Love Beyond the Mask novel Chapter 348

"I'll get it myself," Whitney said, feeling an unexpected closeness as the warmth of the man next to her seemed to radiate through the air.

She tried to step back but suddenly found her arm caught in his firm grasp. "Careful," he warned.

A floor cleaner was passing right behind her.

His deep voice sent an intriguing shiver down her neck, much to her annoyance.

Frustrated, Whitney reached for another bottle on the higher shelf.

"You're too short to reach that. Aren't they all the same anyway?" he questioned, baffled by her insistence.

"Short? I'm not short!" At 5'5", Whitney wasn't tall, but she loathed being called short.

Her glare was both fierce and somewhat comical, causing Ludwik to pause before teasing, "You're not short, sure. You'd barely make it under my arm, though."

Whitney's forehead creased in irritation.

He even gestured to emphasize his point, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. Turning his head slightly, he whispered, just loud enough for her to hear, "But this height difference... it's quite convenient for, well, kissing and... um."

Realizing he was about to say too much, Whitney stepped on his foot, shutting him up before he could continue.

What was he thinking, saying something like that?

Her cheeks flushed with anger and embarrassment, especially with her son nearby.

Ludwik sensed he'd gone too far, especially after noticing her reaction. "Sorry. Need anything from the top shelf?" he said, trying to change the subject.

Whitney, too annoyed to respond, walked away in her heels.

Ludwik turned to find his son giving him a look of admiration, his little hand giving a thumbs-up, "Smart move, Dad."

Ludwik's face darkened, "This is not the time for games."

But his son's gaze drifted towards the carousel outside the store, "Daddy, I wanna ride the merry-go-round!"

"This is a supermarket, not a playground," Ludwik replied, his patience wearing thin.

"If you don't love me anymore, I'll just go to Mommy then."

Resigned, Ludwik found a secluded spot and crouched down, letting his son climb onto his back for a piggyback ride, much to the boy's delight.

Whitney returned to find Ludwik, a man of pride, playing horse for his son. Surprised, her gaze softened when she noticed the boys had switched places.

Sammy, pretending to be Danny, clung to Ludwik with a mix of awkwardness and contentment.

Whitney's heart twinged, recalling her dreams of a happy family, now seeing a glimmer of that in her sons' interaction with their father.