The Unwanted Man's Triumph

years, dropped the news as casual

moving in t

from my unto

nt, except for the dis

atisfied smile playing on her li

maybe, I felt the

guest room. Julian pre

d her ora

picy foods. Strictly organic. You'll

. The final

n a ghost in my own life

itectural firm, Miller Designs, had saved

loyee, then a trophy hus

a small, velvet

ething for yo

ulously expensive

of them, each marking a fr

hilippe, given after she' d publicly

her then, to make he

be so dramatic, Ethan

with him, Vicky," I

an eyebro

you go? Back to de

t was a fam

s is nothing without Sterling Hold

smoothing h

t room. B

o our-her-ma

ingled with a faint, unfamiliar colog

nightstand. Us, in the early

em into th

the walk-in closet.

ut, stuffing them in

ege, dreams I' d forgo

ered copy of "The

as t

and dialed a number I

iend from college. Now a

fore graduation. I' d been too blind, too focused o

lly you?" Her voice

racking slightly. "I'm leavin

n. I'm so glad. Are you

can I come

ow you always have a place

fragile thing,

el bag and walked to

aning against the f

an? This lit

be back by dinner.

is time

Your little college flame? Good luck wi

to push

, Vicky. I

ed a small,

And the baby. I hope y

es nar

joke? You think you

rm, her grip sur

e a fool

, her expression sh

ute. What's

the duffel. "C

o argue. I dropped th

few books.

isfi

through it, her

hallway, preening. He was all

f my silk rob

rling?" he asked Vicky,

en bag. He spotted a s

s this litt

ched f

down on the case.

e Heart, from Vietnam. The on