Chapter 103 A Kiss as Her Reply

Chapter 103 A Kiss as Her Reply

Lucas's POV

Chloe didn't answer right away.

Those few seconds felt like an eternity.

My palms went cold. My heart kept sinking.

I'd already prepared an escape route for her. She could say she was too angry. Too upset. That she'd only said those things to get under Stella's skin. To hurt Owen.

As long as she said the word, I'd catch her. Even if her answer would send me crashing down.

Chloe slowly turned around. Her eyes were still rimmed with red. The tip of her nose was faintly pink.

"You want the truth?" she asked softly.

I nodded. Absolutely certain.

She took two steps closer. The mountain wind tangled her long hair. Strands clung to her cheeks. Her face was clean and clear. Her gaze was pure and direct. It fell straight into my eyes.

"I wasn't hesitating because I was thinking about Owen." Her voice was quiet but utterly serious. "I was wondering if you'd regret it once I told you what I really felt."

My mind went blank. Before I could even respond, she rose onto her toes. She gently tugged at the collar of my jacket.

The distance between us vanished. Her warm, trembling breath brushed against my lips.

The next second, Chloe lightly touched the corner of my mouth.

The kiss was so soft. So fleeting. I almost thought I'd imagined it.

She stepped back half a pace. Her entire face was burning red.

"That's my answer."

I stood frozen. I couldn't react.

The mountain wind kept blowing. Somewhere on the distant boardwalk, tourists laughed and chatted. Music from the stage drifted faintly through the air. Every sound around me felt muffled. Blurred. Like it was coming through a thin layer of fog.

In my world, all that remained was the warmth of her touch.

She looked at my dazed expression. Then she suddenly smiled, her eyes crinkling, and took off running.

Her wine-red dress fluttered past the lantern-lit path. She raced down the wooden boardwalk toward the base of the mountain. She glanced back at me, laughing. "Lucas, are you broken?"

I snapped back to reality. I immediately started after her. My shoe caught on wet leaves. I stumbled, nearly falling flat.

Chloe burst out laughing.

"Oh my God." She covered her mouth. Her shoulders shook. "Big tough detective can't even walk on a mountain trail?"

I reached out and grabbed her wrist. I pulled her straight back into my arms. I stared into her laughing eyes. My voice was low. "Try it."

"Try what?" She looked up, confused.

"Try kissing me and running." I lowered my head. My forehead rested against hers. "See if I can stay steady after that."

Her cheeks flushed bright red again. Instead of pulling away, she gripped my sleeve tighter. She whispered, "I thought you weren't afraid of anything."

"When it comes to you, I'm afraid of everything." I looked into her eyes. Honest. "And I lose every ounce of control I have."

She froze instantly. She stared at me. Her breathing was so soft I could barely hear it.

I was about to say something more. Thunder suddenly rumbled across the sky. A second later, rain came crashing down without warning.

"Damn it." I glanced up at the dark clouds. I immediately said, "Let's go!"

The rain came hard and fast. Tourists on the mountain path scattered in chaos. Screaming. Laughing. Footsteps pounding. All of it blended into chaos.

We ran all the way back to Theodosia's cabin. The porch was already flooded with rainwater.

The old woman heard the commotion. She pulled open the door. When she saw us soaked to the bone, she gasped. "Good Lord, did you two fall into a river?"

Chloe stood in the doorway. She was laughing uncontrollably. Water streamed out of her shoes. I wiped the rain off my face and muttered, "Pretty much."

Theodosia tossed us two large towels. She urged, "Go take a hot shower. Don't just stand there dripping. I'll keep the soup warm for you."

I draped the towel over Chloe's shoulders first. "You go ahead."

She nodded. She clutched the towel as she headed toward her room. At the bottom of the stairs, she glanced back at me. Her gaze lingered for half a second. Light. Fleeting. But it sent a wave of heat straight through my chest.

I stood there. I watched her disappear down the hallway. I finally let out a slow breath.

Hot water poured over me. I leaned against the bathroom tiles. Eyes closed. My mind was full of her. The warmth of her kiss. The way she laughed as she ran. The feeling of her hand gripping mine tightly in the rain.

I'd lived this long. I'd been injured. I'd bled. I'd endured countless sleepless nights. I'd arrested the most dangerous criminals. I'd even been shot. But never once had I felt this completely out of control.

I stayed in the shower for a long time. My emotions still wouldn't settle.

When I came downstairs, Theodosia had already set out the creamy mushroom soup. Chloe had changed into a loose, cream-colored nightgown. Her hair was half-dry. She sat quietly under the warm yellow glow.

She looked up at me. Her ears instantly turned red.

I pulled out the chair across from her. I sat down. My heartbeat, which had just barely steadied, immediately spiraled out of rhythm again.

Theodosia glanced between us, smiling knowingly. "Looks like the rain didn't dampen your spirits."

Chloe lowered her head and silently sipped her soup. She pretended she hadn't heard. I picked up my bowl and said nothing.

The meal was unusually quiet. Even after I returned to my room, everything still felt like a dream. I was afraid that if I blinked, it would all vanish.

Rain hammered against the window. It made the entire cabin tremble slightly. I tossed and turned. I couldn't sleep.

Just then, a sharp, crisp shattering sound came from the room next door.

The noise was piercing.

I bolted upright. I didn't bother with shoes. I rushed out. "Chloe!"

I shoved her door open. Lightning flashed outside. It illuminated the entire room. The lights were off. A glass lay shattered on the floor. The curtains were whipping wildly in the wind. Rain was pouring into the room.

Chloe was curled up in the corner by the bed. Her arms were wrapped tightly around her knees. Her face was pale as a ghost.

She looked up at me. Her eyes instantly welled with tears. Her voice trembled. "Lucas…"

I crossed the room in a few quick strides. I crouched down. I pulled her tightly into my arms. Her body was ice-cold. She was trembling uncontrollably. I gently rubbed her back. My voice was low and soothing. "Don't be scared. I'm here."

She grabbed onto the front of my pajama shirt. She buried her face against my chest. Her breathing was ragged and hoarse. "It kept thundering outside. The window was rattling so loud. I tried to close it. I knocked the glass over."

"It's okay now." I gently stroked her hair. "It's just a storm. I'll close the window for you."

I started to get up. She held on tighter. Her fingers trembled slightly. "Don't go."

I paused. Then I pulled her back into my arms. My voice was soft. "Okay. I'm not going anywhere."

She stayed obediently in my embrace. I caught a faint whiff of alcohol on her.

I frowned slightly. I glanced toward the bedside table. Sure enough, there was a half-empty bottle of fruit wine and an overturned glass.

I let out a low sigh. Of course.

She'd held herself together so well during the day. She'd stayed so calm and composed. I'd almost believed she was completely over it.

But cutting ties with a relationship she'd genuinely invested in. How could that ever be easy? Her feelings had been real. The hurt and pain she'd endured were all real too.

Thunder rumbled in the distance. Her shoulders trembled again.

I rested my chin on the top of her head. I asked gently, "How much did you drink?"

She didn't answer. She just nuzzled deeper into my chest. Like she was dodging the question.

"Chloe?"

"Not much." Her voice was muffled. "Just a little."

I sighed. My heart ached. "Chloe."

She looked up at me. Her eyes were hazy and damp from the alcohol. My throat tightened. She clutched my shirt and whispered, almost pleading, "Don't leave tonight, okay?"