r Va

he penthouse th

, but the air inside had shif

tcases dominat

s, each stamped wit

lle

nto the li

window, his back to me as h

ofa-wrapped in one of my cashmere bl

d up when

sm

was the satisfied curve of a predat

ung up t

e said, his tone

re?" I asked,

o his pocket. "The gas leak is worse than they thought. And after

om who?" I

Estelle said softly, feigning a f

t her flaw

h on it. Her skin was

cking,"

standing me entirely. "We're

pped

use

said, refusing to meet my eyes. "It has t

peated, letting the absurdity hang in the air.

ed, irritated. "Stop being so

me. "And stop leaking

ha

mystery lovers quarrel' at the Gala. You're

ght I l

media games, while I was litera

eak anythin

his back on me to face Estelle. "Do you want s

fr

didn'

ad sworn to me that his hands were too valuabl

that," Est

ked into the kitchen, rolled up his

ith the steady prec

something Este

ene. Intimate. Warm.

ghost hauntin

alked into the

my things to t

started filling them w

My books. My

systematically erasin

helves were bare. The

ags and lined the

ving to the

movi

not

wait for the

ng was in

s the d

out to th

a. The rich scent of garlic

ke a home I n

said, glancing at me. "

hungry,

need to present a united f

sa

didn

ched

smudge of sauce from Est

at her-with a hunger that ha

invi

four years, being invisi

n't see me coming w