Chapter 905

"An empty creel? Planning to starve me tonight?" Vivian propped her chin on her palm, staring at the still water.

Ethan tucked his phone back into his pocket, adjusting the fishing line. "Patience. I'll make sure you taste the freshest catch."

Vivian grabbed the spare rod and deftly baited the hook. Outings with this man always made her worry about going hungry—she had to fend for herself.

"Care for a competition? Let's see who catches more."

Ethan arched a brow. "What's the prize for winning?"

"Always calculating benefits. How crude." She cast her line into the water. "Pure sport. You in?"

"Game on."

The float trembled. With a flick of his wrist, Ethan pulled a silvery fish from the water. "First one." He shook his catch teasingly.

Vivian scoffed. "It's just the beginning."

What followed was nothing short of surreal. Ethan's line kept tightening one after another while Vivian's float remained motionless.

"Did you send the fish your GPS coordinates?" She kicked his folding chair lightly.

Ethan deadpanned, "Must be their aesthetic preference."

Vivian grabbed a handful of bait and scattered it across the water. As the fish swarmed, she finally landed two. By sunset, Ethan led by three.

"Too much to eat." Vivian released most of the fish, keeping only the plumpest two.

The charcoal grill was already prepared. Ethan skillfully scaled the fish, and soon the scent of searing flesh wafted from the iron grate. He deboned a piece and held the tender white meat to Vivian's lips.

Dusk enveloped them, leaving only the sound of waves on this stretch of shore far from city lights. Vivian tightened her sweater but still shivered in the night breeze.

"Cold?" Ethan moved to remove his jacket.

"Don't." She stopped his hand. "Just fetch the blanket."

A cashmere throw, warm from his body heat, settled over her shoulders. Vivian sighed at the starless sky. "Pity there's no starlight."

"It'll come." His gaze lingered on her profile, illuminated by the firelight.

Vivian chuckled. "Since when can you summon stars?"

A sudden shift in the sea wind tousled the strands at her temples. In Ethan's pupils danced twin flames—like stars fallen into deep waters.