*Tia*
Standing in the hallway, I fight to ignore him telling his father that he doesn’t like me. I take some consolation in the fact that he doesn’t seem to despise me. And he had given me the keys. There might be no affection lost between us, but ours will be a civil relationship. At least outside the bed. I suspect it’s going to be quite untamed within it.
Stepping out, he closes the door, turns the key, and waits a heartbeat as though he needs a moment to shirk off the pall that comes over him after spending time with his father. Then he faces me, giving away nothing, none of his doubts, his concerns, his troubles.
“What’s wrong at the mines?” I ask.
His jaw tautens, his eyes narrow. “Nothing is wrong at the mines.”
“You answered so quickly… so tersely..: that I’m rather sure you d
