Chapter 46 He Was Driven by Lust
Leopold placed the fruit platter in front of Caroline. "Thirsty? Have some fruit."
Caroline speared a piece of cantaloupe and popped it into her mouth. While chewing, she noticed Leopold watching her intently. His gaze made her self-conscious, and combined with the warm sunshine, her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink.
"Why are you staring? Aren't you thirsty?" Caroline slid a water bottle toward him.
Leopold twisted the cap off, tilted his head back, and downed half the bottle in one go. After screwing the cap back on, he asked, "What do you think of the restaurant area here?"
Just like that, her awkwardness vanished, her attention captured by his question.
"I think they have a good variety of food. Some dishes are just okay, but the ingredients seem fresh," she replied.
Leopold nodded thoughtfully. "Fresh, yes, but the quality is average at best."
"Which items do you think are mediocre?" She asked.
Leopold mentioned several meat dishes and two fruits. Caroline added, "The cantaloupe I just ate wasn't that great either."
"This season, high-quality cantaloupe costs a premium," Leopold explained.
Caroline understood completely. As a Seaside City native, she was well aware of the local price trends. The city's economic development wasn't as robust as others, keeping prices generally lower, but during winter, the price gap narrowed for certain goods.
"In winter, besides seasonal produce, it's normal for out-of-town fruits to be expensive," Caroline said. "There are transportation and storage costs to consider. Nobody wants to lose money on their business."
Having previously worked at hotels in other cities, Leopold had a good basis for comparison when it came to prices.
He agreed with Caroline's assessment. "That's why I found a better supply channel without middlemen marking up prices. The fruit at Solstice Mountain Hotel is much better than what they serve here. When you're off work, come stay for a couple of days."
Leopold meant "stay" in the most literal sense, but Caroline interpreted his invitation as something more intimate.
Feeling offended, she replied coolly, "I have plans next week. I can't make it."
Leopold noticed Caroline's sudden shift in attitude and realized his words might have been misinterpreted.
He explained, "After the hotel opens, we'll invite acquaintances for evaluation stays. They'll experience the hotel as guests and provide feedback on any issues they find, which I'll address accordingly. I thought you might be available to help me out."
Caroline took an awkward sip of water. "Oh, I see."
"No rush," Leopold smiled. "If you're busy next week, we can schedule for the following week."
Caroline didn't agree right away. "I can't confirm now. I'm not sure if something unexpected might come up. Can we discuss it later?"
"Of course," Leopold said.
He had always been respectful, never crossing boundaries, which gradually put Caroline at ease. Still, Leopold's gaze would occasionally drift toward her.
Sometimes their eyes met, causing Caroline to blush and pretend she hadn't noticed by quickly looking away.
Caroline was practically burning up. She stood and glanced toward the buffet area. "What's taking Erica so long? I'll go check on her."
She weaved through the crowd and left. Leopold watched her walk away, smiling wistfully.
When you fell for someone, it really did a number on you. His eyes kept finding their way back to her. He loved hearing her talk, regardless of the subject, even if it had nothing to do with him.
Caroline spotted Erica in the dining area, waiting in line.
"I thought you'd gotten lost! What's the holdup?" She asked.
Noticing Caroline's flushed face, Erica knew exactly what was happening. "Waiting for the lobster. They only serve fourteen at a time, and I finally got a number. Gotta wait my turn."
There were still three people ahead of her. Caroline offered, "Do you want anything else? I can get it for you."
"I've already got everything on the counter over there. Could you take it back?" Erica asked.
Caroline picked up the two plates. "I'll wait for you. We can go back together."
Erica gave her a knowing smile. "What's wrong? Feeling awkward being alone with him?"
"Not at all," Caroline insisted.
Erica just smiled without commenting further.
When they returned, Leopold immediately made room for them and reached out to take the plates from Caroline's hands, setting them on the table.
"I've peeled the shrimp for you," he told Caroline. "They're really fresh. Enjoy."
Erica couldn't resist teasing them. "Don't you two feel like I'm just a third wheel today?"
Being longtime friends, Caroline immediately understood Erica's implication. Leopold wasn't oblivious either.
He replied, "I'm the one who insisted on tagging along with Caroline, so I'm sorry for dragging you into this."
The subtext was clear: you're not the third wheel, I was. This man certainly had a way with words.
Erica laughed. "Well played, Leopold."
"Let's eat," Caroline said. "We still have our massage appointments later."
While Caroline was in the restroom, Erica asked Leopold, "Shouldn't you be thanking me?"
Leopold raised an eyebrow. "For what exactly?"
Erica rested her chin on her hand, nodding in the direction Caroline had gone. "Without me, would you two have had this chance?"
Though not entirely responsible for their opportunity to meet, Erica definitely deserved some credit.
Leopold raised his drink. "Thank you."
"That's more like it." Erica clinked her glass against his.
She asked, "When did you start liking Caroline?"
Leopold thought for a moment. "I can't pinpoint the exact day. It just happened naturally as we spent time together."
"What do you like about Caroline?"
Another classic question: what did you like about her?
Leopold's brow furrowed deeply, showing he was giving the question serious consideration.
"I just like her. There's no specific reason I can articulate. Her personality, her character, the way she handles herself..."
"Don't give me those intangible things," Erica wasn't buying it. "Don't you like Caroline herself? She's gorgeous."
Accusing him of being superficial!
Leopold smiled. "Of course, Caroline is beautiful. Everyone appreciates good looks."
"So you admit it?"
Leopold lowered his eyes and spoke calmly. "I may not be the perfect gentleman, but I'm not a player either. The hotel industry has high standards for women's appearance and temperament, so I've met plenty of beautiful women—gentle and gracious ones, cute and vivacious ones. If I fell for every pretty face, would someone with my experience be pursuing someone like Caroline?"
He had a point.
Knowing Caroline's family background, he clearly wasn't just looking for a fling.
"You know Caroline isn't casual about relationships. She takes everything seriously. I worry she might get hurt because of how deeply she commits," Erica explained. "Sorry if I'm overstepping, but Caroline is my best friend. I hope you understand."
Leopold nodded. "Caroline is lucky to have such a good friend. That puts my mind at ease."
Erica looked confused. "At ease?"
Leopold glanced over her shoulder, seeing Caroline returning. He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "If anyone else pursues Caroline..."
Erica caught on immediately and slapped the table. "Don't worry. With me around, you'll be the first to know."
Leopold fell silent.
Shouldn't she be helping him fend off other men?