Page 10

Eden

I don’t know what it was because nothing in his expression changed, but the fine hairs on the back of my neck stood to attention. I glanced around, checking where the exit was from where I stood, and took a step back, putting distance between us. The man in front of me was dangerous. Dangerous in a way Chester wasn’t. With his abrasive attitude, and the crazy rush of the past twelve hours, I hadn’t really had time to stop and think about it. But standing here, in a hotel bathroom, I realized that Bishop Chambers was more than just a suited businessman who organized paperwork to give people new lives.

Because when he fired a shot that landed inches from your feet, that didn’t clue you into the danger ?

My inner voice was a dry whisper, and it wasn’t wrong. I’d been so fixated on the situation I was in; I hadn’t thought about what was going on around me. He’d handled me like he was used to dealing with hysteria. He’d threatened me like it was nothing. And then made a decision to marry me with absolutely no emotion at all.

“Why are you marrying me?” I forced the words out from between dry lips. “Why do we need to be married?”

His dark eyes held mine and I thought, like every other time I’d asked, he wasn’t going to answer. But then he sighed and pushed away from the tub.

“Okay, I guess that’s fair. You gave me what I wanted, so I’ll answer your question.” His hand rubbed over his jaw. “In my line of work, I come into contact with a lot of powerful people. So do my brothers. Because of who we are, some of our friends are … Well, let’s just say they’re not on the right side of the law. I’ve been invited to an engagement party. I can’t afford to refuse the invitation, but one of the men who’ll be there is married to a woman who … I may have had several interactions with her before I knew she was married. She wants to continue them. If I show up with a wife of my own, it’ll reduce the number of opportunities she’ll have to get me alone and lower the risk of there being an incident between me and her husband.”

“An incident? You mean if her husband finds out you’re having an affair with his wife?” Why was I disappointed to find out he was sleeping with a married woman?

“As far as I was aware, I wasn’t having an affair. I ended things when I found out.”

“I thought you were all-knowing. How couldn’t you know she was married?”

“Because I ignored one of my rules. Always investigate the people who you’re spending time with. I took her at face value.”

“I just bet you did,” I muttered, unable to help myself.

One corner of his mouth tipped up. “Yes, I let the fact she was beautiful blind me. Go ahead and judge me for that.”

“She’s never going to believe we’re married. We barely know each other. Surely, the woman who finally steals your heart to the point where you’d want to put a ring on her finger would know everything about you.”

He shrugged. “I doubt you’ll spend enough time in her company for her to issue you with a pop quiz. All we need to do is hold hands a couple of times, maybe a public kiss or two. No one is going to expect us to be going at it like rabbits across the banquet table.”

“How are you going to explain my presence?”

“They’ll see you as my plus one. What else is there to explain?”

“How about the fact you’ve never mentioned me or introduced me before?”

“No one will question it. I never advertise my … liaisons. Just behave like you adore me and it’ll be fine. They’ll be too busy focusing on the newly engaged couple to worry about what I’m doing.”

He walked across the room and stopped by the door. “Take your bath. Food will be here soon.”

I didn’t stop him when he pulled the door open and walked out.

***

I exited the bathroom in a scented cloud of raspberry and cocoa butter, my body wrapped in the bathrobe and a towel around my hair. The soak had eased the aches from my body, and I was ready to crawl into bed and sleep. But the second I entered the living room, the smell of food hit me, and my stomach rumbled into life.

Bishop looked up from his cell as I walked across to the serving tray.

“Let me take a look at your lip before you eat.” He set his phone to one side and stood.

“But—” I cast a sidelong look at the food.

“It’ll still be there in two minutes. I want to make sure you cleaned it properly.”

“It’s not the first time I’ve had a split lip.”

“No doubt, but humor me anyway.” He pressed a finger beneath my chin and tipped my head up.

“Why are you so concerned about it now?”

“Because we’ll be getting on a public flight in a few hours, and I’d rather not be arrested on suspicion of beating you up.” He touched my lip with his thumb. “Does that hurt?”

“No. Won’t your friends ask what happened?”

“Maybe. We’ll deal with that if it happens.” His hand dropped. “Okay, go eat.”

“Sir, yes sir !” I saluted him and turned to the serving cart.

The husky chuckle he uttered surprised me. I hadn’t heard him laugh once in the time I’d spent with him so far. I lifted the lids on the serving trays to see what they hid. There was a mixture of breakfast foods—scrambled eggs, toast, bacon—sandwiches, and … I lifted the bowl to sniff … tomato soup. Odd mix, but I wasn’t going to argue. I took a plate, piled it with eggs and toast, then sat on a chair at the small table.

“You don’t have to sit over there. The couch is more comfortable.”

I shook my head, mouth full of food.

“When you’re done eating, there’s a bag of clothes near the door. Make sure everything fits okay and pick out something to wear for traveling. We’ll have time when we land in Vegas to go shopping for anything else you might need. My lawyer will have the prenup ready for when we land, as well. So we’ll go straight to the hotel, go shopping, get everything signed, then head for the chapel. We’ll fly out from Vegas at four am.”

I swallowed and nodded. “You seem to have everything worked out.”

“I like to have a plan.” He reached forward and picked up a cup from the coffee table in front of him. “I’ve met a lot of women who have been in a similar situation to you.” He paused to take a sip from the cup. “You’re very different from them.”

I stopped with the fork halfway to my mouth. “What do you mean?”

“They are broken, shadows of their former selves. You, though …” He shook his head. “He didn’t break you.”

I lowered the fork back to my plate and turned to face him. “I’m not lying.”

He shook his head. “No, that’s not what I’m saying. I know you’re not lying. I think you were lucky. You got out before he could break you down. The women I mentioned … they flinch at the slightest movement. You don’t. You get ready to fight.” There was approval in his tone. It warmed me, made me feel like I’d done something right.

“I’ve never been someone to just let a person walk all over me. I just wish I’d realized what was happening sooner.”

He stood and crossed the room to refill his cup. “That’s how they get to you. It’s a gradual thing, which is why a lot of women find themselves in a situation they can’t get out of. Women who, like you, were never weak to begin with.” He filled a second cup and handed it to me. “Decaf. Not my favorite, but you need sleep so caffeine would be a stupid decision right now. Drink up, then go to bed. I’ll wake you when it’s time to leave.”