. Killian Wise had a way of making the rest of the club disappear. His focus was absolute, his

k," Elinor said, taking a s

, his dark eyes tracking her every movement.

Jaylynn chimed in, grinning. "New York

a fixture in the society pages, known more for his loose lips and loud suits than any

voice carrying just enough to be heard over the music but not enough to be drowned out. "Killian,

ual use of her married name felt

ed. He shot Julian a warnin

gleaming with gossip-hungry delight. "Mrs. Everett, don't mind me. I'm just a fan. I was at the wedding, you know. The

apped, her voice lik

he looked Julian dead in the eye. "I'm not Mrs. Everett anymore,"

t golden ticket. "So the rumors are true? The ice queen is melting the Eve

ng Elinor's face. "Are you okay?" he aske

dded. "I

, but he could read the body language. Julian Croft was a gossip, a

sture, watched Elinor's calm, collected demeanor. She was networking. She

ing a fool

rrass the other or damage the Everett brand while still legally married. By being here, by talkin

is thumbs flew across the scree

egal

rding breach of the decency clause in

w darker by the second, reached out. "Dempsey,

ily," he snarled. "She thinks she can just walk out and drag m

wd near the entrance seemed to part, and a woman walked in. She was petite, wi

cy

ad told her to stay home. He ha

agged to The Crimson Quill. Of course she'd come. She always had to mark her territory. She saw him, and her fa

t usually made him feel needed. "You didn't answer

uilt. He couldn't deal with Darcy and Elinor at the same time. "Not now

ward the corner booth. Her eyes found Elinor, and the hurt on

to him, pressing her body against his side. She rested

oulder, the possessive tilt of Darcy's chin. The woman who had been the

dering, of doubting, of ignoring the late-night phone calls and the

. She brought it to her lips and drank it down in one long, burning swallow. The alcohol hit her

th a sharp clink. "I need some

u," Jaylynn offere

the distant silhouette of her husband and h

her back straight, her head high. She didn't loo

tight his teeth ached. She was walking away.