Julian slipped back onto the couch after checking the window one last time. The road was empty now, silent except for the faint hum of distant traffic. He wasn’t sure what he’d seen. A shadow? A person? A trick of the light?
He locked the front door, checked the alarm panel twice, then returned to Kya.
She stirred when he lay down, instinctively curling into him, her head resting on his chest. The tension in his shoulders eased. Her warmth grounded him, her breathing steady and soft. Within minutes, the unease faded enough for him to fall asleep.
Sunlight filtered through the curtains when Julian woke again. The couch was empty, blanket folded neatly on the armrest. He sat up, rubbing his eyes, listening.
Soft humming drifted from the kitchen.
He smiled.
Kya stood at the stove, hair
