Chapter 117 Don't Make Trouble
On the coffee table, Leopold's phone buzzed. Caroline glanced at the screen—a call from Maddox.
She brought it into the kitchen. "It's for you."
Leopold's hands were sudsy and occupied. "Can you get it for me?"
She answered, pressing the phone to his ear as he leaned in slightly. "What's up?"
"What're you doing?" Maddox's voice crackled through the speaker.
"At my mother-in-law's. Something important?" Leopold rinsed a plate and placed it on the drying rack.
"Is it a good time to talk?"
If only he hadn't asked that. The question hung in the air, instantly shifting the atmosphere. Even the way Caroline was looking at him was suddenly loaded with a delicious sort of suspicion.
Now, whether it was a good time or not, he couldn't very well say it wasn't.
"Yeah, it's fine. What is it?"
The moment the words left his mouth, Caroline leaned in closer, her head practically glued to his. Leopold could only send a silent prayer to the heavens that Maddox wouldn't say anything stupid.
"So, what's your take on Erica? You know her well?"
At the mention of her best friend's name, Caroline's ears perked up.
Leopold answered truthfully. "We're cool. We're in the same rock-climbing club, but we've never hung out one-on-one. She's really close with Caroline."
Maddox pressed on. "From what you've seen, what's she like? Is her social life complicated?"
The subtext was loud and clear: did she get around?
Caroline's gaze flickered to Leopold, waiting for his response.
But Erica was her best friend. It really wasn't his place to pass judgment. Besides, from an objective standpoint, Leopold didn't know Erica all that well. Commenting on her character, especially in front of Caroline, felt wrong. He kept his reply as brief as possible.
"She's a great person. Outgoing, easy to get along with. Why are you asking all this?"
His clipped tone, meant to steer the conversation, backfired. Maddox must have sensed he wasn't speaking freely and misinterpreted it as him hiding something about Erica.
"Nothing major. I've got a potential gig, and if she's reliable, I was thinking of seeing if she's interested."
Leopold hadn't lied. He genuinely thought Erica was great, with a refreshingly direct personality. As for her work life, he had no clue. But he knew exactly what Maddox was thinking now—that he was deliberately holding back because Caroline was listening.
"For work stuff, you should probably just ask Erica directly," Leopold said. "But personally, I think she's very reliable."
"Right. Got it."
After the call ended, Caroline immediately asked, "Why's he asking about Erica?"
Leopold knew perfectly well that Maddox was planning his next move on Erica. But from what little he knew of her, Maddox could try all he wanted; it wouldn't happen unless she was on board.
Erica, much like Caroline, wasn't someone who treated relationships casually. They both had their own standards and non-negotiables when it came to men.
"I think he's into her," Leopold said.
"If he's into her, he should just ask her out." Caroline retrieved a pint of ice cream from the freezer, scooping up a spoonful and offering the first bite to Leopold. He took it, and she continued, "He wants to get the inside scoop on Erica through other people."
As she enjoyed her own spoonful, she added, "You don't get to know someone through gossip. You have to see them with your own eyes, don't you think?"
Leopold wiped his hands, untied the apron, and hung it on its hook before sitting down at the dining table across from her.
The two of them sat face-to-face. Caroline seemed struck by a thought. "If I had only listened to what other people said about you back then, there's no way we would have ever happened."
Leopold had to agree with that. He nodded.
Caroline held up another spoonful of ice cream. "But I only trust what I see for myself. You see a person's character in their actions, and you understand their values from their habits. No matter how well other people paint a picture of you, or how perfect you pretend to be, you can't keep up the act forever. The mask is bound to slip. So what I'm saying is, if Maddox is serious about Erica and wants a real shot with her, he needs to use his own eyes to get to know her."
Leopold noticed a smudge of ice cream on the corner of her mouth. He grabbed a napkin, stood up, and stretched his long arm across the table to gently wipe it away.
"My wife is just so insightful. So clear-headed."
"Oh, really? Are you complimenting me now?"
"Of course I am."
Her eyes crinkled into a beautiful smile, a sight that made Leopold's heart swell with an almost painful amount of affection. She sat across from him, eating her ice cream, and he sat watching her, a view he could never get tired of.
His gaze was too intense, too heated. Caroline glanced back at the living room where Elysia was watching TV, and a mischievous idea popped into her head. She slipped her foot out of her slipper and hooked it around his calf.
Leopold froze, his eyes dropping to the playful foot under the table. She deliberately rubbed the tip of her foot against his leg, a wicked little grin on her face.
He shot a look toward the living room. "Don't," he whispered.
Resting her chin on her hand, Caroline gave him a sultry, teasing look. Her foot grew bolder, inching its way up between his legs. A silent, triumphant laugh escaped her as Leopold's hand shot down, clamping around her ankle to stop her.
He typed something on his phone with his free hand, then pushed it across the table. Caroline, nibbling on her spoon, read the message.
[Stop it. Mom's in the living room. We can't.]
Seeing him so flustered was a rare treat. She mouthed the word, "No."
Leopold pulled the phone back and typed another line, pushing it toward her again.
This time, when Caroline read it, she mouthed back, "You wouldn't dare."
She wiggled her ankle, but Leopold's grip held firm. Caroline turned her head and called out, "Mom!"
That one word was all it took. Leopold released her instantly.
"What is it, dear?" Elysia called back.
"Next time you go to the store, could you get another pint of the melon-flavored ice cream?" Caroline said sweetly.
"I'll add it to the list," Elysia replied, her eyes on the clock. "It's getting late. Don't eat too much cold stuff before bed."
Leopold narrowed his eyes, pointing a silent, warning finger at her. Caroline just gave him a smug little eyebrow raise. "Okay, Mom."
She got up to throw away the empty ice cream container, her eyes catching the phone screen on the table. It still displayed Leopold's last message.
[Just try to be quiet later. Don't make a sound.]
From that moment on, wherever she went, Leopold's eyes followed.
Elysia turned off the TV, ready to head to bed. "You two should get some sleep, too," she reminded them. "You both have work tomorrow."
Leopold nodded. "We will, Mom. Caroline and I are heading to bed now." He took Caroline's hand. "Let's go."
When he said, "Let's go," she saw the playful, cunning glint in his eyes.
Was he serious?
The second they were in the bedroom, he shut the door, flicked off the lights, and plunged the room into darkness. The only light came from the faint glow outside, where raindrops pattered against the windowpane, stretching their silhouettes into wavering shapes on the bookshelf.
Leopold's hand curved around the back of her neck, pulling her close until their foreheads touched. His voice was a low, intoxicating whisper.
"I'm here to grant your request."
"Who requested anything from you?" A hummingbird was doing a frantic dance inside her chest.
"Scared?" The laughter was evident in his voice.
"Who's scared?" Caroline refused to back down. "The soundproofing in my room sucks. If you're not afraid of my mom hearing, then by all means, go nuts."
Leopold's eyes glinted in the dark.
He took a slow step forward, and she took a reflexive step back. His large hand supported her back, pressing her down onto the bed. His palm slid gently over her shoulder, his fingertips toying with the soft fabric of her shirt, the rustling sound sending a shiver down her spine.
His talent for this kind of foreplay was no joke. He could effortlessly pull her into the mood every single time.
He felt her hesitation, the slight tremor in her body. Having made his point, he decided to let her off the hook. He leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear.
"Are you going to behave now?"
She knew it. He was too much of a gentleman to actually go through with it here. Suddenly, the upper hand was hers again.
Caroline wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down. In the darkness, her eyes shimmered as she leaned in and pressed her lips to his.