Page 52 of The Billionaire's Bride

"So, Ava, why belly dancing?"

"Why the priesthood?"

"You first." I set my jaw, and she scowls.

"Why do I always have to give in?"

"Because you’re submissive?"

Her jaw drops, "Of all the asinine—"

"I joined the army because it was the only way to deal with the ghosts of my past," Baron interjects.

Both of us turn to him.

He looks up from his plate, "In hindsight, it was the most cowardly and the most courageous thing that I had ever done."

"Cowardly?" She frowns.

He raises a shoulder "I simply placed all of my problems on the back burner. Only, they were still there when I returned."

"So, what are you going to do about it?" I murmur. "You going to face them head on now?"

He laughs, "What do you think?"

"I think," I reach for the wine and refill his glass, then Ava’s, "you need to get drunk."

"What about you?" Ava asks

"I am the designated driver this evening."

"With your arm in a sling?" She scowls.

I smirk, take off the sling, and stretch my arm, "Surprise."

"Wow," she stares at me, "you’re better?"

"The sling was just a precaution, to curtail movement, which would help the wound to heal faster," I explain, "but I’m definitely feeling better."

"Hmm," she purses her lips, "so you weren’t as badly hurt as I thought."

"I just heal fast," I offer.

"Guess I didn’t really need to ask you to stay with me, huh?"

My neck heats, but I refuse to look away. "You can’t blame a guy for trying." I shrug.

"Edward," she gapes, "really… You actually pretended to be worse off just so you could get into my…"

"Pants?"

"I was going to say bed," she snaps.

"I suppose I should say I am sorry," I quirk my lips, "but I am not."

"Of course, not." She scowls. "Why should you? Doesn’t matter that I was really worried about you, you…ass." She tightens her fingers around the stem of her wine glass, "Seriously, Ed, sometimes I don’t think I recognize you anymore."

"Me neither." I glance away. I should apologize, really, I should, but I only did what was necessary to get a head start over Baron. What’s so wrong with that? I glance at her tense face, then at Baron’s smirking one. Bastard. I glower at him and he shakes his head.