?Chapter 1082:


    He watched, amusement flickering in his eyes as her face contorted in pure revulsion. “That bad, huh? I didn’t think it tasted so terrible.”


    She shot him a sharp re. “Easy for you to say when you haven’t tasted it.”


    But Norton only chuckled, the sound low and knowing. He had tasted itst night.


    “By the way, do you know where my phone is?” Yvonne ignored his mysterious smile and asked.


    She needed to reach Margie. Meeting with Frank was all that mattered. Norton handed it over without question. “Try not to stay glued to it too long. You’re supposed to be resting.”


    “I just need to make a quick work call,” she replied, already dialing, her attention shifting entirely away from him.


    Watching her switch to work mode the instant she was upright made Norton sigh inwardly. What was it about this job that had her so wrapped up? She was more relentless than he was—and that was saying something.


    Shaking his head, he reached for his phone and quietly texted Leif to bring up something light to eat.


    Meanwhile, Margie picked up almost immediately when Yvonne called. “Yvonne! Are you okay now?”


    Yvonne had aimed to get straight to the point about Frank, but the warmth in Margie’s voice made her smile. “Getting there. I’m almost fully recovered.”


    The relief on the other end gave way to gleeful excitement. “I just got to know you’re married—and your husband is drop-dead gorgeous!” Startled by the sudden switch, Yvonne fumbled with the phone—and identally hit the speaker button.


    Margie’s voice sted through the quiet room like a trumpet. “At first I thought he was just pretending, but then he whipped out your wedding photo like it was an action movie! He actually carries it around! And oh my God, Yvonne, he’s so tall and dreamy and sweet—I thought he stepped out of a magazine!”


    Flushed and flustered, Yvonne scrambled to silence the speaker, ncing up just in time to catch Norton’s bemused expression. She cut in swiftly, “Okay, Margie—enough. Let’s talk about work.”


    But Margie wasn’t done. “You should’ve seen him! The way he looked at you—so gentle, like he was holding the world in his arms! Then he just scooped you up and carried you out like some kind of knight. Honestly? He’s even better looking than his photo.”


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    As Margie’s voice continued gushing through the receiver, Yvonne’s mind began to wander. Her gaze drifted toward Norton. He was seated quietly beside her, his eyes fixed on her with a steady calm. Was it true? Had he really been that worried about her?


    Their eyes met—and something in his smile made her gaze skitter away, her heart skipping a beat. Desperate to regain control, she cleared her throat and steered the conversation back to business. “Alright. Let’s go to Frank Lee’s studio again today.”


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