Zoe allowed him to touch her. Compared to the past, she appeared more compliant, but Mason still felt she was different now. He could not figure out what had changed.

Perhaps it was because Zoe now treated her role as Mrs. Lockwood as a job, fulfilling his needs and taking care of household matters, but without love. Men could actually sense love and the absence of it.

Mason thought he did not mind. It was just slightly discomfiting.

Zoe did not speak up, so he spoke instead. "I saw Cecil e