Chapter 6

The guests left after coffee.

Selene stood at the entrance of the house and watched the town cars disappear through the gates, their headlights cutting through the evening dark. Then she turned and went in search of her husband.

She found him in the study again, standing by the photograph of the store, his hands clasped behind his back. He didn't turn when she entered. But she saw the reflection of his eyes in the glass, watching her approach.

"You didn't have to do that," she said.

"Did what?"

"Give me credit for the terminal observation. It was nothing."

"It wasn't nothing." He turned to face her. "It was accurate. And my father needed to see that I wasn't married to a pretty ornament."

Selene felt something flicker in her chest. "So I'm useful."

"More than you know." He crossed to her, and his hand came up, touching her chin, tilting her face toward the light. His thumb brushed her cheek once, a gesture so gentle that she almost didn't feel it. "I told you, Selene. I keep the things that matter. You matter."

"But you barely know me."

"I know you kept the receipt from the coffee shop where we had our first date." His voice was soft. "I know you made eye contact with a woman at the store who was clearly having a bad day, and you gave her your discount code even though it was against policy. I know you hate the way I let the staff go to their quarters when they're sick. I know you cried in the bathroom at the airport the day we left, because you thought I would be angry that your luggage was over the weight limit."

Selene stared.

"How did you—"

"I pay attention." He said it simply, as if it were nothing. "I've been paying attention since the day you rang up my purchase. I watched you, at the store, the way you treated people. And I've been watching you ever since."