The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Up to that point, Shane was unsure of Yvonne's feelings for him. However, what she said proved Sasha right. He asked, "What did you want to talk about?"

"Let's order drinks before we start." Yvonne scanned the QR code with her phone and asked with a grin, "What would you like to have? I know you're used to finer food. I happen to have some money set aside for a treat, so order whatever you like."

Shane was touched by the offer. Sasha had gotten a fat bonus on top of her monthly paycheck, but she refused to treat him to anything more than a hundred dollars. And yet, Yvonne, who only lived off a paycheck and had no bonus to speak of, had offered to buy him any food he wanted.

Not to mention, she also gave him an allowance for his daily needs.

Shane quickly said, "I just had lunch, so I'm not that hungry."

"You don't have to scrimp on my account," Yvonne said patiently. Shane was her pawn-and a capable one, at that. She saw no harm in treating him a little nicer than usual. She wouldn't want to lose him if someone came along and made him switch sides. She added slowly, "I know you haven't had a full meal in the last couple of days."

Shane suddenly understood just how much she cared for him.

Yvonne continued, "Think of this as a chance for you to feast on something nice for a change."

"Very well." Shane saw no point in being courteous with Yvonne now that she had offered. He took her phone and ordered another two pasta dishes. "The food portion here is too small to fill me up."

Yvonne asked thoughtfully, "Will two pasta dishes be enough for you? I could order a few extra dishes for you if you like."

She had heard rumors of Shane stuffing his friends with a large food bill whenever they offered to buy him a meal. But after going through his orders earlier, she was surprised to find they were reasonably priced. Perhaps he wasn't as bad as the rumors made him out to be.

As a man, Shane didn't have the gall to splurge while a woman was paying for his meals. "The two pasta dishes are enough."noveldrama

Yvonne placed the order and set her phone aside. She propped her face up with one hand as she asked, "From what I recall, Sasha never liked you very much. Why did she suddenly ask to meet you? What did you guys talk about?"

After some thought, Shane answered, "She told me to get a job and stop mooching off other people. She said my friends would grow sick

of me one day if I kept freeloading."

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He kept his answer vague, not at all intending to come clean to Yvonne about his conversation with Sasha for fear that it would spook her.

Yvonne raised a brow. "Really? I don't think that's true. She probably doesn't want to spend money on you. I'm not sick of you, in case you're wondering."

"But you will be sick of me eventually," Shane countered, noting that whatever Yvonne said aligned with Sasha's prediction.

He realized Yvonne was simply trying to put Sasha down before him to make herself look better. It was her way of making him fall for her.

Shane appraised Yvonne and

thought about Jenny and Sasha. He

hadn't properly noticed Yvonne's face before. She was no

conventional beauty, but she looked decent-plain and ordinary

But perhaps her crush on him made her look a little softer and more feminine.

A smile curved Shane's lips. He never thought someone could truly love a deadbeat like him.

Yvonne declared without hesitation, "No, I won't!"

Shane said, "Will you let me move in with you, then? I don't have a place to stay."

Yvonne froze. He gave her a dismissive flap of his hand and drawled casually, "Forget it. I understand if you don't want to take me in."

Yvonne had a feeling that if she turned him down, Shane would end up siding with Sasha.