Page 35 of Claimed By the Enemy

He’s baiting me, and I know it. But the words hit their mark anyway.

“I should go,” I say, standing up. “I need to get ready for dinner.”

“Sophie.” I pause at the door. “Wear the blue dress. The one from the party.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s my favorite.”

I don’t respond to that because acknowledging that he has a favorite dress of mine would mean acknowledging that he pays attention to what I wear, that he thinks about me when I’m not around.

And I’m not ready to go down that road.

***

At exactly seven o’clock, Amara arrives looking radiant in a floral sundress and carrying a bottle of wine.

“You look amazing,” she says, giving me a quick hug in the foyer. “That dress is incredible on you.”

“Thanks.”

“Are you okay? You seem tense.”

“Just tired. It’s been a long week.”

Dom appears from the living room with that same warm, charming smile. He’s changed into dark slacks and a white button-down that makes his eyes look even darker than usual.

“Amara, welcome. You look lovely.”

“Thank you for having me,” she says, handing him the wine. “I hope you like Bordeaux.”

“Thank you for having me,” Amara says, handing him the wine. “I hope you like Bordeaux.”

“One of my favorites. Sophie, you look stunning.”

His eyes linger on the dress, and I feel heat creep up my neck. “Thank you.”

“Shall we go to the dining room? Patrice has prepared something special.”

Dinner is a carefully orchestrated performance. Dom plays the perfect husband, attentive and charming, asking Amara questions about her work and her life. “She responds politely, but I can see her observing him, like she’s trying to figure something out.”

I sit between them, smiling and nodding and playing my part while inside I’m screaming.

“So tell me more about this boat trip,” Dom says as Patrice serves dessert. “Sophie mentioned it might be good for her to get away for a while.”

“Oh, it should be nice,” Amara says, glancing at me. “I found this gorgeous forty-foot yacht we can charter. The owner is a friend of a friend, so we got a great deal. We’re planning to start in the Hamptons and work our way up the coast. Maybe stop in Mystic, Newport, some of the smaller islands.”

“How long were you thinking?”

“A week, maybe? Sophie said she wanted to really disconnect.”

“That’s quite a commitment,” Dom observes. “Sophie, are you sure you can be away from work that long?”

“I think I can manage,” I say sweetly. “After all, it’s not like I’ve been particularly busy lately.”

His smile doesn’t waver, but I see the warning in his eyes.

“Well, you know what they say about all work and no play,” Amara interjects, clearly missing the undercurrent. “Besides, Sophie deserves some time to herself. Marriage is a big adjustment.”