Desire Me If You Can [Novel] - Chapter 76

“What kind of taste does he have?”
Grayson asked, still smirking despite the irritation evident in his narrowed eyes. Perhaps due to the alcohol, Ezra didn’t notice.
“Well, at least not someone as huge as you… Dein’s pretty big himself, so I’ve never seen anyone bigger than him. So, there hasn’t been anyone who isn’t Dein’s type, so to speak. But you, you’re just, well, enormous.”
Ezra scanned Grayson meaningfully and added with a bitter smile,
“From what I know of Dein’s preferences, you’d probably have a tough time.”
Grayson silently downed his ineffective beer. He felt inexplicably annoyed. Dein had made similar remarks before. It wasn’t pleasant then, but now it was downright infuriating. Grayson inadvertently blurted out his true feelings.
“As if you know anything about Dein…”
“What? What did you say?”
Ezra blinked, confused, but fortunately, the noise of the bar swallowed Grayson’s words. Seizing the chance, Grayson quickly switched topics with a grin.
“How did he end up taking care of that cat? I can’t imagine Dein looking after anyone.”
“Well, that’s true. He doesn’t look after people,”
Ezra agreed readily, then added,
“But animals are different.”
“Does he like animals?”
“Does he like them?”
Ezra pondered again, tilting his head before continuing,
“He’s not exactly welcoming to every animal. Mostly, he just looks at them indifferently. But yeah, if they’re abandoned or hurt, he can’t just leave them be.”
Essentially, he only steps in when they need help. Was it the same case with that cat?
“Like Darling?”
“Yeah, exactly.”
Ezra nodded readily as Grayson probed subtly.
“It was the only cat left in a building we were called out to. It was hiding in a corner, badly injured. Eventually, it went blind and deaf. The treatment was so expensive it almost got euthanized, but Dein paid for all of it himself and adopted it.”
Ezra chuckled after his lengthy explanation.
“That guy, he worked overtime for two months straight to pay off the vet bills. He was so tense and irritable, barely slept, and would snap at anyone just for acting like they knew anything.”
“Wow,” Ezra shook his head. Grayson knew he should smile in response, but for some reason, he couldn’t muster
it.
“Didn’t you say Dein likes money?”
Typically, that would be miserly. But paying all those vet bills and even working overtime to earn the money? It didn’t add up. Ezra readily offered an explanation.
“Yeah, Dein doesn’t skimp when it comes to spending on Darling. And on his sexual partners too.”
Ezra then flashed a peculiar smile.
“He’s known to buy expensive drinks and even cook breakfast for someone he likes.”
Grayson frowned and cast a skeptical look.
“Have you slept with Dein?”
How could he know such a thing? Challenged by the question fraught with suspicion, Ezra immediately turned serious and shook his head.
“God, no! I’ve got a wife and three kids! It’s not something I’ve experienced; it’s just what I’ve heard.” “How?”
Grayson still couldn’t shake his suspicion and pressed for more.
“From any of the women you’ve slept with who’ve been with Dein?”
“From colleagues at the fire station?”
“Yeah, not all of them, like you.”
Ezra pointed out bluntly, then softened his tone,
“There are quite a few women who’d like to date Dein. But he’s clear about not wanting anything serious. He’s a player.”
He concluded with a bitter smile. Grayson toyed with his beer bottle, silent. The more he learned, the less he understood.
What kind of man was Dein Striker?
Trying to find a clue seemed to tangle the situation even more. Frustrated, Grayson drank his beer.
After yoga, as Naomi was cooling down and catching her breath during the most peaceful time of her day, the sound of her phone ringing made her eyebrows twitch. She sighed reluctantly before finally opening her eyes and reaching for her phone on the side table. However, the annoyance of being disturbed vanished the moment she saw the caller ID. Confirming the name “Grayson Miller” on the screen, she answered with a pleased expression. “Hey, Grayson? What’s up?”
Really, what is it? Have you found what you were looking for? And did you get dumped? Are you feeling miserable and sad now? Are you regretting how you’ve lived your life, ready to beat your chest in remorse? Tell me where you are, I’ll come running to see your miserable state!
As Naomi eagerly anticipated offering a napkin to Grayson, a man’s voice from the other end of the phone cut through.
• Is what you have a dog?
Taken aback by the sudden question, Naomi blinked a couple of times. She pulled the phone away from her ear to look at it once before bringing it back.
“Yeah, want to see a picture?”
No, that’s okay.
His reply came back as a small murmur.
• Really useless.
Though clearly a mutter to himself, it was enough to turn Naomi’s stomach. What made her even more furious was that Grayson abruptly ended the call after that remark.
“What, I mean, what.”
Naomi clenched her fist, breathing heavily. Still unable to contain her anger, she finally let out a roar from deep within.
“What kind of bastard does that?”
Grayson sat at the tea table, his face grave, lost in thought after a few futile calls. The feeling of emptiness and confusion swelled, leaving him clueless about what to do next.
What had I done before?
Matching someone’s mood had always been easy. Spending time together usually revealed their desires through expressions or glances. Money was never an issue, nor was time. He had always provided whatever was wanted, whether it was a thoughtful gift or a lavish event. The response had always been just as he expected, so he had never faced any trouble. This time should be no different.
The problem was that spending time alone with Dein seemed impossible.
How could he even create such a situation with a man who didn’t understand what a date was? He still had one chance, but he didn’t want to waste it like this. Dein Striker would likely end whatever obligation he felt to the date without looking back, finishing everything off casually.
Was there another way to find out more about him?
…Cats and money.
Grayson furrowed his brow and looked serious. These were the only tools he could use now, and one of these he had in abundance.
Finally finding a lead, Grayson promptly picked up his phone to make a call. It didn’t take long for the other side to answer. He spoke to the head of the household staff, who managed various errands.
“Look into cat products right away.”
• Cats? Did you have a cat…?
Surprised by the unexpected request, the manager asked, puzzled. Grayson didn’t elaborate but answered briefly.
“It’s a gift, so find something any cat owner would love.”
• Oh, okay.
The manager replied readily, adding as if sharing a secret,
“Just so you know, people who own cats are not called owners, but servants.”
“What?”
Grayson scowled, but the manager hung up after a brief goodbye. He stared at the disconnected phone, baffled
for a while.