Heiress' Househusband is a Secret Billionaire - Chapter 171

Chapter 171: Kinda Like a Boy
Lariette and Ruediger headed to the food court to quench their hunger and thirst first. Different kinds of food stalls and two small restaurants waited for them.

After a considerable time of thinking, Lariette and Ruediger got a shawarma each. They also bought a bag of fries and a bowl of cut strawberries to be shared.

“Let’s sit there,” Lariette pointed to a cozy picnic table under a large tree. Both of her hands were occupied, including holding a tall cup of iced lychee black tea.

“Okay,” Ruediger easily agreed. He was carrying other food in paper bags in his hands.

Lariette and Ruediger settled themselves at the benches, the food was spread on the table. The lush and extended branches offered them cool relief from the heat of the summer sun.

Lariette gathered her hair into a bun when the wind kept sticking her strands to her face. She eagerly unwrapped the shawarma. Its smokey scent of spiced, roasted meat wafted in the air.

“Wow~ It looks so good.”

Without wasting any time, Lariette took her first bite. Her eyes flung open at how tasty the shawarma was. She almost danced in excitement.

The beef was perfectly marinated with spices before being roasted. Its meat was juicy and tender with crispy, charred edges. It was perfectly paired with the savory and tangy sauces and the soft flatbread.

Ruediger refrained from laughing at the sight of Lariette enjoying the rolled flatbread dish. He also sank his teeth into the shawarma, his tummy eager to be stuffed.

Lariette and Ruediger ate in a comfortable silence. Indistinct chatter and laughter from the other visitors drifted by the wind. The breeze blew by, catching the brown and crimson strands of their locks.

“Have you played baseball before?” asked Ruediger after eating half of his shawarma. He glanced at the baseball track before landing his eyes again on Lariette’s face.

Lariette took a sip of her drink when Ruediger threw the question at her. Placing the cup down, she said, “Never. Why? Are you gonna teach me?”

Ruediger arched his brows, his eyes glinting with amusement. He replied playfully, “Time to show off my teaching skills. Believe me, you’ll be a pro in no time.”

Lariette burst out laughing. Shaking her head in helplessness, she grinned at Ruediger meaningfully, “You don’t think it’s enough to show me how you play, huh? You want to brag about your coaching skills too?”

Without any shame, Ruediger nodded decisively, “Of course. Who else am I gonna brag about my talents if not with you?”

A gush of heat radiated from Lariette’s cheeks. She quickly took another sip of the iced tea, feeling hotter all of a sudden.

Somehow… his last remark stirred something in her heart.

“Won’t you take a nap?” Lariette shifted the topic. She tried to keep her voice composed, “You haven’t rested since this morning. Just let me drive from here.”

They still had a long way to go before reaching the province where Moonville was located. Lariette had notified the family who took care of Mrs. Evans’ home about her arrival today.

The Campbell family was a good neighbor for Lariette and Mrs. Evans from the first time they moved to Moonville. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell lived there by themselves. The others had moved out.

After Mrs. Evans’ death, Lariette relied on the Campbells to take care of the house, including handling the maintenance aspects. She paid them handsomely every month, knowing they would benefit from the compensation now that Mr. and Mrs. Campbells had retired.

“I’ll just take a short nap here,” Ruediger shook his head, his lips tugging into a smile, “But, thanks for the offer, Lettie.”

Ruediger’s words were simple but, had a hint of finality. Lariette dropped the subject, thinking he might not be comfortable with her driving his precious truck. She knew some people were like that.

“Get all the nap you want. No need to rush,” Lariette smiled, gazing at her half-eaten shawarma, “You still have time to show off your baseball skills.”

Chuckles slipped out of Ruediger’s lips. Arching his brows, he answered confidently, “That, of course. I won’t forget it.”

Lariette shrugged, throwing Ruediger a meaningful side-eye. The man simply laughed before taking another bite of his shawarma. She also continued eating.

After finishing their meal, Ruediger laid his back on the bench, his long legs hanging off the edges. Lariette silently watched the man getting a shut-eye before checking her phone.

Lariette sent a few photos she took along the expressway to Madeline and Chairman Delaney. Having an idea, she quietly stood up and began positioning her camera phone toward the sleeping Ruediger.

The summer breeze played the man’s crimson locks as he lay on the bench, one arm draped over his forehead while the other rested on his stomach. His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm.

The rays filtered through the rustling leaves, casting warm light and shadows on Ruediger’s face. Although only minutes had passed, he already looked to be deep in his slumber.

‘He looks… kinda like a boy.’

Lariette quietly snapped some photos. She was amused by how comfortable Ruediger looked. His rough features also softened a lot more.

If only she saw how gentle the smile on her lips was. The light in her eyes also brightened before softening tenderly as they gazed at the man.

‘I’ll only send this one.’

Lariette picked one of Ruediger’s sleeping photos before sending them to her friend and her grandfather’s chats. Pursing her lips, she shyly looked at the man’s other pictures in her phone gallery.

She couldn’t let him know she had these photos!

When Ruediger finally woke up sometime later, he was oblivious to what Lariette had done. Stretching his arms and legs, he glanced at her, finding her scrolling on her phone.

“Baseball time?”

Lariette laughed, thinking it was funny to see Ruediger, whose face was still drowsy, talking about playing baseball again.

“Hehe, you still think of that? Let’s go!”

Ruediger quickly washed his face at the nearby water tap. Then, he beckoned at Lariette to follow him toward the track. She shook her head, helplessness drawn on her smiling lips.

The solo baseball track had a simple setup of an enclosed batting cage with an automated pitching machine. Two of the tracks were occupied. They headed to the third one.

“Want to try first?” Ruediger glanced at Lariette, giving her a thoughtful look.

Lariette chuckled nervously, “I’ve never played before.”

“All the more reason to start now.”

Ruediger replied to Lariette with a grin before picking up a bat. After testing its weight, he handed it to the lady.

Lariette hesitated but, still took the bat. It felt heavier than she expected. She awkwardly gripped the handle, unsure of how to stand.

A bat had a different weight distribution compared to a bow. Still, her trained muscles could handle this.

Tapping his chin twice, Ruediger chuckled, “Alright, let’s fix that stance first. Stand on the marked spot.”

“Okay.”

Stepping on the square-shaped marked spot, Lariette watched Ruediger move behind her. He extended his arms, gently placing his broad palms over hers, adjusting her grip.

Lariette stiffened at the closeness, heat creeping up her neck as Ruediger’s warm breath tickled her ear. His familiar scent also suddenly intensified.

This… Why did her heart make a huge jump inside?