His Untamed Rose novel Chapter 83

It took Soren a moment to realize someone had slipped into the seat beside him. He quickly switched off his phone screen and grinned, “Cedric, when did you get here?”

Cedric looked away, calmly rolling up his sleeves. “Seems like you really don’t need my help finding someone to set you up with, do you?”

Soren gave a sheepish laugh. “So, you caught me, huh.”

It was almost a marvel to see a shy smile appear on the face of a man usually as stoic as steel.

Cedric was growing more and more curious. Just what kind of stunning woman could have Soren so utterly enchanted?

“She is beautiful, right?” Soren didn’t even try to hide his feelings. “Go ahead and laugh if you want, Cedric, but when I’m around her, I feel something I’ve never felt before.”

A rare tenderness flickered in Soren’s eyes. Then, as if realizing how ridiculous he sounded, he laughed at himself. “Though, honestly, I don’t even know her real name yet.”

A waiter brought over drinks, and Cedric accepted a glass, glancing up at Soren. “Want me to have someone look into it for you?”

“No, I don’t think she’d appreciate that sort of thing,” Soren replied seriously, his tone earnest. “I want to get to know her at my own pace. When she’s ready to open up, I’m sure she’ll tell me everything herself.”

Cedric just smirked, deciding not to press further.

It was obvious, Soren didn’t even know the woman’s name, yet she already had him wrapped around her finger.

Cedric weighed his thoughts. This woman, he suspected, was a master at playing hard to get—a textbook flirt, certainly not someone to be trusted. Soren was no match for her.

Before long, Alistair Royce arrived at the venue.

Though well into his sixties, the man looked as vigorous as ever. His posture was ramrod straight, his tall frame still solid, and his skin—remarkably well maintained—showed barely a wrinkle.

Trailing behind him was the family’s head butler, a fixture in their home for decades.

Tonia’s heart fluttered at the invitation. She rose gracefully and took the seat beside Cedric.

Alistair’s tone turned reproachful as he looked at Cedric. “If you’re going to invite Tonia, don’t leave her out in the cold.”

Seeing Cedric’s somber expression, Tonia hurried to smooth things over. “It’s not that. I just can’t really hold my liquor, so I was resting for a bit.”

Alistair clearly liked her tact, his smile warming. “Sweetheart, look around, see anything you like? I’ll have Cedric win it for you tonight.”

Tonia was delighted but waved her hands modestly. “Alistair, that’s really not necessary. You’re being far too generous…”

But Alistair was insistent. “Pick something. Don’t be shy. I can’t stand girls who play coy.”

Seeing there was no way around it, Tonia finally pointed to a necklace displayed among the auction items.