A few days later Athos was out for a ride. He had been riding more over an hour, and decided it was time to head back towards the house. As he approached he saw a figure down by the entrance gate. The distance was too far to make it out, so he galloped his horse in that direction.

As he got closer he could see it was Rebecca. He couldn't think what she was doing by the gate. She waved happily as she heard him coming her way.

"You should stay by the house," he said as he pulled his horse to a stop.

"I was just going stir crazy. Needed a walk," she said smiling.

There was no shortage of property for her to have a walk on. She didn't need to come down by the gate.

"Do you want a ride back?" He asked. Chivalry wasn't dead with him. He couldn't very well leave her to walk behind him.

"Really? I'd love it!"

He pulled her up behind him, and she gladly wrapped her arms around his middle as he guided the horse back towards the house. He heard the sound of a car coming up the drive behind them.

Elle. She was right on time. As the car drove past them he tipped his hat to her, and immediately felt foolish because she was staring straight ahead not even acknowledging him. He urged the horse into a proper trot and arrived in time to see the back of her disappear inside this house.

Rebecca hopped down and watched Athos lead the mare into the barn. Once she was back inside the house she heard Elle tinkering in the kitchen. She was putting away dishes, and Rebecca saw this as a good opportunity to learn more about the housekeeper.

"So, can I ask, how long have you worked for Athos?"

"As long as he's lived here," Elle answered.

"Do you like it?" Rebecca leaned a denim clad hip against the counter next to Elle.

"I wouldn't have stayed all this time if I didnt," Elle said without making eye contact.

"I'd like it too," Rebecca nudged her shoulder. "I mean look at him!"

Elle barely shrugged. This conversation was weird.

"You two ever...?" Rebecca teased.

"Of course not," Elle said flatly. She finished stacking the plates and shut the cabinet door. "Excuse me." She stepped around the other woman and made her way to the back of the house to tend to the laundry.

Later, Athos entered the house through the back door. He walked past the laundry room and saw Elle bringing clothes out from the dryer. He walked in and shut the door behind him.

"Is everything okay?" He asked her.

"What do you mean?"

"Elle, don't play games. Not with me."

She reached into the laundry basket and fetched out a black lace nighty. "Yours?"

To his credit, Athos had the decency to look embarrassed. "No, obviously."

Elle tossed it back in the basket. "It's not the kind of thing you wear for just yourself, Athos."

"I've never seen it before in my life. I swear."

Elle hated that she felt this way.

"I just want you to be careful. You don't know her..."

Athos took a step towards her, "And I honestly have no desire to get to know her."

Elle's mind flashed to Rebecca holding onto him today as she arrived, "Could have fooled me."

Athos was feeling trapped. Called out out exposed. Elle was acting like a child all of a sudden.

"Elle, I've said I have no desire for her, and I meant that. However, even if I did...it wouldn't be any of your business."

Athos couldn't have hurt her more if he'd slapped her. It took a full second for her to comprehend what he'd just said. Even though there was truth in it, still...the words stung. Athos had never talked to her like that. And she'd called him out on his behavior plenty of times before.

But never over a woman.

She could feel the blood rushing to her cheeks. She turned her back and continued unloading the dryer. Pulling a mix of Athos's and Rebecca's clothes out. Hot tears fell down her cheeks and when she stood with basket in hand Athos was gone.

That evening he sat in his office. He hadn't been out since before Elle left. No dinner, nothing. He couldn't face her, and he really didn't want to see or deal with Rebecca. In the morning he planned to call Aramis and tell him he was done with this whole operation.

Speaking of, he remembered he wanted to watch the security video from the gate today. He was still curious about why Rebecca was down there. He cued up the footage.

Okay, there she was. Athos watched for five minutes. She just stood there. Twice she checked her watch. Her expression impatient. Then, she turned the opposite way and Athos knew that must've been when she heard him coming.

There was something else going on here. He sent a text to Aramis.

We need to talk. Tomorrow morning. Come alone.

