The moment I stepped back into the house, a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding caught in my throat. The cool air inside contrasted sharply with the sunbaked dust that still clung to my skin, but it did little to soothe the heat crawling beneath it,the kind that had nothing to do with the weather.
I paused at the threshold, exhaling slowly through my nose as I tried to mold my features into something neutral, maybe even pleasant. A calm face. A practiced smile. One that curved my lips just enough to pass but didn’t come close to reaching my eyes. If anyone looked too closely, they’d see the strain pulling at the edges.
Aiden was in the sitting room. Perched on the arm of the leather chair like he often did when he wanted to be nearby but not completely settled. His long fingers flippe
