Page 157 of The Heart You Kept

“Oh.” He frowns.

“She said he was a friend.”

“Is he a friend?”

“I don’t know.” I shrug. “Maybe.”

“Why do you think maybe?”

“She’s seen him since and nothing suspicious has happened.”

“How do you know that?”

“I have guards on her.”

“Does she know that?”

“Yes.”

“What did she say when she found this out?”

“I….” I hesitate.

“You what?”

“I haven’t taken her calls since I put them on her.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t want to fight with her.”

“Edward Prescott not wanting to fight.” He sits back and smiles. “I do believe we may have progress.”

“Fuck off.” I roll my eyes. “I just don’t want to….”

“What?”

“Antagonize her.”

His eyes light up. “Are you scared of Alora?”

“I’m not scared of Alora, I’m scared of losing my temper with her,” I murmur.

“Why is that?”

“It’s obvious, isn’t it?”

“Not to me.”

“Where she’s concerned, everything is heightened.”

He stares at me for a beat. “You’re afraid your temper will be heightened too.”

I roll my lips, uncomfortable with where this is going.

“Edward, you need to have more trust in yourself. You have never been violent with women.”

“Not that way, I mean I don’t want her to end it,” I say softly.