was too bright for so

ming behind her left eye. Her dress hung loosely on her shoulders,

ne had ma

oast, fresh. Real. Not the insta

as at th

but he moved with the same calm rhythm as before. Th

gg with one hand, like he'

h my knives

. I used the paring one.

re n

ith perfect control.

tchen, squinting at the light c

you sti

t her. "You offered

n't me

why I

s always one step ahead, like he kn

aced one on the counter between them.

tared

ng me gets you o

ceramic mug. "I think you have no id

ok the

lled better than they should have, and she didn't

coffee. Their fing

l. Too co

ayed standing, sipping slowly, leaning against

Chewed. Swallowed

trol freak,"

look

your

ut everything the same size. Exact. E

the fo

ought, 'How can I be more

akfast for a woman who looked like sh

t sip of coffee. "Don't

d came around the counter - slowly, care

t this is? A

dropped. "This i

inked.

irst taste. It's what you offer to learn the wine's mou

which

't swall

fr

n't clean, either. They lived right in

apology. Just that stillness - a man perfectly at

ora

not stay

back at her.

place is mine. And I'

. Lifted the coffee po

re you here

hesi

sure," s

nds like

was

met h

left. And see if there's

roat w

her long sip. Then walked out of

r the coffee down