Page 84 of The House Guest

“I’m sorry, you said they don’t sell wine here?”

Her mouth opened and closed before she said, “No. I don’t believe they do.”

“Thank you.”

Benjamin nodded at them and followed me down the aisle.

That was close, but I was pretty sure Casey didn’t suspect anything. I couldn’t help but look back. Casey wasn’tlooking at me, and neither was Primrose. But Primrose’s sweet little girl had turned around to watch us walk away. She waved at me. I waved back. “Bye,” I mouthed with a smile. She smiled back.

Then I felt Benjamin’s hand on my shoulder.

“You okay?” he asked.

Letting out a long breath, I nodded. We’d somehow ended up in the meat aisle. No way I could think straight enough to plan a dinner now. “Takeout is sounding better by the minute,” I told him.

“Good decision.”

As we left the supermarket, a hopeless feeling developed in my heart after my glimpse into the routine of Primrose’s current life—a life I had no real part in anymore.

Benjamin and I had a late dinner of Chinese takeout, and after he retreated to his room, I sat alone in the living room, staring into the fire.

That beautiful little girl had smiled and waved at me with trusting eyes.Rosie.What a pretty name and perfect for her. Little Primrose. Rosie’s innocent acknowledgement made me feel warm inside—and like a piece of shit for deceiving her, too. She’d assumed I was just a friendly stranger, not some man who’d come to town to seize her mother.

Not to mention, I’d forced Primrose into lying. If I hadn’t freaked out and had just kept my mouth shut, maybe she would’ve introduced me properly to him. Although, I couldn’t imagine what she would’ve said. I hadn’t given her the chance to react, though. My instinct was to protect her. It wouldalwaysbe to protect her, even if I lost out in the end.

My phone buzzed, and I was surprised to see a text from her.

Primrose: Are you okay?

I immediately typed back.

Dorian: I’m okay. But I should be asking you that.

Primrose: I’m sorry about today. I can imagine it was a shock running into us.

I closed my eyes, speechless that she was concerned forme.

Dorian: I spoke before you had a chance to. I’m sorry. I should’ve let you make the call on how to handle it. I just didn’t want to get you in trouble.

Primrose: You did the right thing. I wouldn’t have known how to explain you. And I didn’t want to have to lie to Casey. You sort of took that option from me, which was helpful.

Dorian: I’m glad you feel that way, because I’ve been sitting here doubting myself. Did he suspect something?

Primrose: Not at all.

Dorian: Your daughter’s adorable. What a little sweetheart. She looks just like you.

Primrose: Yeah. Everyone says that.

Dorian: You saved Benjamin from having to eat one of my charred dinners.

Primrose: How’s that?

Dorian: It was my turn to cook. But after we ran into you, I figured it was best if we got out of there before we could cause more trouble. So we got takeout instead. He thanks you for sparing him.

Primrose: You’re not still trying to cook, are you?

I smiled.