Billionaire's Bounty Cost Of Love And Revenge novel Chapter 72

Chapter 72

Asher’s POV

The table was set profectly Candlelight flickered softly in the cool evening breeze, casting shadows on the very tablecloth and the bunch of rest had picked out earlier for her. The garden was quiet except for the soft sounds of the night breeze.

I sat, trying to seem relaxed, nursing a glass of red wine that tasted bitter in my dry mouth. It was a wine from Sterling Winery We were trying to perfect new wine. I was not satisfied with the results yet, there was something missing, and I couldn’t quite figure out what it was neither could the rest of my

But I wasn’t relaxed.

Taylor’s words echoed in my head. “There’s so much pressure with this. You’re a billionaire, there are many things I could want, but can’t make up my mind.” Her voice had been soft, almost pitying, as if she hadn’t just threatened the happiness had just found in my, he she wasn’t enjoying this. And those photos,

God, the photos. Every time I blinked, I saw them, burned into the back of my eyelids. There were videos, and videos were even worse. Iknew it. There was no escaping this. No explanation I would give her would be enough.

I took another sip of wine, my fingers tightening around the stem of the glass.

“This is ridiculous,” I muttered under my breath. Maybe Taylor was lying. Maybe the pictures were fabricated. People did that kind of thing all the time didn’t they? For all I knew, they could be really deep lakes. Maybe the editors were terrific at their job. It wasn’t me, right? I would never hurt ivy, even though I was drunk…

The sound of heels clicking against the stony walkway pulled me from my spiraling thoughts. I looked up and saw Ivy walking towards me.

She was wearing a dress–midnight blue, silky, and cut just low enough to make my pulse jump. Her dress complemented her eyes in a way that made her look even more beautiful than she already did. Her hair caught the light as she walked, and that grin of hers… She always knew how to steal the air from my lungs

“What’s the occasion, Asher?” she asked, her voice teasing as she reached the table. “Camila told me you had a dinner table waiting for me in the garden.” She peered around. “This is beautiful,” she said sweetly.

Trust Ivy to see the beauty in the smallest of things. It was just a simple candlelight decoration, and yet her eyes lit up like it was a grand hall, tastefully

decorated.

I forced a smile and stood, pulling out the chair for her. “Do I need a reason to spoil my wife?”

She blushed hard and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I guess not, she responded, her eyes twinkling with excitement. “You can’t blame me, though, I’m

not quite used to this”

I shrugged, settling back into my seat as she sat across from me. “Well, you should, Ivy. I’m going to be doing this a lot,” I told her. “You and I, dinners like this, vacations, anything I’m trying to woo you the proper way after all”

Her smile softened, “Aher we already got married? Don’t you think you’re kind of behind schedule on that?”

Ishrugged, “Is there a generally acceptable template for how relationships should work?”

She chuckled. “We aren’t any normal couple….”

Icovered her hands with mine. “And that’s the best part,” I said as I poured her a glass of wine.

We made small talk for a while, her day, my day, which was me telling a bold–faced lie because I left out Marcus and Taylor’s visit. I just couldn’t tell her, not yet. Our plans for the next day. I asked questions, nodded in all the right places, and even threw in a few teasing comments that made her laugh. But my mind kept drifting, Taylor’s words. Thole damn pictures. The knot tightening in my chest.

“You’re quiet tonight,” vy said suddenly, her tone light but probing. She reached across the table, her fingers brushing against mine before resting fully,

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Chapter 72

over my hand. A small smile tugged at the core of my mouth. The walls she had put up around herself were slowly breaking down.

I glanced at where her fingers lightly caressed the back of my palm. Her touch wat warm, grounding, but it only made the guilt with deeper.

“Are you okay?” she asked, her eyes searching mine.

I hesitated, forcing myself to meet her gaze. “Of course,” I said, managing a small smile. Jud along day”

Her brows furrowed, and she leaned in slightly. “You sure? You seem distracted”

Ivy’s PDV

I could barely contain my excitement when I walked in on the small dinner date Asher had set up in the garden. I smiled a little too much, laughed a little too loud. I had become a different person altogether in these recent weeks. Helt lighter, I felt front. Maybe this is what it meant to love and to be loved by

a person.

I bit the inner corner of my mouth as I stole repeated glances at him. Love? Could he actually love me? I knew for certain now that all the confusing emotions had struggled with had to be love. I was falling head over heels for Asher. My whole being craved him. But could he possibly feel the same way that I did? I mean, he was a lot different, different than the man I knew months ago…

I shook my head and took a long sip of my drink, I couldn’t be worried about it, not right now I’d like to sit back and watch how things play out between

We talked about everything and nothing, and it would have been such a sweet night if his eyes didn’t look away whenever he caught me staring. I noticed whenever he smiled, it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He talked and laughed, and yet it was unlike him. His eyes were missing the mischievous gint in them, and he was yet to tease me…

My brow furrowed, and I leaned in slightly. “You sure? You seem… distracted and worried.”

“It’s work,” he answered. “We’ve been struggling to perfect our new wine, and well, it’s not going exactly how I’d like it to…

I smiled sadly at him. “Is there anything I could do to help?”

His lips slowly curled into a smirk, and he scooted closer to me. “I can’t think of a couple of ways i’d like you to help. It’s sure to make me feel better”

I blushed profusely and averted my gaze “No, not what you’re thinking”

“What do you think I’m thinking?” His voice was teasing.

“Exactly what you’re thinking,” I answered.

He burst into laughter. His voice sounded rich and deep.

“But seriously,” I took his hand in mine. The conversation I had with Janine came to mind, all about Asher’s struggles, with his father, his brother, and his -company, “But seriously, I know better.”

“So, how can you help?” he asked with a smile.

I held his gaze, beautiful honey–brown eyes stared back at me. “I could hold you…”

“I’d like that very much,” he answered.

I rose to my feet and walked up to him. As I got closer, he pulled me onto his lap. I wrapped my hand around him immediately and brow

the crook of his neck.

He sighed as soon as I held him. “God! I needed this.”

–

“Asher…”

Chapter 72

“Yes, flover?”

IDEY

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