HIS TO POSSESS

the city had quieted, but inside Elena'

use. Her feet ached, her face hurt from smiling, and her heart

ight," Liam said,

" she replied, her voice a l

d her. "Yes. That's wh

a

gh

to the guest room, but hi

le

the hallway, h

ng when I said you

near the window again, city light

mpliments," she said

. But you d

ed. "You're cr

u," he sai

ulsed bet

like something might

night," and disappe

-

link of dishes. When she stepped into the kitchen, Liam was a

p early,"

are

dn't

k why. He di

in silence eggs,

work, he handed her

this?" s

vent. There's a gala next Friday, a charity auction

the envelop

hared television appearance. Their fi

roat w

uled our f

n't change. "It ma

it starts t

w tigh

in trouble

-

ther chairs, and more books than she'd ever seen outside a library. On the desk was a fr

icked

s my b

d in the doorway, his

d to him?" sh

elve years ago. I was sup

t ached. "I'

r. Just turned

-

ut when Elena walked into the living room, Liam was sitting by the f

ay?" sh

then patted the

e

l," he admitted. "

ached out just a hand on

meone is the hard part," she whisper

es met

, the air between

otogr

pre

l

ed hers soft, searching, careful. It was

as r

hanged e