James was startled. Had he just addressed other girls flirtatiously in front of Tailsa?
What was the difference between that and stirring up a hornet's nest?
While Tailsa likely wouldn't lose her affection for himâif anything, she'd just get mad and need to be coddledâAmanda's nature meant that no matter how sweetly he flirted in front of her, it probably wouldn't increase her feelings for him.
It felt like this was clearly a setup to tease him.
He caught sight of Amanda's mischievous grin.
Deciding he wouldn't back down, he stood up, ready to use his impressive kissing skills to win her over.
Just as he leaned in, however, he heard Tailsa's approaching footsteps.
James quickly planted a hasty kiss on Amanda's cheek and then lay back down beside her.
Amanda giggled at the suddenness of it all, having also sensed Tailsa getting closer.
In stormed Tailsa, with Timmy in tow, eager to see the kittens.
The moment she noticed James lounged comfortably on Amanda's lap, her cheeks puffed out in indignation, and she placed her hands on her hips, glaring at him.
"So, you made Timmy call me 'Godmother' just so I could take care of the kids while you relax here?"
James gave a resigned smile, feeling a bit helpless.
If Tailsa was this sensitive about him laying on someone else's lap, he could only imagine how she would react to any affectionate words.
He really didn't want to have to appease anyone upon arriving home, so he put on a thick skin and said with a grin, "I've been working so hard; what's wrong with enjoying a little downtime?"
Tailsa was momentarily taken aback.
Remembering how hard her husband worked, she felt guilty for giving him a hard time.
But being faced with the sight of these two so close made her uncomfortable nonetheless.
She let out a soft huff but said nothing further.
At that moment, the pragmatic Amanda lifted James's chin and nudged him over, smiling at Tailsa. "Tailsa, why don't you help him clean his ears? I'd like to play with Timmy for a bit."
This generous suggestion won James's favor.
Compared to Tailsa's miniature jealousy pot, Amanda clearly understood how to be considerate.
However, Tailsa felt even more agitated by Amanda's seemingly caring remark.
She realized that pretending to be generous in this situation would do nothing to fix her feelings, so she boldly walked over to grab a silicone ear scoop and plopped onto the sofa.
"I'll give it a go, and I'll even see how to make him deaf!"
"Ha!" Amanda chuckled lightly, rising from her seat.
James propped himself up, stealing a glance at Tailsa's pleated skirt and her long, toned legs, swallowing hard as he lay back down.
He didn't switch sides; he rested his head on the ear that Amanda had just cleaned.
Inhaling Tailsa's subtle yet alluring fragrance, he felt an exhilarating spark from her smooth, supple skin.
Even though she might be a bit clumsy with the ear-cleaning technique, it was a satisfying experience nonetheless.
"Godmother, where is the kitten?" Timmy chimed in, holding a piece of watermelon Amanda had given her, her voice bright.
"Upstairs, in my room," Tailsa replied, focusing intently on her task.
"Oh!"
The little girl continued munching on her watermelon, not seeming to want to leave just yet. She decided to wait until her godmother finished.
Amanda added, "Once you're done eating, I'll take you to see it."
Timmy's eyes sparkled, and she quickly devoured the watermelon, proudly raising the rind in victory.
Amanda laughed, wiping the juice from Timmy's face before leading her to wash her hands, then heading upstairs to find the kitten.
With those two gone, only James and Tailsa remained downstairs.
Tailsa utilized the built-in light of the ear scoop, examining James's ear. "This ear is so clean; it's like you've already had it checked. Show me the other one."
James kept his eyes closed and said, "Both my ears are clean. Just scratching around feels nice; ear cleaning doesn't always mean you need to dig something out."
Tailsa's attention was fully on James's ears. Upon hearing his voice, she realized how intimate their position was.
Her cheeks flushed slightly as she teasingly replied, "You sly devil, trying to take advantage of me."
James defended himself, "What's the point? You came over first!"
With a playful huff, she said, "So you get Amanda to clean your ears? That just means you're trying to take advantage of her too, right?"
James feigned innocence. "I didn't ask her to; she just said she bought a nice ear scoop and wanted to let me try it."
Hearing this, Tailsa's heart skipped a beat.
No wonder this guy ran to her side as soon as he got back.
Amanda was certainly skillful at captivating men; her charm likely surpassed her own.
If she acted out again, she would risk upsetting James and, worse, possibly losing his affection.
It seemed she needed to adjust her approach.
Clearing her throat, she asked sweetly, "A caring and gentle girl like my sister must surely be someone your brother appreciates, right?"
James sensed the sweet undertones shift to a hint of jealousy; it felt oddly refreshing.
"Well, I like you equally, you're just as beautiful and adorable."
Tailsa's heart fluttered; clearly, her tactic was working, and she put on an innocent façade. "Brother, you're so busy every day. It makes me worry about you. It's all my fault for not being able to care for you properly."
"Working hard is tough for you, but I can't help at all. I just spend all my time at home thinking of you."
James drew in a breath at that, feeling overwhelmed.
Bolstering himself up, he turned to assess Tailsa's expression. "Sweetheart, could you please talk normally?"
Tailsa clutched at his shirt, wearing a pitiful expression. "Does big brother not like me?"
Her innocent act, feigned compliments, and childlike charm were strategies she had learned online.
She needed James to see that she was not only skilled with tea but also knew how to navigate these social waters.
"Okay, what's this sudden shift in attitude all about?" James asked, surprised.
"I'm really foolish; I've upset you again. You don't hate me, do you?"
"Stop!" James said, clearly exasperated. "Get it together, or I might have to use some tough love."
Tailsa's eyes glimmered as she leaned closer, playfully testing him. "What 'tough love' do you have in mind?"
James smirked, familiar with her teasing, and lightly pulled her closer, giving her a gentle pat on the back. "You dare to test me?"
Tailsa's cheeks flushed slightly as she giggled, "You're so annoying!"
Lunch was a feast, with all of Wu Ma's specialties on display.
Braised pork ribs, beef with green peppers, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, spicy potato shreds, and black-bone chicken soup.
Although these were simple home-cooked dishes, they were delicious and rivaled anything found in upscale restaurants.
Timmy tried to sneak a piece of pork rib but was caught by Amanda, leading to a well-deserved lecture.
Seeing her situation, Tailsa secretly helped Timmy hide away two more ribs.
After lunch, she took Timmy to feed Big White, the puppy.
The little dog happily munched on a pork rib, fully enjoying itself.
Timmy eagerly wanted to feed the kittens next, but Tailsa gently stopped her, knowing that the cats were more delicate and couldn't handle such rich food.
After playing with Big White for a while, Timmy was ushered upstairs for a nap by Amanda.
Tailsa led James to the third floor, eager to show him the little kitten she had bought.
It was a round and fluffy orange tabby, with the boldness of a little tiger, completely unafraid of people.
When the little kitten saw James approach, it sniffed at him before eagerly rubbing against his hand.
"I expected you to adopt one of those fancy Ragdolls or Maine Coons," James remarked with a smile.
"So why does it seem like I'm just another materialistic girl in your eyes?" Tailsa teased, mimicking an innocent flair as she pouted.
"Just speak normally and don't provoke me," James replied, raising an eyebrow.
Tailsa closed the door, giving James a flirtatious look, "Why don't you show me what you can do?"
"The cat is still here."
"It can't understand anyway."