The moment darkness embraced him, his anticipation soared. His mind raced with possibilities—a hug? A whisper? And then: a kiss. Soft. Warm. Right on the cheek.
Boom—his thoughts catapulted back to last night. That wild card game. Her impulsive kisses. The chaos it had stirred inside him. He hadn’t slept a wink. His knees buckled. His thoughts fried. And right there, in full view of the world, he collapsed into a dreamy stupor.
Heather made no move to catch Hugh. She just threw her head back and howled with laughter. Clifton, Kieran, and Damian looked on like giddy spectators at a circus. None of them moved an inch.
Only Hugh’s own bodyguards lunged forward in alarm. “Hugh! Careful!” They caught Hugh just before he hit the floor, barely managing it. Still dazed, Hugh lolled in their arms like a man touched by heaven. He reached up and gently cupped his cheek, the ghost of her kiss tingling on his skin. His guards exchanged looks of exasperation.
The team technically had two leaders—Aron and Hugh. But in all honesty, Aron was the muscle, the mind, the actual commander. Hugh? Hugh was more of a well-dressed mascot. So when business called and Aron wasn’t available, protocol dictated they follow Hugh’s lead. What a big mistake that turned out to be! Who would’ve expected this? Hugh had managed to make a fool of himself and, by extension, Cole, leaving the entire unit wishing they could just vanish into the pavement. Frankly, if Elliana ever ended up at odds with Cole, she wouldn’t need weapons or strategy. She could just send over Heather with a flirtatious wink and a kiss—Hugh would be neutralized in seconds.
L𝑎t𝑒st ch𝑎pt𝑒rs in
It took a solid minute for Hugh to gather himself. Leaning heavily on the arms of his subordinates, he finally straightened up, face flushed a violent crimson. He cleared his throat, voice trembling as he attempted dignity. “I-I’m leaving now.”
With that, he turned stiffly and began his retreat, his entire squad scrambling after him like loyal ducks behind their leader. Not a single soul pointed out the bold lipstick stain still stamped across his cheek like a trophy of defeat. After all, last night had been far worse. Hugh had stumbled back practically dipped in lipstick—from forehead to collarbone—leaving even Cole momentarily speechless. Compared to that, today’s smudge was practically modest.
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