rged from the twilight, a sprawling Georgian revival mansion that looked more like a museum than

f the Hamptons hit Adina immediately. She stepped

sive front door. His gaze flicked past her shoulder, scanning the

eeping her voice steady. "

ina saw the slight twitch at the corner of his mou

hoing off the marble floor. The house smelled like it alwa

room, Miss Adi

eonora, were standing by the fireplace. Clyde held a crystal tumbler of scotch; Eleon

ent past Adina, searching the

lasped in front of her to hide their trembling.

rns after two years abroad, and he can't be bothered to leave the office? This is

humorless laugh. "Mother, I can't e

ust didn't wa

the staircase. Adi

dress that clung to every curve, her dark hair swept up in an elegant twist. She looked older,

dina. The air in the room seemed to thin out, the ten

o a smile that didn't reach her eyes. She opened her arm

against her ear, her voice like velvet wrapped ar

f to step back, keeping her face a mask of

crystal chandelier casting prismatic light over the untouched food on their plates. Clyde and Eleonora h

her plate. She felt like a ghost at her

ne in her glass, her gaze fixed on Adina. "How is Dorman? Cannon Industries stock

ocent enough, but the glint in Cierra's eye t

aid, her voice flat.

r face. "Good. We wouldn't want him overworking himself.

at loudly, suddenly fascinated by his scotch. Eleonora reached over and

a," Eleonora said. "Y

ke this. Cierra was the sun, and Adina was just a plane

dina stood up. "If you'll excuse me,

?" Cierra asked, lean

do," Adina said th

lked toward the front door. The night air w

na,

house, wrapping a cashmere shawl around her shoulders. She leaned aga

ne light, almost conversational. "I was just curious if Dorman

ing. "I think you know his pr

of white teeth in the dark. "T

er, the woman who had held Dorman's heart before Adina had been force

yanked open the car door and threw

he leather seat, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps. Cierra's wor

ngs neve

in contact this whole time? Was Dorman's absence tonight really about a board