Desire Me If You Can Novel - Chapter 29

“Well, how about it?” Dane recalled the situation again. Of course, it wasn’t impossible if he had gone all out. If he had taken down Grayson and climbed the rock face first.

But if he had done that, it might have truly been dangerous. It was possible that one of them might have actually fallen down the cliff. Dane had no intention of risking his life on such a petty bet. Who would want to accidentally misstep and die a dog’s death for a few bucks? As someone said, he needed to be physically well to protect Darling.

Moreover, it was too obvious that if he had done that and gotten entangled with Grayson Miller, his future wouldn’t be good.

That guy, his eyes are too obsessive. Besides, the Dominant Alpha type were mostly out of their minds, weren’t they? Grayson was the infamous rake of the Miller family, already known for causing trouble. Dane hated complicated and bothersome things.

“If you had been serious…”

To DeAndre, who was throwing reproachful glances, Dane answered cynically.

“There’s no prize money involved, so why bother going that far just to beat that one guy?”

“If there was prize money involved, the story would be different, right?”

Ezra asked as if he had been waiting for the answer, and Dane readily nodded.

“I’d have to win. No matter what.”

He happened to need money for Darling’s health check-up. The cat, well over 10 years old, required meticulous care in various ways.

His colleagues, who had no idea of his internal motivations, looked genuinely disgusted.

“We should have bet at least a hundred dollars.”

When Ezra grumbled, Wilkins shook his head.

“It’s too late now. Let’s not talk about the past.”

“You’re right. The future is what matters.”

When someone agreed, DeAndre immediately sneered.

“The future? Ah, that future where we’re stuck going out on calls with Miller, no matter what?”

The moment he spoke, the atmosphere at the table froze over. Only hands tilting glasses moved busily, and empty bottles and beer mugs accumulated one by one. There was only heavy silence, let alone conversation. Amidst that silence, the voice from the next table clearly drifted over.

“Grayson, you worked so hard today. It must have been really tough, huh? It was mean to make a beginner run that course, truly.”

“How can they be so petty and small-minded? If they were as generous as Grayson, they wouldn’t torment someone so childishly.”

The voice sounded soothing. At the end of the words, there was excessive sympathy mixed with a hint of affection. It wasn’t sarcasm; it was blatantly taking a side. It was a subtle compliment, raising Grayson up while putting his opponents down. Then someone lowered their voice further.

“Even after being worked so hard like this, you still have to release pheromones, right?”

The question, asked sympathetically, also contained an intimate invitation. A soft, intentional touch moved naturally. Even as they lifted their glasses, they consciously leaned in, getting closer. The backs of their hands brushed his arm, and their low whispers diffused as if brushing his ear. The men at the next table, who tried to ignore it and drink their beer, avoided looking at the scene but pricked up their ears, listening to their words.

“It must be quite difficult having to change partners every time to release pheromones. Isn’t it bothersome?”

As the questions continued, another voice cut in.

“Right. Wouldn’t it be better to stick to one partner?”

“It seems like a headache having to find someone new every time. If it were me, I’d seriously look for a steady partner.”

“Dominant Alphas are different from us, right? Do all of you naturally look for partners only when the need arises, like you do?”

At the curious questions, the corners of Grayson’s lips softened.

“Most of us tend to be like that.”

And before another conjecture could arise, he added first.

“But I’m looking for my one and only destiny.”

“Destiny?”

“One and only?”

The women repeated Grayson’s words in surprise. The men at the other table also turned around with expressions of disbelief, as if they had heard something they shouldn’t have. They blatantly waited for Grayson’s next words, but he continued placidly, as if it didn’t matter at all.

“Like Daddy and Papa. Someone who will protect and believe in each other through any hardship… someone who will stay with me even if the world ends.”

Grayson sighed sweetly, placing his hand on his left chest.

“My other half must be out there. I am looking for that person.”

“Oh my.”

“That’s so romantic.”

The women gasped excitedly, looking at him. They seemed deeply touched by Grayson’s words, but the men at the other table did not.

“Why is that bastard saying such mismatched things?”

“A guy who talks about finding his ‘other half’ changes women every day? He needs to be talking about things that make sense.”

Until then, Dane had only listened in silence. How wild or promiscuous that guy was wasn’t his concern at all. What was important to him was not getting entangled with Grayson Miller, and the current situation was highly satisfactory. Just as he made faint eye contact with the waitress who brought him a new beer, and smiled faintly in response to her subtle eye-smile. Ezra suddenly looked at Dane and frowned.

“I’ve never seen anyone worse than Dane.”

When Dane paused at the arrow suddenly shot his way, Wilkins shook his head.

“No, even so, he’s different from Dane.”

Wilkins, who sounded like he was taking his side for a moment, immediately added.

“Dane doesn’t change partners morning and night.”

Dane grimaced, but they didn’t stop there.

“That’s only because that guy is working. Who knows how Dane messes around on his days off?”

“That’s true.”

“Dane probably changes partners three times a day. He’s practically a stud.”

“Woohoo! Dane Striker! Champion!”

Dane was dumbfounded at how the atmosphere had shifted. He wasn’t pleased with them talking arbitrarily, but since they weren’t entirely wrong, he just kept emptying his beer. Amidst the guys laughing and joking boisterously, DeAndre spoke.

“Do such things really exist in the world? Destiny, I mean.”

“It does.”

Ezra nodded firmly. Since he had actually married his first girlfriend from high school and already had three children, everyone couldn’t help but be convinced. Although Dane’s expression, looking at him, was full of skepticism.

“The one and only love worth risking your life for, you mean.”

“Exactly!”

Dane’s voice was full of sarcasm, but whether due to alcohol or his strong belief in himself, Ezra laughed heartily and raised his beer glass as if to toast.

“Let’s all toast, wishing for Dane to find that person soon! Cheers!”

Wahahaha. Laughing loudly, everyone toasted and chugged their beer. Dane laughed too, but it was closer to a hollow laugh. Wilkins smiled, seemingly pleased with Dane’s reaction, and added.

“Since it came up, isn’t it about time you settled down too? You don’t necessarily have to get married, but meeting someone seriously wouldn’t be bad. What do you say? I have plenty of good friends of my wife who are still unmarried. Would you like to meet them?”

“No, thanks, I’m good.”

“Dane, but—”

At the merciless refusal, Ezra tried to cut in this time, but Dane didn’t give him a chance, adding.

“Let me tell you, love is just bullshit. It’s merely a hormonal reaction.”

“What?”

Ezra’s eyes widened as if he were shocked. But Dane continued, paying him no mind.

“You might fall into a delusion for a while, thinking you can risk your life for this love. But as time passes, you’ll realize it. That you did something ridiculous, and you clung to something completely worthless. You probably won’t even remember each other’s faces after you break up.”

The colleagues who were drinking with them blinked in confusion. Dane, who had spouted cynical words, twisted the corner of his mouth scornfully and let out a hollow laugh.

“Believing in such nonsense and searching for it is a waste of life. He’s either oblivious to the world or has nothing better to do. It has to be one or the other.”