Baby Be Mine(Spinsters & Casanovas Series Book 1)(45)

“It is,” Clarice said after a while, bringing his thoughts back to the present. “We went there a few years ago to create a dental practice for the children in Battambang.”

Hunter gazed at the avocado. She held an expression of nostalgia. He smiled and was lost there for a minute as she gazed out into some faraway place, her thoughts in another time.

Hunter felt a little guttered that he didn’t get to go to Battambang. Their foundation was set up in the Kendal Province, or Central Province, near the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. Maybe if he went at the end of this year, he could explore that part of the country and check out her clinic.

“Have you been to Angkor Watt?” Clarice asked all of a sudden, forgetting about their bickering.

“Yes, I have. It’s beautiful.”

Now both of their faces held that faraway look, both casting back to the time when each stood in front of the ancient intricate stone temple that stood so majestic, surrounded by a scenic moat covered with lily pads. From afar, when the sun set on the far horizon behind the temple, the whole scenery was transformed by the glowing reflection of the bright-orange light on the moat, giving the temple an ambient glow that looked so picturesque, like a painting on canvas. This would be the kind of image Hunter would treasure forever.

“I know it is,” Clarice said, reflecting Hunter’s thought. “Apparently the country had some Indian influence, followed by the French. When I was there, they served a lot of baguettes.”

Why was she telling Hunter about her heritage? Why was she even having this conversation with this man anyway? They were not friends. Her nostalgic expression transformed dramatically into a scowl when she realized this.

“Cambodia is beautiful,” Hunter stated. Then his eyes turned mischievous as he gazed at her. “Lovely country with lovely people, unlike here. The one Cambodian I’ve met had to spit on me on our first meeting.”

“Why back to the spitting incident again?” Clarice fumed again. Here she almost thought he was a pleasant man to talk to, what with both of them liking Cambodia and whatnot, but now he was back to being that annoying man again.

“Well, that is why I’m here,” Hunter said simply with a shrug of his shoulder.

“You… arrggh. I’ll personally deposit that money into your bank account tomorrow. And don’t ask for cash because I don’t carry that much. Just text me your bank information later. Now I’m leaving. Don’t follow me.”

Clarice turned to walk away. But it was only a few seconds later when she heard footsteps beside her, and turning around, she saw Hunter smiling his seductive charm towards her again, the same he used with her at his house when she delivered those roses. This time, though, she was not fazed.

“Now what?” she shouted at him.

“I was just thinking why we always seem to run into each other like this.” Hunter walked in front of Clarice and blocked her way. “Don’t you think the wheel of fate is playing a hand in this?” he asked with amusement.

“No. I don’t think the wheel of fate has a hand in this. I think it’s more like the wheel of misfortune,” Clarice said, then turned on her heel and walked around Hunter while he just burst into a fit of laughter.

“Really?” he managed to say after he caught his breath. “I like to think of it as fate. Like we’re meant to be rivals or enemies for life; that’s why I keep seeing you everywhere,” he said as he took off after her again.

“What are you doing? Go back to your car. Stop following me.” Clarice shooed Hunter away as if she were shooing away an eager Labrador.