While he had his phone in his hand he pulled up Elle's number. He felt like a coward. For a long time, probably longer than he would be able to admit, he'd had feelings for Elle. Selfishly though, he had done nothing about them.

He had his fair share of relationships. It never ended well, and he liked having Elle around too much to mess it up. He felt so ashamed at how he'd talked to her earlier. They were very familiar with each other, and of course she had every right to speak openly to him. He should have never made her feel otherwise.

He hated himself. That was nothing entirely new.

I'm sorry.

It was late, and he wasn't expecting a reply. But when he woke the next morning and there was only a text from Aramis he couldn't help but feel disappointed. He rolled over and felt blindly for the wine bottle he knew was on his nightstand. He grasped the neck of the bottle and thought better of it.

Instead, he trucked himself downstairs and put on the coffee. Aramis would be coming through the door any minute. Only, when the door opened it wasn't Aramis. Her hair was hanging down her back, and her face was somewhat drawn. Elle. Athos stopped breathing as she approached the counter where he was standing.

She reached around him and opened the cabinet for a mug. His eyes were trained on her, but she refused to make eye contact. They stood silently for a moment until the coffee was done. Elle reached for the pot, but Athos's hand on her arm stopped her.

His fingers gently wrapped around her wrist and pulled her closer. And closer still until she was completely in his embrace. His arms wrapped around her and pulled her tight. She reluctantly slipped her hands into his jacket and laid her head on his chest.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly.

Elle sighed and pulled back, "I'm glad, but you were right. Your life is your business."

The corner of Athos's mouth tipped up. "Since when?"

His quip pulled a smile from Elle. "I'm serious, Athos. I don't want to be in the way,"

He pulled her closer, tightening his grip on her. He lowered his face closer to hers and whispered low, "Does it look like you're in the way?"

His tone was strange, and the suggestiveness of his words made her stomach erupt in butterflies.

"Good morning," a feminine voice called.

Elle was startled and pulled away from Athos. She'd all but forgot about the other woman's presence.

"Morning," Athos greeted her.

"If you have a list, I'll head to the market." Elle told Athos.

"I'll text it to you,"

On her way out Elle passed Aramis. He waved, and she smiled back as their cars passed each other. He appeared to be alone. The top was down on his mustang, and Elle noticed that strangely, he was alone.

Aramis let himself into the house.

"Oh, hello there," Rebecca said. "Any new news?"

"I'm afraid not." He clasped his hands together. "Athos?"

"He's upstairs in his office."

Rebecca followed him up the stairs, and Aramis was all too aware of her eyes on him. As he stopped to rap on the office door she passed him and disappeared into the guest room she'd been occupying.

"Why come alone?" Aramis asked Athos as his friend stepped out of the office.

"Shh," Athos hissed. "Not here."

They quietly made their way outside where they quickly saddled their horses. Once they were far away from the house on the back edge of the property Athos voiced his concerns.

"Why haven't you told me her boyfriend is nonexistent?"

"Well, we don't know he's not real. Her bruises were real enough."

"Something...isn't right. I can feel it."

Aramis sighed and dropped the reigns. He pulled his black leather jacket closer around him. The autumn air was biting.

"You're not the only one. The more we investigate and search...the more we realize this probably isn't what it seems. Why did you ask me to come alone?"

"I didn't want my house guest getting suspicious"

"What have you gotten from her?"

"Other than mind games, nothing at all."

Athos shared with Aramis about her strange behavior. The waiting at the gate, and the flirting.

Aramis scoffed, "Well, you're quite rusty. You probably couldn't tell the difference between a woman properly advancing you, or just being friendly."

Athos adjusted his cowboy hat. "I can tell the difference. I'm not as rusty as you think."

Aramis's eyebrows drew up, "Is that so?"

"Nevermind. How long are we going to let this go on?"

"Give us a few more days. If we can't find anything out, we'll tell her we're dropping the case."

"Fine,"

They pointed their horses back towards the house. Athos had a sinking feeling that even if they dropped this case...it wouldn't be the end of it.