Page 4 of Priest’s Sin

"Someone who needs to buy bread," I say calmly. "And you're in the way."

Cole looks at Paige like she's supposed to explain me, defend him, do something to resolve this without making him look like what he is, but Paige just stares at me. Gray eyes wide, stunned, calculating something I can't read.

Cole laughs. It sounds forced. "Protective customers now, babe? That's cute."

"Cole," Paige says. "Just go."

"We're not done—"

"We are for tonight." She scans my bread without looking at it. "I'll call you tomorrow."

Cole's jaw tightens. For a second, I think he might push it. Might make this into something that gets security involved, that forces Paige into explanations she doesn't want to give.

Then he leans down and kisses her cheek. Hard. Possessive.

"Tomorrow," he says.

He leaves. Finally.

Paige exhales slowly. Scans the rest of my items with hands that aren't quite steady.

"Eighteen seventy-five," she says.

I hand her a twenty. Wait while she makes change. Her fingers are shaking slightly when she drops the bills into my palm.

"You okay?" I ask.

"You need to stop asking me that." Her voice is defensive. "I'm fine."

"Paige…"

"I don't even know your name." She looks up at me finally. "You come in here twice a week, you watch me like you're waiting for something, and now you're… What? Playing hero? I didn't ask for that."

"I know."

"Then why?"

Because eight years ago I counseled patience instead of action and a woman died. Because I see the bruises you're hiding and the way you flinched when he touched you, and I've already failed this once before.