"Kate" P

e could answer, tossing the p

bs dulled. Before driving back to Manhattan to face him, I needed to wash my face. I step

rounds, and the stone corri

estroom and stopped short. At the end of the hallway, leanin

he strong column of his throat, and an unlit cigarette rested between his long fingers. Up close,

pt walking, intending to

cket. A quarter slipped out with them, hitting the stone floor with a s

face warmi

l frame casting a shadow that swallo

d up slowly and looked down at me, his thu

and gravelly, carrying the f

nd held ou

et his mouth curve into a faint, sharp smirk. "Today isn'

d watched me walk out of the veterans' hall e

d. "Does it mat

a little further, k

er into the center of my palm. His fingertips were freezin

pulled my hand back, and walked out

coin still felt like a piece of ice against my palm. Taking a dee

oor of the villa were blazing

e front steps. The moment my car stopp

he said, letting ou

him, and headed up the st

arm from behind and pulled me back against his che

my hair. "Today was my fault. Stop bein

amiliar cologne, and felt nothing but a col

d lowered his head to kiss my cheek,

is eyes under the porch

n't come back f

t a di

instantly, his fingers digging in