The Cherished Wife

Chapter 27

The look on Charles‘ face changed slightly. However, he merely shook his head and said, Nothing!” before he continued standing beside her instead of taking a seat.

Noelle gave Charles a long look and then turned to look at the stool before she accepted her fate and began wiping it down. When she was done, she said to him, “It’s clean now, Mr. Hoffman!”

Charles gave Noelle a pointed look. Did she think he found the place dirty?

His long stares made goosebumps rise on Noelle’s arms. “What’s the matter? Shall we eat somewhere else instead? I know there’s another restaurant nearby that’s got pretty good reviews. Should we go there instead?” She was starting to regret bringing Charles here.

Upon hearing that, he immediately sat down, his lips curving ever so slightly into a smile as he said, “That’s alright. This place is fine!”

Noelle heaved a sigh of relief and watched as the shop owner approached them. She was stunned when she saw Noelle. “It’s been so long since you last came here, missy! So… Oh, is this your boyfriend?”

“No.”

explanation and placed the menu in front of her.

Noelle. “What

about you?” Noelle had initially wanted to order gumbo but had changed her mind because her throat was not feeling well. Charles nodded.

snapped the menu shut before returning them to the store owner. “Two bowls of beef stew. Make it

stop herself from sneaking several more glances at Charles. She thought to herself, “What a good–looking man, and he’s considerate, too. Much

shopkeeper left, but the patrons at the next table were extremely rowdy. It was not lunch or dinner time, but there were plenty of other

she could not hear them, but they were way too loud for her to do that. Most of what they said was along the lines of, “I can’t

rare sight to behold. The campus Jocks are

look. She agrand wholeheartedly that the girls were not exaggerating Charles Hoffman

when he noticed Noelle staring at him, and he chuckled “What’s the

looked away. “You’re such

Charles answered. “Didn’t you