Chapter 56 You Smell Like Meatloaf
Chapter 56 You Smell Like Meatloaf
Jonathan stared at her, his eyes unreadable.
Sure enough, she didn’t seem to remember him at all.
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Anneliese thought for a moment, then added, “Maybe it’s because you and Meatloaf have the same scent.”
Her words hung in the air.
Seeing Jonathan’s expression darken as he stared at her, she blinked in confusion.
Suddenly, he took a long stride toward her.
Their distance closed abruptly, well beyond any normal social boundary.
His chest nearly brushed against the tip of her nose.
In her line of sight, his grey shirt stretched tightly across his torso, hinting at the curve of strong, defined muscles beneath.
Anneliese’s eyes widened. She held her breath, momentarily stunned by his actions.
“What are you holding your breath for?” The man’s low voice sounded from above.
“What?” Anneliese looked up at him.
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Her innocent, bewildered look only made him more imposing.
Jonathan lowered his gaze and lifted an eyebrow.
“Didn’t you just say I smelled like Meatloaf?”
Only then did Anneliese realize how inappropriate her words had sounded.
She’d just told him he smelled like a dog!
She shook her head quickly, trying to clarify. “I didn’t mean that! I wasn’t implying you’re a dog…”
Good heavens, she was making things worse!
Under Jonathan’s increasingly dark and dangerous gaze, Anneliese decided to be bold.
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Chapter 56 You Smell Like Meatloaf
:
She closed her eyes and leaned in slightly, sniffing him as if she were a little puppy.
The crisp, pleasant scent of cedarwood filled her nose.
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She stepped back, blushing slightly. “Done. You smell clean and fresh. Nothing strange about your scent!”
At last, Jonathan seemed satisfied, moving his gaze away from her.
Anneliese exhaled in relief and hurried to diffuse the situation.
“You have a Golden Retriever called Azuki too, right? Why haven’t I seen it anywhere?”
What she really meant was that Meatloaf had probably sensed a fellow furry friend’s scent on Jonathan, making it excited.
Jonathan patted Meatloaf’s head again. His gaze caught the warm glow of the sunset, giving him an unusual warmth, though his voice remained calm and distant.
“Azuki passed away many years ago.”
Anneliese froze. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. You must miss it a lot…”
Even though it had been gone for years, Azuki still appeared as Jonathan’s profile picture.
Anneliese could relate. Meatloaf getting old as well, well past the average lifespan for a Golden Retriever.
She often worried the day would come when Meatloaf might not wake
up
from its nap.
When Meatloaf had been staying at the pet boarding shop, it always seemed lethargic. Every time she visited, it barely moved.
But now that Anneliese had brought Meatloaf home, it was full of energy.
Even though some of the things it did made her sigh in exasperation, she was secretly glad.
She liked seeing Meatloaf so full of life; it made her feel as if it could stay by her side a little longer.
“I haven’t had anything to eat,” Jonathan said suddenly.
“What?” Anneliese was caught off guard again by his abrupt shift in topic.
Jonathan raised an eyebrow. “I’ve been very lenient with you. I no longer accept verbal
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Chapter 56 You Smell Like Meatloaf
apologies.”
:
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Anneliese thought of all the trouble she’d caused him; all the embarrassing situations she’d created.
Feeling guilty, she pointed upstairs.
“How about we head upstairs? I’ll make you something to eat. It’s my way of saying both sorry and thank you.”
Jonathan said nothing.
He simply took Meatloaf’s leash from her hand and strode toward the apartment building.
Anneliese smiled and hurried to follow.
The sunset stretched a long, brilliant trail across the sky.
The afterglow cast the shadows of two humans and a dog among the bushes.
When they arrived at the elevator, Jonathan pressed the button for the 26th floor.
Anneliese blinked in surprise. “Are we not going to my place?”
“I have ingredients at home. Besides, you left something there.”
Anneliese froze. She knew he was referring to her two gowns and a wedding ring.
She had been too busy fleeing the mortifying scene with Meatloaf to grab them.
She dreaded going to Jonathan’s place, for it felt like returning to the scene of a crime.
Her lips moved slightly, and Jonathan, sensing her hesitation, glanced at her.
“Lemon would like to FaceTime you.”
“Alright,” Anneliese agreed. She genuinely liked the little girl.
She gathered her emotions. As long as she stayed composed, everything would be alright.
Before stepping inside, she hyped herself up and slipped into a pair of indoor slippers.
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Chapter 57 A Simple Celebration
Chapter 57 A Simple Celebration
