oor was still clear from where the maids had frantically gathe

nd reached into the very back of the closet, where t

ad bought it in Paris three years ago, before she married Arch. She had never worn

e held the heavy silk against her chest and

?" she w

he silk clung to her waist and hips, the off-the-shoulder c

ack eyeliner and drew a sharp, aggressive wing. She applied a dark, smoky shadow that made her eyes look pred

. She pulled out a pair of black stilettos with blood-red soles.

the woman staring back at her was a stranger

e sweeping staircase. The stilettos clicked loud

ng white lilies in a crystal vase. At

ly caught it against her chest, water sloshing over

..." Mrs. Foster stammered

e asked, her red lips

bsolutely stunning," Mrs. Foster breath

Daren walked out, holding a

his grip, scattering across the floor. He stared at Constance, his mouth hanging ope

m. The scent of her heavy, exp

she said without looking

He scrambled to pick up the files, his hands s

he hallway from the opp

turned t

d lips, dropped to the exposed skin of her collarbones, trailed down t

e tips of Arch's ears were flushed red. It was a microscopic phy

stance said, raising one

ing out like that?" His voice was flat, but t

Constance challenged,

nd. His jaw clenched. He turned sharply t

followed

looked in the rearview mirror and saw Constance, his hands slipped

taurant, Arch stepped out first. He walked aroun

curb. Arch reached out instinctively. His large, w

igid. Arch's fingers dug into her waist for one second too lo

corner booth. Arch ordered a bottle of expensive Bordeaux. Cons

rch's eyes on her. He wasn't

deliberately let the wide sleeve of her dress

oss her pale skin-a relic from a child

hed Arch

ainst the stem of his wine glass. He didn't ask what it was. He didn't offer fake sympathy. He jus

her head back against the leather seat, the al

e, she heard Arch lean forward and

his weekend. The family