Page 134 of Every Silent Lie

I’m coming over all unnecessary, as if he could be undressing, when in fact he’s doing the exact opposite. I place my glass down, tilting my head when he flips his collar up and slides his tie around his neck. Long, dexterous fingers fix the knot expertly and with supreme precision. And the whole time he’s slowly, carefully dressing, he’s watching me. “I know what you’re doing,” I say, standing and moving into his chest, getting my face close to his as I reach for his collar and pull it down, making Dec’s hands retreat. His palms rest on my waist.

“What am I doing?”

“Trying to tempt me.”

“Just keeping you busy.”

I smile, wriggling the knot of his tie. “And I love you for it.”

“Yeah?” He hunkers down, moving his palms to my bum and pulling me in, nuzzling my face with his.

“Yeah,” I breathe, impatient for the end of today when I can crawl into his bed and let him hug me into tomorrow. “You’ll never know how grateful I am for you.”

“We’ve got a long time for you to show me.”

I nod, pushing my face into his neck and taking a much-needed hug right now. “You smell so good.” Clean, manly.

“I need some cologne.” Turning his face into me, he kisses my neck and gently pries me away. “Be back in a moment.” After one more sip of his wine, he leaves the kitchen, and I slowly work my way through the small amount of wine I’ve allowed myself.

When I’m finished, I take my glass to the sink and rinse it, and just as I’m setting it on the drainer, a sound from the hallway pulls my attention up. The front door closing? “Dec?” someone yells. A woman. “Dec, it’s me.”

I stand up straight, my stomach doing a small flip, as the sound of heels hit the wood in the hallway, getting louder and louder.

“Dec, are you here?”

Who the hell is that?

A woman breezes into the kitchen, a beautiful woman, a pair of keys jangling in her hand, an oxblood Mulberry in the crook of her arm. She’s pristine, in a power suit and a black ankle-length coat, her lips cherry red, her blond bob thick but razor sharp. Christ.

She clocks me by the sink and skids to a stop, looking me up and down. I must look like a deer caught in the headlights. “Oh, hi,” she murmurs.

“Hi.” What the hell should I do? I have no idea, but instinct has me going to her and holding out my hand. “Camryn.”

She looks down at my hand briefly, leaving me hanging, before her lips slightly stretch. It throws me. “Who else would you be?” she asks, leaving my hand where it is. “I’m April. Dec’s sister.”

Oh my God. My body shrinks with the held air leaving me. Relief. I didn’t want to think for a moment this woman could be?—

Who? Another woman? His estranged wife? I shake my head to myself, and I’m suddenly hauled into April’s arms, being hugged tightly. “He doesn’t shut up about you,” she says, making my eyes widen more.

“He doesn’t?”

She releases me and holds me at arm’s length. “I’m so fucking excited for you both.”

The oddest feeling comes over me. Shyness? I’m struggling to put my finger on it. “Thank you,” I say, at a loss. “He’s taking me out for dinner.”

“Yes, I know. He mentioned it.” She frowns. “But he was picking you up.”

“I was ready early so thought I’d come here.”

She motions down my front. “You look stunning. I love this dress.”

Do I tell her Dec bought it? Shifting uncomfortably, finding the compliments all a bit much, I move back to the stool and lower but quickly stand again. “Thank you. Do you want me to get Dec?” What the hell am I saying? “I mean, you probably know your way around here better than I do.”

“It’s okay.” She goes to one of the cupboards on the far side of the kitchen, her back to me, and starts rooting through, proving me right. “I just needed to grab?—”

“April?”

Her head whips up when Dec walks in, and I get an immediate hit of his cologne. Dizzying. “Oh, hey,” she says, almost sheepish.