Chapter 258

Audrey

The lake cottage appeared just as it had the last time we visited–secluded and quiet, nestled into a copse of pine trees with the water’s calm surface glittering in the afternoon sunlight. Edwin put the car in park at the end of the gravel driveway, and the scent of fresh air hit me as we climbed out.

Before I could remark on the fact that we had come here on a whim, barely having given ourselves enough time to change out of our ceremony attire before we had packed two bags and jumped back into the car, Edwin turned to me and held out his hand expectantly. “Hand it over.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“Your phone,” he said, eyes narrowing slightly. “This is supposed to be a work–free weekend, remember?”

I instinctively clutched my phone a little closer to my chest. “But what if something happens? What if Charles needs to reach us about the orphanage investigation?”

Edwin shook his head, his patience unwavering. “Then he knows how to reach me. Trust me, Audrey, the world will still be there for you to save when we get back. But right now, you need to take a break. And I’m not taking no for an answer.”

I hesitated for a moment and glanced down at my precious phone, but deep down, I knew he was right. As much as I hated to admit it, I needed this. I needed to unplug, even if just for a little while. Yet again, I had thrown myself headfirst into my problems and was beginning to suffer for it.

So, with a heavy sigh, I handed over my phone. I felt oddly vulnerable without it.

“Thank you,” he said, slipping it into his pocket with a satisfied smile. “You can thank me later.”

I doubted it, but I managed a small smile in return.

Once we unpacked our things, I found myself sprawled across the plush leather couch, flipping through a magazine that I had found on the coffee table. The cottage was quiet, far too quiet. Edwin had insisted on bringing us here to spend a weekend alone together, a chance to clear our heads, but with it this quiet, it just made the thoughts whirling through my mind even louder.

That was, until Edwin appeared from the bathroom. I glanced up–and immediately did a double–take, nearly choking on my own breath.

He stood there in nothing but his birthday suit, his muscles glistening in the sunlight streaming through the windows. His manhood was on full display, a cheeky grin plastered to his face. I couldn’t tell if he was coming on to me or… what.

But before I could say anything, he tossed something at me. My reflexes kicked in just in time, and I caught the soft bundle. Looking down, I realized it was a beach towel.

“Meet me outside in five minutes,” he said, winking before disappearing through the back door, still fully nude.

fall, and the thought of soaking in the lake’s cool water suddenly didn’t seem like such a bad idea. With a shake of my head and a smile, I stripped off

me made me burst out

the water on an enormous inflatable swan, sunglasses askew, drink in hand, and

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Chapter 258

that thing?” I shouted, trying to suppress the

his swan throne. “Get

he

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as I climbed down the ladder at the end

warm air was actually pleasant, and by the time I was fully submerged,

reached the floatie, Edwin reached out and helped

wrapping an arm around about work?”

across the lake. “Isn’t

the clouds were drifting lazily through the blue sky overhead. We floated in easy silence for a while, just listening to the sounds of nature around us–the soft rustling of leaves, the occasional call of a bird, the water

or the ever–present orphanage investigation, Edwin would splash me with water or crack some ridiculous joke that had me laughing despite myself.

night, you know,” he said softly after a while,

his

nearly all of your summer working

and already autumn to the estate and one date night, had arrived. We were lucky that today was as warm

to help me unwind lately, always making sure I was taken care of, always

him as I carefully climbed float and swam

off the

to

Cook?”

an eyebrow, clearly surprised.

a playful glare, wrapping my towel around myself. “Don’t

in the cottage’s small kitchen, and soon enough, I had everything plated up and ready to go. By the time I brought the food out to the deck, where Edwin had set up a small table, the sun was beginning to set, casting the

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