The Viscount to Avoid by Tammy Andresen

Author:Tammy Andresen
Language: eng
Format: epub

Ash’s arm was incredibly stiff as he escorted Fern into the Longtree garden party. He didn’t want her here.

She should not be bait to Melisandre and Jack, and he ought to have said that and far more two mornings ago as they’d stood outside that room.

But he hadn’t known how without admitting everything.

His prior knowledge of Melisandre, his motives for coming to Castledon.... What would Fern think of him after she knew he’d intended to use her?

He cringed, turning his face away from her. That kiss had shifted something deep inside him and for the first time in the last year, he truly felt how some things in life could be more important, more fulfilling than revenge. Friendship. Family. Love?

“Let’s sit under the trees,” he murmured, looking back at Ella and Eric.

Fern shook her head. “We’re here to be seen.”

“You’ll be seen either way,” he said, speaking the truth. Fern was far too beautiful to be ignored. Even now, the eyes of several men watched her cross the garden.

Jealousy tightened his chest.

Fern was too beautiful to be alone if she chose not to…and he saw with clarity that he wished for her to choose him.

Was that even possible after all that had happened? The choices he’d made in the beginning? His gut twisted with regret.

They found a spot under the line of trees and spread a blanket, Fern and Ella sitting next to one another.

Eric took the spot on the other side of his wife as Ash sat next to Fern. The group said little, everyone’s eyes scanning the crowd. Would Melisandre be here? What if she was? Wasn’t?

Ash sincerely hoped not. As he watched the crowd mill about, he knew he had to tell Fern the truth.

He wished to kiss her again. Hold her in his arms. But he couldn’t keep omitting his knowledge of her stepsister or his motives. It wasn’t fair.

He reached for her hand then, his fingertips skimming over the back of her glove. “Fern.”

“Yes?” She stopped searching the crowd, turning to him, her blue eyes filled with concern. An emotion he hardly deserved. “Are you all right?”

He gave a quick nod. “I still don’t think this is a good plan. You wished to move forward and now you’ve been embroiled back with your stepsister.” Which was his fault. He’d pushed her to attend that masquerade for his own selfish purposes.

But she gave him a soft smile. “I appreciate what you’re saying. And I do wish to move forward instead of living in the past, but I can’t do that knowing that Melisandre might be waiting in the shadows.”

“I understand. I think that’s part of what’s been motivating me too.” He relaxed a bit as he explained, “They let me go and part of me worried that they had some ulterior motive. Some reason and that my release was a temporary arrangement and they’d be back again.”

“You keep saying we and they when you talk about your captivity…” She cocked her head. “Do you mean the gang of pirates?”

He sucked in a breath, knowing this was his chance to begin the confession.

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