Page 393 of Power Play

“Milwaukee.”

The pride in her voice almost took my legs out from under me. I dumped everything into the trash and kept my back to her.

“Yeah.”

“You chose Milwaukee.”

“The offer was better.”

“I thought Washington was the dream.”

“So did I.”

“What changed?”

I turned around. Understanding reached her before I said anything, and her eyes moved from my face to the contract folder across the kitchen.

“Milwaukee is close to the guys,” she said.

“Yeah.”

“And far enough from Kimball Falls.”

“Yeah.”

“Far enough from me.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to.”

“Then don’t ask questions you’ve already answered.”

“I wasn’t trying to start a fight.”

“Standing in the kitchen of the lodge I rented for us is a strange way to avoid one.”

Her expression tightened. “I didn’t know you would be here.”

“You keep saying that.”

“Because it’s true.”

“You also said you would leave me alone.”

“I have.”

“You’re standing in front of me.”

“Because you came back early!”

“So now this is my fault?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You never fucking say anything until there’s no safe answer left.”

The blow landed. I saw it in the way her shoulders pulled inward, but she refused to lower her eyes.