Page 23

(In—-)
Summerine shoved Inner Troll back into its closet and splashed ice-cold water on her face.
Ryu would be home soon, and it was important that he didn't realize she had shed a single tear.
She applied her makeup in a hurry and did her best to act normal when it was finally time to join her husband for dinner.
"Welcome back." She forced herself to greet him like she always did...even though a part of her just wanted to kick him really,reallyhard under the table and start yelling at his face.
How! Dare! You! Cheat!
"Thank you. It's good to be back." Ryu looked at her curiously. "Is something wrong?"
Summertime forced herself to smile. "Nothing's wrong."
Just act like everything's normal,Summerine reminded herself.
Normal. Normal. Normal.
And while she gave it her best shot—-
Her best clearly wasn't good enough when Ryu asked to have a word with her once they were back in their suite.
Oh no.
"Do you want anything to drink?"
Salted caramel latte, Summerine thought absently. It was what she always drank whenever—-
"Maybe a hot salted caramel latte?"
Her jaw dropped.Howdid he know that was her happy pill?
His lips twitched, and Summerine absolutely hated the way her heart skipped a beat over such a simple thing.
"I had your background checked, remember?"
She watched him head over to the counter where their coffee machine was, and Summerine was treated to the unexpected sight of Ryu getting rid of his blazer in order to roll his sleeves up to his elbows.
Oh...no.
She never used to notice the way the muscles in his arms flexed with his every move. Why did she have to start doing so...just when she knew for sure that he had another woman in his life?
"All done."
Summerine knew without being told that those words were a subtle command for her to joined him, and she could feel him watching her as she took one of the bar stools.
"T-Thank you for this."
She pretended not to notice his frown at the way she stammered. Summerine raised the cup to her lips and took a sip.
Oh.
"It seems I've just found one of your soft spots."
Only after hearing the smile in his words did she realize that she had actually ended up closing her eyes.
Becauseyes,it was that good.