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“How long will you be out withhis coffee

“Probably a couple of hours, why?” Amie smiled and set her cup doith a louder clink than she’d ht, mister?”

Malik stared down at the newspaper; not to read, but to fill in the crossword “No, actually,” he breathed slowly “I have some business to attend to today, and I probably won’t be back until after you’re asleep”

“Oh”

“I’ll leave the car with you My driver will take you to my mother’s and then anywhere else you like after that”

She nodded slowly and spun her teaspoon in her coffee cup; careful not to let the spoon ding any of the edges “Co her tone didn’t betray the tinge of jealousy she felt

“That’s right,” he said simply No explanation

If she didn’t know any better she would say he was angry with her Actually, the ry with him

She found herself growing eerily quiet after that, unable to help but wonder where he was really going Was it for work, or pleasure? She had no right to be jealous, she knew, but she couldn’t help the sick pang that shot through her sto another woman for the day

“You don’tout with your mom, do you?”

“Hanging out?” Malik laughed “No! Why, do you think I’ left out?”

She shrugged and mocked, “I don’t know, she makes a pretty mean baklava”

With a long sip, Malik finished the last of his coffee and set the cup in the sink “Don’t I know it,” he teased “Co”