Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Owen waved a dismissive hand. "No rush."

It was just a coat, after all. Owen had plenty more in his closet.

"I came home to grab some clothes and have to head back to the lab soon." His voice was thick with congestion, his face half-hidden by a mask, a dead giveaway he was battling a nasty cold.

"Hold on." Roseanne turned and went inside, returning moments later with a thermos. "I made you some chicken soup yesterday. Drink it while it's hot."

At the mention of chicken soup, Owen's brow furrowed slightly, an almost imperceptible reaction Roseanne missed as she added, "There's also some cold medicine in the bag. It's the usual stuff. Instructions are on the box."

Owen was rarely sick, and something about her concern made him momentarily consider refusing the thermos.

But then Roseanne added, "I mean, it's really my fault you ended up catching this cold."

almost withdrawn to refuse

short on time. "Thanks for the chicken soup and the medicine. I'll have

paper still needed work, and she'd

books and papers Madeleine had given her, all in German. While her German was good enough for daily conversations, she

research, Roseanne found her thoughts interrupted by her phone ringing. Annoyed but resigned, she set down her pen and picked up the

some things I'd

opportunity to clear the air They agreed on a time and place and Roseanne hung up. The image of an angry Murray flashed in her mind, but she shook it

refocusing on her paper.

...

visited last time, not far from Kingswell University. Roseanne immediately spotted Corley sitting in their usual spot as she

next to him, Corley wore a Gucci dress shirt, the upper buttons casually undone, revealing his collarbone. It seemed to attract the

.n