Page 140 of Taken Away

Yes.

Then stop.

I can’t.

Why?

Because he took her into his office and closed the damn door.

Aubrey groaned.

Moose looked up.

She pointed at him.

“Don’t.”

The dog sat down. Completely unimpressed.

Inside the house, Bennett watched through the glass.

His fingers drifted automatically toward his wedding band.

The gold ring rotated once. Twice. Three times.

His thumb caught beneath the edge. Lifted it slightly. Not enough to remove it. Enough to feel the weight.

The metal settled back against his skin.

Outside, Aubrey stood staring into space.

Inside, Bennett stared at her.

Neither one of them looked particularly happy.

Eventually the back door opened.

Aubrey stepped inside. Moose squeezed past her.

The silence followed.

Bennett waited.

Aubrey walked to the sink. Set down her water bottle. Pretended to be fascinated by absolutely nothing.

Then—

“What did Vanessa want?”

There it was.

Bennett stared.

Then slowly smiled.

“Oh.”

Aubrey’s eyes narrowed.