e front door lock echoed t

e had changed out of the anniversary dress and i

t of the city's cold night air with him. He saw her sitting i

is voice carried a familiar wearine

After seeing that photograph, she r

a man who owned the world. The Patek Philippe on his wrist,

sening his tie. "An emergency meeting at the of

worn, so utterly d

er laugh trapped in her throat. One that

to place a perfunctory kiss on her forehead-

uch her skin, Hilary flinched back.

. A flicker of surprise, then annoyance, cr

king down at her, brow furrowed as if h

flat. She rose from the sofa, deli

at Annabel all evening-touching her skin made her

g table, on the two cold, untou

icker of guilt. "I'm sorry about the anniversary," he said. "Thi

it was a gr

t was the ul

e as cold as the dinner on the table.

forward and grabbed her wrist, his g

d dry, but his touch

away. The disparity in their stre

tion deepened. He saw her defiance not as a

ead and met his eyes. The blue eyes she had

each word a carefully pl

hing for a crack in her composure. He fou

her. "Fine," he sai

ubbing the red marks on her wrist

ealing the hard line of his collarbone, and turned

aid, his back to her. It wasn't a request; it

She turned and walked t

familiar scent clinging to his clothes. A sw

The scent caught in

e just quickened her pace, walked i

, Julian's whiskey glass

body sliding down to the floor. She buried her face

in three years she h

. He didn't knock. He simply turned and walked to the guest room. In