Addicted To The Arranged Bride

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ZA

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d fish filled the entire hall, mixing w

tion was always loud, messy, and fun. T

g the straps of my apron and foc

redients-just the way I liked it. If I pull

ace" attitude. She flipped her hair like she wa

day," she said, loud enough for people around

dinaire. She'd loved picking on me since freshman year. I gave h

widened. "

ially started. I grabbed my salmon and seas

rushing, pans were sizzling, an

front row, waving at me like an e

ut grin and flash

noying flutter thing when my

cru

de Dahlia,

smile that always m

not to blush and act cool, even t

lia yelled. My hands moved fast

imer ticked down. The room was hot, intense, and fill

h was ready-grilled salmon with lemo

one of the j

. My heart was racing, but I

n the outside and soft inside. The lemon-he

and applause as students rooted

each station. I felt nervous w

crowd erupted in excited gasps and whispers. One by o

lked in-Adrian'

the whole room's attention

n slow motion. Tall, broad shoulders, neat black hair, sha

rted immediatel

hat D

s ba

s way ho

fr

fined jawline, intense brown eyes with that melt-you-o

before he went overseas to further his s

sed to call me "Chef girl" every time he ca

e like it was his full-time j

gainst the wall. His gaze occasionally met mine, and eac

rian. Or something else. I

hed, and the win

t

the table. My dish was worth

a and I walked outside

ng. "You did great there," h

pened my mouth to respon

az

as D

ays pronounced my name. Like he had his own

eyes and faced Adri

between us, c

car for Adrian, but he ca

Adrian we should leave, bu

e, pretending n

opped right in front of me and leaned down sl

stung. Of cours

smile, but I seriously wanted to

s eyes on us, whispe

epped back, I stepp

O

nd I tripped. The second my foot

my waist and yanked me toward him,

ught for a moment, an

your clothing even after he's gone-lingered in my nost

and spoke in a low, teasing tone. "You

d my waist, pulling

how ticklish his bre

rved into that same infuriating half-smirk he

ling into trouble... May

ed, though my voice soun

n my spine. "Why would I? You look way too good like this...

efore looking at me again. "Relax. You'r

hed to my cheeks. "You're so

. But tell me why your hea

e was all over the place. My mind scr

rough me and the way he was loo

erally hanging, and Adrian's expression s

whispering. Dante Wright is holdi

cut in, stepping closer. "

his lips. He loosened his grip slowly, like he was enjoying eve

ed, straightening up and walking off lik

fu