Page 65 of Blackmail of a Billionaire

“She seemed…upset when she returned. She went to rest.”

Grant heaved a sigh as he pressed the cold glass to the bruise on his jaw. At least she was still here.

“Perhaps a real ice pack, sir?” Worthington asked.

“I’ve got it, Worthington,” Julia’s voice answered from the doorway.

Grant’s gaze shifted to her as he held his breath. His pulse quickened as he searched her face for any hint of her emotions.

Worthington strode to the door. “I’ll leave you both to talk.”

He slid the doors noiselessly shut behind him as Julia crossed toward Grant. He reached for the ice pack, but she gently shifted his face to study the bruise before she pressed the ice pack against it.

He winced as the coldness pressed against it.

“This doesn’t look too bad. Is it very painful?” she asked, her eyes searching his.

His hand caressed hers as he took hold of the ice pack. “It’s not too bad,” he said, his voice low. “I can’t imagine you’ve come across many bruises like this. Somehow, fistfights don’t suit you.”

A soft chuckle escaped her, drawing his attention back to her. The smile playing on her lips seemed genuine. “I’m not quite as sheltered as you may think.”

His eyes narrowed slightly as he studied the enigmatic woman he had married. He’d just been arrested for a second time after a very public brawl, but she seemed more concerned about his bruise than the public embarrassment. Her reaction was a stark reminder of the complex history he knew nothing about.

She shifted her gaze to the floor below her feet, the smile fading as her chest heaved. “Grant, I’m sorry.”

His heart pounded for a moment at those words. “For what?”

“This.”

“There is nothing for you to apologize for, Julia. I’m the one who should be apologizing. I doubt you expected to see me in the back of a police cruiser twice in the first few months of our marriage.”

Julia stalked away a few steps, seeming lost in thought. “Both times for wildly inaccurate charges.”

Grant shifted the ice on his jaw, his heart lifting as it became clearer that Kyle’s words hadn’t twisted her belief in him. “I’m glad you think so.”

She twisted to face him, her features pinched. “Of course, I do. Kyle was completely out of line today, especially after I told him his suspicions were unfounded. It’s like he didn’t want to hear it.”

Grant hesitated a breath, pleased that she remained on his side. “Mitchell said you gave yet another stellar statement to counter his wild accusations. Thank you.”

Julia shrugged as if she’d done nothing. “It was easy because it was all true. There’s no need to thank me.”

He rounded the desk, dropping the ice pack on it as he approached her. “But I do…thank you, that is. Especially after everything that’s happened in the past few days.” He pressed his lips together as he hesitated. “Particularly this morning.”

Julia let her gaze fall to the floor again. “It was a misunderstanding. I can see how it looked, though. Questionable.” She raised her eyes to his, her expression penitent. “I’m sorry.”

“Again, you have nothing to apologize for. It was my fault. I feel like we’ve had nothing but a series of misunderstandings since the incident with Bianca.”

The crease between her brows deepened as she spoke, her voice soft. “I think some lines are becoming blurred which is making this so much more difficult to navigate.”

He stared down at her delicate features, wanting to confess his growing feelings, but the words wouldn’t come. The uncertainty of her response and the real possibility that it would be a rejection held him back.

Instead, he nodded. “I agree. And…I have no right to ask this of you, but…”

He hesitated, studying her expectant features. “Maybe it’s best if we treat this like a real marriage and not form any outside relationships during this.”

He held his breath as he awaited her response. Would that condition prove too much for her?

“I think that’s fair.”

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