He welcomed the pain. He knew he’d earned it and it was better than being separated. He just wished it wasn’t silent. Let her bitch or yell or even cry. Hell, he just wanted her to talk instead of ignore him. That obviously wasn’t working. A simple plan took shape in his mind. If he wanted her back—and he did—he’d have to seduce her. Though that wasn’t quite as simple as it seemed. She wasn’t the girl he’d met when they were kids. Wasn’t the young innocent he’d claimed and married. She had a hard edge now. She probably needed it for the work she did, but he wanted her to soften with him at least. He watched her pace the living room as the sun began to set and glanced at his watch. He’d love to take her out someplace for dinner, but even if she’d agree, it wasn’t possible until the Elect figured out what the Stirling Institute wanted from them and put a stop to it. He left her to pace and went to search her kitchen, surprised to find it well stocked. “What are you doing?”
