The other woman was ME
TER
and S
n sea. The horizon had disappeared beneath a shroud of clouds, the waves more violent than graceful to
ed, and the antique chandeliers seemed to dim beneath the weight of the sky. Mia could feel it
lutter of recognition already forming where there had once been only do
rrifi
ts, the restrictions on caffeine and stress. But what she hadn't expected was the emotional terrain. The aching awareness of inhab
was a
ed, her voice softe
the top button of his shirt undone just enough to reveal that he wa
h a careful nod. "
She looked out aga
This place always feels
You've stayed
reach his eyes. "Damian and I used to come here during un
felt it-a hint of a pas
aw's coming by today for your fir
Damian migh
"He would, normally. But
to let the disappoint
voice. "For what it's worth... you'
"I haven't do
... fragile. And Damian? He's built walls so high he doesn't remembe
ng to make anyone do anything. She just wanted to ge
y by ten," sh
d and turne
he paused. "Be
h wh
," he said. And
-
That M
hed, her suits elegant but not attention-seeking. She wore pearls witho
aid, staring at the scan with practiced
her stomach already forgotten as she stared at the
e it
i
ined. No
caught. "
ned just a fraction.
the handbook of emotional detachment was do not attach. But she had just heard a
ents clinical. "I'll send the res
"Can I...
paused. "If
d
-
en
the top buttons undone like he'd fought something all day-himself, perhap
the appointme
anced up. "Lu
thank you.
" she added, uns
a moment, something soften
hat. "Because of
nside. "Because
does it me
hat I might finally have something m
ked. "Th
fut
e fell
her. He looked down at her sketchpad. The cha
world differe
Or maybe you've ju
don't talk like someon
someone who's suppos
t. Not romantic. Not yet. But intimate
inally. "Elena want
od. "Of
-
nn
r was twisted into something elegant, her makeup soft but precise. She looked eve
ite asparagus, silence filling the
lly sit together,"
ied, then, "The
flicker. "I'm glad. Damian and I
wasn't meant to speak from the he
today," she said softly
ression didn't change, but something be
throat. "We're gr
g what I promi
aid it, her own v
de, she already knew: this
ng between them all-silent,
-