“Her name’s Veronica, but she hates it. She says it makes her sound like a fifty-year-old woman in a tweed suit, so she insists that everyone calls her Bambi. Thinks it’s cute.”
“It isn’t,” I snort. We both laugh and take bites of our food. “Your turn.” I don’t want to answer personal questions, but a bet’s a bet and I’d rather get it over with as soon as possible.
“Why did you marry Rhys?”
“Ooh, you’re not even going to ease me in?” When he doesn’t answer, I put down my fork and take a sip of wine for courage. I may need a second glass if this is his line of questioning. Or a bottle. “I loved Rhys. We were together for years. It was comfortable and easy most of the time.”
“And?”
Damn. I was hoping to just leave it at that.
“And I know my worth. I knew I was lucky to have someone like him want me.”
“You weren’t lucky at all, Tilly. He didn’t deserve you. From what I can tell, he was awful to you. It makes me sick that you put up with him for so long.”
Connor’s fist curls with anger on the table, so I reach out and take his hand in mine. “Is that how you got these?” I ask quietly, running my thumb along the broken skin of his knuckles. “By getting angry with him over me?”
“Is that your official question?” He grips my hand and brings it to his lips.
“Yes. What happened the other day when you went to get my stuff?”
Connor doesn’t answer immediately. Sensing he needs timeto choose his words, I let him kiss my knuckles, my palm, while I wait patiently.
“He said some things that… I don’t like the way he speakstoyou oraboutyou. I’m not a violent person, Tilly, honestly, I’m not.” His pleading eyes are begging me to believe him.
Of course, I do. I give him a reassuring smile and squeeze his hand.
“But he crossed a line, and I saw red. I punched him – think it landed on his jaw. He thought about hitting me back, I could tell, but stormed off instead.”
“He knew the better man won.” This earns me another kiss on my hand.
“And you’re my prize. I’m the luckiest man in the world.”
This time, I kiss him. I kiss each of his bruised knuckles and lean across the table to kiss his soft lips. When I pull away, the calm has returned to Connor’s eyes, so I push a little further.
“What did he say that pushed you that far?”
“Let me answer that question with my own. What happened that night you both came to The Nightingale?”
I feel the stabbing pain of panic in my chest and the dull ache of guilt in my stomach. It’s an awful feeling – one star, would not recommend.
“I didn’t know we were going there until the last minute, I swear.” I rush the words out, tears filling my eyes.
“Baby, it’s okay,” he coos, pulling his chair closer to mine so he can stroke my hair. “I wasn’t accusing you of anything. I’ve just heard his version, and I want to hear the truth.”
“Okay.” I take a breath. “He told me we were going out for dinner and to dress nicely, so I went to get ready. When he came upstairs… He told me my knickers were ruining the dress, and he took them off me.”
I look away from Connor’s face, finding the fresh anger bubbling under the surface too much to handle. Especially as I’mpartly to blame.
Stupid, stupid, stupid!
“When we got there, Rhys put his hand up my dress and started to… touch me. I told him not to, I tried to push his hand away, but then you appeared and… I don’t know. He must have been enjoying the thrill of it, because he kept going. He stopped once you left, and he pretty much ignored me for the rest of the meal.” When Connor doesn’t respond, I add, “Is that what Rhys told you?”
“No,” Connor grinds out. “It isn’t. In his deranged version, you begged him to touch you in front of me.”
“I didn’t, I swear…!” Tears pool in my eyes again, but Connor brushes them away gently.
“I know, baby. He was just trying to get a rise out of me. And it worked, the conniving bastard. But he did admit to taking you there on purpose, knowing I’d be there. He was trying to send a message. That you were his.” His teeth clamp together so tightly I see the muscles in his jaw tense.
