Chapter 84

Ian caught on to whatever was happening and had left them alone. Neither spoke for a while, two people sitting in different corners unable to judge the distance or what it had done to them. But only one was angry, and it wasn’t Noah.

“I work here.” The dejected whisper came from her stomach. Vanessa was not sure where this was going. The anger belted down, she thought he wanted her to be away for a day or two. But why would he care?

“You are running away again.” His idle observation stuck a nerve, which is what he really wanted to do. He could feel her absolving into herself. And angry Vanessa was better than the one who second-guessed herself every step of the way. He could withstand anger, not broken pieces she’d have to collect when this was all over. Utterly selfish of him to make this about himself, but that’s all he had ever known until she came along.

The nails dug in her palm. She could belch and ruin the mahogany table. That’d be a sight for the sore eyes. Like adding humi