Page 58 of The Billionaire's Bride

"Why would they do this?" Baron growls, "Why are they targeting her?"

"Fuck, if I know." Edward rubs the back of his neck. "The only reason I can think of is—"

He exchanges a glance with Baron, who blows out a breath. "Us," Baron declares. "Fucking hell. I should have been more careful. I returned to town, led them straight to her."

"I am as much to blame," Edward rumbles. "I should have realized that being seen with her would draw their attention straight to her."

"Whose attention?" Both men turn to glance at me.

20

Ava

I walk into the room and their gazes track me. Baron pushes back his chair, then walks over to meet me half way. "How are you doing?" He pinches my chin, turns my face this way, then the other. "The swelling is almost gone."

"It doesn’t hurt anymore," I confirm.

He glances down at the clothes I am carrying, "Do you want those washed?"

I nod. He reaches down to take them from me.

"They’re dirty," I protest.

He shoots me a glance and I shut up. He tugs the clothes from me, shoves the bundle under his arm, then turns and pulls out a chair for me. I slide in and he pushes the chair forward, "I’ll get you coffee." He kisses the top of my head, then heads off for a side door that I assume leads to a laundry room. I turn to find Edward staring at me.

"What?" I murmur.

"You two look good together."

My cheeks heat "Yeah, well…guess we did spend some time together."

"More than what you and I spent together." He nods, then pushes his cup of coffee toward me, "Take a sip."

"Baron’s getting me a fresh cup."

"Go on," he urges me, "you look like you need your dose of caffeine."

I smile my thanks and take a sip of the coffee, then make a face. "It’s black."

"It’s coffee."

"It’s bitter." I grimace

"It’s coffee, woman." He laughs, then takes a sip, "Hot as sin and as black as my heart."

"You don’t have a black heart, Ed."

He peers into the depths of the mug, "Somehow I don’t think the One Above will agree to that."

"Are you upset that you left the Church?"

"No," he says at once, "I don’t regret it one bit. You know, I’d do it all over again if it meant I could have you."

"Oh, Ed." I lean forward, place my hand on his, "I never wanted you to give up what was clearly such a big part of your life."

"You didn’t force me to do anything, Ava." He glances up, meeting my gaze, "It was a long time coming. You were merely the spark that triggered what I should have done a long time ago."

"Were you that unhappy in the priesthood?"