Page 35 of Coffee Break with the Billionaire

“Sounds like it.” I couldn’t imagine abandoning Ashton like that, let alone a baby.

“When Mia left, it was like it happened all over again,” Edie continues. “Silas was a mess for a long time. He still hasn’t started dating again.”

“That’s… a long time.”

“It is, and he’s such a great guy.” She looks at me warily. “You’re not interested in him, are you?”

“I…”

“Not that you’re not a good person, but you’ll eventually leave. I don’t want him to have to deal with that again.”

Edie’s concerns are loud and clear, and I get it. She’s worried Silas will be hurt.

By me.

While I might not leave a trail of broken hearts in my wake, there have been a few. I have a habit of ducking out of relationships first because if I don’t, Tiger happens. As in, I get hurt.

I don’t like being hurt. I don’t react well, and it makes me look bad.

I also don’t like being told what to do, and that seems to be what Edie is doing. “I’m only here for another week or so,” I tell her, ignoring the sudden, jangling pang at the thought of going home.

Why wouldn’t I want to go home? That’s the whole point of me being here—to go home.

“It’s not like he’ll fall for me in that time,” I add, which makes me laugh. Men have fallen for me in much less time than that.

The cousin of the Italian prince spent six hours with me before he proposed. It’s very possible that Silas has already fallen for me.

I don’t hate that thought. In fact, it makes a cozy ball of warmth in my chest. Silas. And me.

But if what Edie says is true, that puts me in the prime position to hurt him.

And I really don’t like that thought.

Chapter twelve

Silas

Iwould rather notsee Fenella today.

Last night was… strange. Strangely good.

There was a moment there at the end when I wondered what it would be like to kiss her. To feel those full lips under mine, those purple eyes closing…

I haven’t kissed a girl in a long time. Too long.

Embarrassingly long.

If I’m going to start kissing anyone, it shouldn’t be Fenella.

Because Fenella is a party girl who blew into town and she’ll blow right out in a few days. In the meantime, I’ll serve her coffee and not talk about what is in the sky at night. Or even find out if her mouth is as soft as it looks.

She will drop out of sight soon enough and I’ll never see her again.

Like Mia. And my sister.

Not seeing her is a good plan.

Only, mid-morning when I come back from the stock room with a sleeve of cups in my hand, Fenella is at the counter talking with Leodie.

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