Husband With Benefits
Chapter 214: Who Are You?

Chapter 214: Who Are You?

Augustus made hopeful eyes in Eleanora’s direction with a grin plastered on his face. He was determined to not let her avoid him tonight. And since she refused to go out on a formal date with him, he offered," How about a casual meal at the cafe downtown. I’ve heard that its quite quaint and casual so you don’t have to be dressed up. I saw the place in a magazine...

Eleanora coolly shook her head even as she found a running commentary going on inside her head,"Yeah, the new place with the secluded booths and dark ambience... the better to touch you dear... no thanks."

Undeterred, Augustus quickly shifted gears, determined to find a location that would win her over. "How about a movie? We can watch a romantic comedy or an action one... You haven’t watched one since you lost your memory, isn’t it? So it will be a new experience as well."

And she could already picture him trying to use the armrest and darkness as a way to make moves on her, hold her hands, thanks but no thanks...

Eleanora stubbornly shook her head and commented," Prince Augustus, I really do not feel like going out..."

Prince Augustus stared at her with keen eyes and suggested," Then let’s spend some quality time here. You do not have many servants or maids so it would promise some privacy..."

Eleanora shuddered at the prospect. Gosh! She just wanted to lie down and look outside...Outside... Yes!

With a smile, she said,"No! That is just boring. I have a better idea! Let’s go."

Prince Augustus frowned and followed Eleanora as she quickly walked away, wondering what it was she was up to. The girl was supposed to be easy prey with her lost memory and youth, but instead, she was as slippery as an eel, always evading him. He was almost tempted to use underhanded means to get her.

Outside, he walked down the steps with a raised eyebrow," I thought you did not want to go out? But since you’ve changed your mind, sure, tell me where do you want to go."

"Let’s take a walk around the Queen’s gardens. Dora told me that the new gardener has changed the landscape and the place is really beautiful during the evening as well. There is even a labyrinth..."

Augustus who was about to protest, stopped suddenly. Labyrinth? Was the princess trying to hint to him something? What a wild girl, she wanted to do naughty things in the wild bushes. Good enough, he did not mind a little grass and mud.

Eleanora, unaware of the downward turn Augustus’ mind had taken was already marching forward, even though she felt a little skeptical as well as hopeful over seeing the gardener. Her last meeting had ended on a somewhat sour note when he had flat out refused to let her buy his little dog from him.

Of course, she’d felt insulted that he would not even consider her offer but been so directly rude about it! And then... her behavior... She was still mortified about her behaviour. She’d actually tried to bat her eyes at him and flirt with him to get the puppy! She was pretty sure that her head had been messed up that day.

And then later, when Dora had told her that he’d kept the puppy for his wife, she’d even wondered if she should go dig a hole somewhere to hide. The gardener had a wife and she had... She really needed to apologize to the man for her obnoxious conduct.

Seeing her walk ahead of him and continue to ignore him, Prince Augustus could only fume. This woman! It was as if she was trying to race away from him! No one had ever dared to ignore him the way she did! Fine! She wanted to try and escape him. Well, she could keep trying.

Speeding up, he walked up to her and caught her hand in his. She looked at him startled and tried to take her hand away but he was not about to let her go so easily," Eleanora, we are going to be married. At least let me hold your hand, alright?"

Eleanora looked down at the hand holding hers and scowled. She really did not like this man’s hands on hers. They were too soft and barely had any calluses that she could feel. She liked a man with powerful hands and wrists... as she thought of this, her very active imagination supplied a perfect image of the man who had been holding the shovel followed by the one who visited her in her dreams... and caressed her...

Quickly she shook her head and scolded herself,"One is married and the other is a figment of your imagination. Get a grip, Nora."

Since she was not trying to extract her hand from his, Augustus was satisfied and casually stepped closer to her, their shoulders now brushing against each other.

It was at this moment that he suddenly felt a malicious gaze on him. He shivered, feeling as if someone had just walked over his grave. Augustus looked around, trying to see if there was someone around but could see nothing. He looked at the girl beside him and wondered if she could not feel the danger in this place.

"Eleanora, let’s go back..."

Instead of agreeing, Eleanora shook her head and sighed as she looked at the beautiful sight in front of her. Dora had been right. Gaia had indeed transformed the place into a wonderland. While the place looked pretty during the day, the evening seemed to make it alive. There was a faint fragrance in the air that seemed to beckon her...

Her trance was broken by the man beside her who suddenly jumped back, pulling her with her, making her almost fall on the ground with a thump, before he let go of her. As she rubbed her bottom and glared at him, Augustus paled and stuttered," Who.. Wh... Who are you?"

The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel