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“Because of me?”

I look at him.

The question is direct enough to annoy me.

“No,” I reply. “Because I have an early morning.”

One of his eyebrows lifts slightly.

“You always had early mornings.”

“And you always thought they were negotiable.”

The words are out before I can stop them.

For the first time, something almost familiar passes between us.

Not warmth.

Not quite.

Ross's mouth shifts faintly.

“I remember.”

I refuse to let the moment soften anything.

Rebecca reappears in the doorway before either of us can say more.

“Sorry,” she says as she comes back into the room.

“Client emergency.”

“It’s fine,” I reply.

Rebecca looks from me to Ross, clearly registering that something has changed in the two minutes she was gone.

“Ross,” she says politely.

“Rebecca,” Ross replies.

She looks at me. “I’ll let you get back to your evening.”

“I was actually just leaving,” I say.

Rebecca smiles. “Then I’ll see you before you disappear back across the Atlantic.”

“You will.”

She walks back toward the main gallery.

I turn toward Ross.

“This has been unexpected,” I say.

“That’s one word for it.”

I ignore that.