Page 10 of The Billionaire's Wife

If I was going to help her, it was better to start now. Get it done. Move on. Dragging things out was only going to hurt more in the long run.

At the same time, I could tell it wasn’t the right move. Not yet. For one, she needed to be awake. And properly attired. Surely she’d be less distracting in clothes that didn’t look obviously slept in.

I finished my cereal and stood, then carried the bowl to the sink. I rinsed it and loaded it into the dishwasher.

Faith started laughing.

“What?” I turned, frowning.

“Nothing. I’m sorry. It’s really nothing.” She waved a hand in the air, seemingly oblivious to the half-eaten pot sticker still between her fingers.

Oookay?

I went back to the island and sat so I could finish my coffee.

“You’re good at the silence thing.”

“I’m not used to having someone in my space in the morning. And I try to avoid talking to myself.”

She flashed a grin. “No girlfriend?”

“No. You might remember I’m married.”

Red stained her cheeks. “On paper, sure. But you’ve dated, right? Come on, Tristan, no one expected you to be a monk for the last fourteen years.”

My eyebrows lifted.

She cleared her throat and looked away. “Seriously?”

“Married. It matters.”

“Well. Um.” She blew out a breath. “Wow.”

I took a drink of coffee even though it tasted like dust now. “I guess you have a boyfriend?”

“Not now. No. But, there have been a few guys…sometimes it’s the easiest way to get a place to crash.” Faith twisted her drink in her hands. “That sounds bad when you say it out loud.”

I nodded.

She drank, then set the mug down on the counter. “I guess I owe you an apology?”

“Are you asking me?”

“Kind of? I’m lost here. I thought the whole marriage thing was your way of getting me out from under Dad’s thumb and away from a situation that wasn’t safe.”

“It was.” It was that and so much more. “It was a way for me to protect you.”

“And I ruined it. Because of course I did.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “‘I’m sorry’ feels inadequate, but it’s all I’ve got. Maybe…maybe once we figure out the whole cartel thing I can figure out some way to make it up to you.”

I wasn’t sure right now that I wanted to know how she thought she’d make up for fourteen years of absence. None of the ideas that popped into my head were in line with living for Jesus. “Don’t worry about it. But since you brought it up, have you thought about what you want?”

Faith gave a curt nod. “I want out. All the way.”

The weight on my shoulders eased marginally. “Okay. That’s good.”

“I’m not sure I believe it’s the right choice. I’m not even sure I believe it’s possible. But I know you’ll do what you can, and I’ll hate myself if I don’t at least try.”

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