He never used to see it, how every word out of Claudine’s mouth was in service of her own agenda. Now it was all he saw. Yes, there was more financial stress than ever, but to actually take the listing for Montague House changed everything. They were supposed to never look back. Little truths were piling up, throwing him off-balance. They’d been a team for so long. But had she always been like this? He knew that when you’re as close as they were, working together, living together, it can be hard to recognize change. Was it possible he’d never seen who she was?

The hard reality was that they were in one of those stretches that happens in any long marriage. They were on different frequencies, but eventually they’d find each other. They always did. Although today he was glad her office was on the other side of the floor. A key decision he made last year when they’d remodeled—separate heads of the table. Keeping watch from each end. At least, he had thought he believed that; now he wondered if subconsciously he was creating a necessary distance between them—space to be himself.

Sliding off his Sorrels, he put them on the shoe rack inside the door and put on his work slippers. Then, before anyone could call him over, he took a sharp right, cutting through the kitchen, down the hall, to the safety of his office.

Door closed.

Blinds closed.

His phone chirped.

Glad u r back. Feeling better?

Jules. Always so thoughtful. It was barely a secret she had a crush on him. He wasn’t going to overanalyze a bright spot in his day, but he knew to be careful. There was a need to make sure that nothing he said or did could be twisted or misunderstood. Also, he wasn’t Steve. Jules was safe, and honest. It was fine if her extra attention made him feel better. She was so unlike Claudine. For one thing, she made him laugh. It wasn’t his style to form a crush on an employee, and he wasn’t going to start now. But he could indulge just enough. Who knew, maybe he was wrong about the way she felt? Maybe she only liked him as a friend, and he was so out of touch, having been married so long, he had no idea what that looked like. On top of everything else, there was no way he’d set himself up for rejection and embarrassment. He walked around with enough shame. But it didn’t stop him from spending as much time as he could with her.