Desire Me If You Can Novel - Chapter 110

9

The popular singer’s love song—

The whole world feels like mine,

Clouds in the sky, chirping birds in the trees,

And by my side, you, so lovely…

—felt jarringly out of place echoing inside a car carrying two men. There was only one reason Dane didn’t immediately turn off the song, which he would never have listened to alone: if he rejected it, that damn “heart-heart” phenomenon might return, and that would be worse. At least the singer’s voice was tolerable.

Grayson, sitting in the driver’s seat, whistled and occasionally tapped the steering wheel. He looked unbearably cheerful. Dane, glancing at him from the passenger seat, thought, Well, whatever, reclined the seat back, stretched out his body, and simply closed his eyes to rest. They still had a long way to go to their destination.

He had found out two days ago that Darling’s cat carrier was torn. Although he wouldn’t need to use it right away, he needed to buy a replacement just in case, so Dane had decided to go shopping on his day off. And when he stepped out of the mansion that morning, he found Grayson waiting by the entrance.

How did he match our days off?

The fire department primarily ran on shift work, so employees’ days off usually didn’t align. But Dane quickly realized.

He must have stolen my work schedule.

Since this kind of thing no longer surprised him, he attempted to shake Grayson off and get into his car alone. But Grayson blocked Dane just as he was about to get into the driver’s seat and declared:

<If you let me come with you, I’ll buy whatever it is.>

If Grayson hadn’t confessed his feelings for Dane, Dane would have seized this opportunity and bled him dry. However, it was Dane’s ironclad rule never to accept so much as a coin from someone who liked him. What if it was used to tie him down later?

Normally, he would have cursed and recoiled in disgust, but Dane merely frowned, took hold of Grayson’s nose, and shook it gently.

<Didn’t I tell you not to spend money like that? Huh?>

He pushed him aside and tried to get into the driver’s seat, but Grayson hastily grabbed him again.

<I have rights too!>

What the hell is this nonsense now? Dane scowled at him, and Grayson launched into a piece of sophistry.

<Darling is your cat, and you’re mine, so Darling’s affairs are naturally my affairs too. In short, I’m not spending money on you, I’m spending money on Darling.>

Dane gave him a blank look. Grayson, perhaps realizing he was making a ridiculous argument, looked somewhat awkward. As Dane silently tried to get into the car, Grayson quickly blocked him again.

<Three hours.>

Dane paused at the comment, and Grayson immediately added,

<You said you’d spend three hours a day with me, didn’t you? Then can’t we go now? It applies even on holidays.>

Grayson’s face was now filled with a confidence that had been missing moments ago. He was sure Dane couldn’t push him away this time.

Dane stared at him for a moment, then silently closed the car door. Grayson, as if he had been waiting, instantly dashed to his own car parked right behind and opened the passenger door. Dane walked over, got into the seat without a word, and Grayson quickly rounded the hood to the driver’s seat.

And now, they were speeding toward a shopping mall… or so Dane thought.

After a period of sleep, he opened his eyes and found they were driving through an unexpected location. It was a luxury street, lined with shops selling exorbitantly expensive items without price tags—a place Dane would never have imagined visiting, except for occasional emergency response or fire drills.

“What, why, what in the…”

Dane stammered in surprise. He frantically looked out the window, then whipped his head toward the driver’s seat, but Grayson just whistled, unconcerned.

“Hey, what the hell—”

“We’re here.”

Before Dane could finish his sentence, Grayson spoke first and slowed the car. As soon as the car came to a complete stop by the roadside, men in suits swarmed out as if they had been waiting, opening the passenger and driver doors.

“Welcome, Mr. Miller.”

“Good afternoon.”

“You look splendid today, as always.”

Greetings and flattery followed one after another. For Dane, whose interactions were usually limited to casual jokes or nods with supermarket staff, the scene was incredibly awkward and bewildering. But Grayson, seemingly very accustomed to this, didn’t even look at them, much less respond to their greetings, and walked straight toward the shop.

A staff member, holding the doorknob just like those who had come out to greet them, opened the door and stepped aside right as Grayson approached. And Dane walked into the interior of the luxury shop that he had only ever seen from the outside.

“Hello, Mr. Miller. Welcome.”

The manager who came out with a bright smile quickly glanced at Dane. Dane didn’t miss the swift once-over the manager gave him. In an instant, the manager took in his messy red hair, cheap leather jacket, stretched-out collar on his T-shirt, well-worn, partly ripped jeans, and dusty sneakers. The manager then turned his attention back to Grayson and said,

“It’s been a while since your last visit. The items you requested are ready. Please come inside. What can I get for you to drink?”

Outrageously, Grayson ordered a fruit juice that was sickeningly sweet, then asked Dane, “What will you have?”

Dane’s answer was predetermined.

“Coffee.”

At the indifferent reply, the manager smiled and asked, “Yes, what kind of coffee would you like? Espresso, latte, cappuccino……”

“Americano. In a mug, full.”

“Ah…… I understand.”

The manager seemed taken aback for a moment but quickly replied with a smile. They were ushered into a reception room in the back. Dane sat on the large, comfortable sofa, crossing one leg over the other knee and leaning back.

A dazzling chandelier hung from the ceiling of the room, whose walls were entirely mirrored, reflecting light everywhere so brightly it hurt the eyes. When Dane lowered his gaze, he saw objects covering one wall. Dane knew they were the products prepared for them.

“Thank you for waiting.”

A smiling attendant approached, setting down drinks and desserts that looked enormously expensive in front of both Grayson and Dane. How much could just one of these tiny pastries cost? Dane picked one up and put it in his mouth, thinking, This one thing could buy a month’s worth of Darling’s cat food…….

As the thought crossed his mind, a sweet fruity aroma spread across his palate. Dane paused, chewing slowly, and amended his thought.

It’s not my money anyway.

As he ate the desserts with his coffee, the manager returned and stood before them.

“Mr. Miller, are you keeping a cat now? How is Alex doing these days?”

The face that sweetly inquired about their lives looked extremely accustomed to this kind of conversation. It must be second nature for them to mention personal details without crossing the line or spoiling the customer’s mood. Just as Dane thought this, Grayson replied,

“Alex is doing well. The one keeping the cat is him. I just came to watch.”

“I see? Ah, ah.”

The manager let out a sound of comprehension, then turned to Dane with a completely different expression than before.

“Then this gentleman is the one here to purchase the items today?”

“That’s right.” Grayson answered readily.

The mug approaching Dane’s lips froze mid-air. First his eyes moved, and then his head followed. Ignoring Dane’s gaze, Grayson spoke brazenly to the manager,

“Show him everything. This person is going to buy all of it.”

This crazy bastard?

The manager’s face lit up instantly, and Dane’s face turned white as he glared fixedly at Grayson.