36. SIN

I watched them from beneath my lashes.

Michel was wiping Bella’s tears from her cheeks as he talked to her softly. I couldn’t hear what he was saying, but it seemed to be doing the thing. She was no longer crying.

Wrapping an arm around her waist, he led her over to the couch and waited until she was seat. Crouching in front of her, he cupped her cheek with one hand and used his other to hook strands of hair behind her ear.

Bella gave him a wobbly smile as she leaned back.

I shifted from foot to foot as Michel stood. The urge to slip away and leave them alone was getting harder to ignore. Just as I was about to slip upstairs silently, Michel raised his had and looked at me. He hesitated for a few seconds and then made his way over to me.

“I’m just going to go help Ty with the horses and then when I get back I’ll make you some lunch. Okay?” he said.

I nodded.

Michel hesitated and then pressed his lips to my cheek before he hurried to the front door. He threw a glance at Bella an