“Hence, why I asked where you were. Where?” He crossed his arms. “That important?”
“You could say that.” I place down my items on my desk, examining his stiff posture. “Was there something you needed?”
“Actually, yes.” He stretched for the decanter, not waiting for me, and poured himself half a glass, swigging it down before pouring more. “You fucking threatened Ava’s safety, which I strictly forbade her to leave without a handful of guards nearby.”
My jaw twitched.
So he was spying on me, eh?
I clenched my hands to keep myself from pulling my brother over this table and beating the shit out of him for questioning me. “She is safe.”
He sneered. “You’re a fucking idiot, you know that? Why didn’t you just ask me? I would have—”
“Said no, and there is this man called our father who would have shot that idea down as quickly as it was spoken.” He opened his mouth to speak but I beat him to it. “Don’t bullshit me and say you would have helped me. Even Ava knows—”
“Don’t use her against me.” He slammed his glass on the table, brandy splashing over the rim. “She is here to be kept safe. So that I can make sure nothing happens. And now my brother is sneaking her out of the castle like a fucking—”
“She needs to be let off your leash once in a while, George,” I snapped, lifting the edge of the desk and crashing it to the floor. He was pissing me off, completely ruining my evening.
“It’s not a leash, it's her safety! I can’t afford to have something happen to her.”
“Afford?”
“You know how much I care for her!” His eyes bore daggers into me, but I ignored it, sitting in my chair so I didn’t flip him out of his, or throw this expensive brandy across the room.
“Plenty, I see.”
“And why wouldn’t I?” he spat. “I’ve known her since we were children. She’s my—”
“Ex-fiancée. Yes, I’m aware,” I ground out bitterly.
“Best friend,” George corrected.
“She was fine. I was with her.” I clenched the arms of my chair, attempting to keep my temper in check.
“Alone. With no chaperone, and you had no backup. Did you even have another plan?”
“I did.”
“And you would take the risk?” He exhaled a shaky breath. “I can’t believe you. You are always so careful and—”
“Maybe I’m tired of being vigilant all the time.” I pointed out. “Maybe I needed a night off.”
George was silent for a moment, biting his upper lip and rubbing his chin. “You carry a lot of responsibility on your shoulders. You received the short end of the stick. Next time you need a timeout, keep Ava out of it.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
George scoffed, gritting his teeth. “You aren’t listening to me.” He said it in a slow and grating tone. “I love her; nothing is going to happen to her while she is here. I brought her here to keep her safe. Which started out amazing, since we were attacked only three days into our journey. She is at risk, more so now that, not only is she the only heir, but possibly my bride.”
My mind froze, repeating his last word. Bride.
“What did you say?”
“Father has informed me...that if I don’t find another bride, it’ll be Ava who will stand beside me as Queen.”
My thoughts flashed to tonight. Ava was in my arms, just hours ago, as I ravished her beautiful mouth, wanting to take more of her with each passing second.
“Does she know?”
“She agreed to it.” That hit me hard. I’d never experienced a whirlwind of emotion like I had now. Confusion mixed with deception obliterated my perfect night. When I wanted to give her the world, she had another plan of her own—marrying my brother while her lips were—
“Garr,” George chimed. “I already know. Don’t worry about it.”
I closed my eyes. “Know what?”
I could hear the smile in his voice. “That you’ve taken a liking to Ava.”
My eyes shot open. “I’m not looking for a damn wife.” It came out harsher than I meant, but I wasn’t. Yes, I wanted to make Ava happy; it made me feel good. But so would being inside her. I wasn’t staying here. I was going back home to Aruna, and Ava made it quite clear she wasn’t going to be tied down either.
George shrugged. “Maybe you should be.”
“I already have Father trying to impose Sophia Chitwood on me. I don’t need you to start in on it as well.”
George’s face dropped. “Oh shit.”
“Oh shit is right.”
∞∞∞
Finding Ava in the bustling kitchen was easy; her red hair stood out like a beacon, calling for me. Leaning over a white marble counter, her leg was wrapped around one leg of a stool, as she tapped the other on the floor. Mr. Liason was singing off-key, like he did every morning that I can remember. It drove the rest of the kitchen staff daft with irritation. I admired the man to keep his normal routine while the others wanted to rip out his vocal cords.
Her long fingers snatched a strawberry from his cutting board while her head swayed back and forth to his voice. No wonder he liked her so well; she could withstand his singing.
“Ah, mornin’, Lord Cranfield,” Mr. Liason greeted, his gray hair in disarray, a strand in his eye. He didn’t seem to notice or was too busy to care. Ava stood from her chair, chewing and covering her mouth.
“Good morning.”
Smiling, I strode toward her. “Good morning.” When I was but a few feet from her, she perched herself back on the stool. By her rosy cheeks and strands of hair loosely falling out of her braid, I knew she had just gotten back from her morning ride with George. “Enjoy your morning excursion?”
“I did.” She popped a purple grape in her mouth. She smelled of rosewood and fresh air from being in the woods. “Mr. Liason coaxed me into making it a short one. He promised me a lovely breakfast.”
“Did he now?” I looked at him. “I’ve never seen him make anyone a special breakfast since I’ve been here. Wasn’t it you that said you wouldn’t make me any blueberry muffins?”
Mr. Liason scoffed. “They weren’t in season.” He placed down his knife and started barking out orders to the merchants on where to place the food. I leaned in closer to Ava.
“I was hoping I’d catch you before you went.”
She eyed me before popping another grape between her lips. “You don’t take morning rides.”
“Yes, my observant one.” Still eyeing her lips, I continued, “But morning jaunts seem to interest me now.”
Her cheeks turned pink and she evaded my gaze. “Are you going on the rabbit hunt in a few days?”
I tucked my chin in to hide my smile. “No, I have plenty to do here.”
Reaching for a berry, I took a bite, licking my bottom lip and tasting the tartness. I wondered what it would taste like off her lips.
“Back to business, eh?”
I chuckled. “Unfortunately.” I pushed off the counter, leaning my hip against it to face her. “Unless you have another party you’d like to attend.” She smiled down at her hands, fidgeting with her fingers.
“Do you know of any?”
“I can ask John.” I inched closer to her. “What else can I do?”
She locked her eyes with mine, glinting in amusement. “Can you make me breakfast?” I tsked. Not the answer I had in mind, but I loved her wittiness.
“I’ll make you whatever you want. Can’t promise it’ll be good, though.” I kissed her forehead, lingering a moment longer because I wanted to feel her skin again. Rounding the counter, I observed Mr. Liason’s work. He was just cutting up fruit; I know he had more going on. Striding to the stove, I asked the cook if he was helping with breakfast. He told me that he was making eggs and ham for Ava. Telling him to double up on it because I was starving, I approached the counter to see her shaking her head at me with her arms crossed.
“You cheated.”
I tried not to smile. “I had a late advantage, food is already being made.”
She raised a brow. “Can you make coffee?”
I held up my index finger. “That I know what to do.” Searching around for a kettle, I began to open up drawers, peeking inside a few with no luck.
Ava burst into laughter. “We may have to check your eyes, Garr.”