Page 10 of Marrying the Enemy

Eventually, her father had determined WBE was on its last legs. He had retired and handed the reins to Nico.

Eve should have seen an upward trajectory in her own career at that point, but Dom and WBE had quickly begun to rally, apparently not so beaten as they’d seemed. Nico spent all his time countering offensives while she was left to languish in the marketing division. In fact, the resort that Dom had just purchased here in Queensland had been targeted as the next Visconti property. Nico was furious that he had not only lost to Dom again, but had lost the significant time and money he’d put into his attempt to acquire it.

Eve couldn’t help wondering if Dom’s relentless attack was fueled by what had happened between them. She hadn’t told a soul about meeting him in Budapest and never would, but dreaded that Dom might. He could be waiting for exactly the right moment to slay her with a pithy revelation that would destroy her reputation, turn her family into a mockery and lower her family’s view of her.

She hated that he held that over her!

Her stomach churned as she dressed for the welcome reception two hours later. The schedule of mix-and-mingle activities through the week included day trips and shopping, sailing and diving and hiking, all culminating in the ceremony and reception five days from now. It was organized like an all-inclusive trade conference, which was the real reason she had accepted this invitation. Her middle brother, Jackson, had reminded her that there would be a lot of quality connections to be made.

“Bring value to the table,” he had advised her, well aware of how frustrated she was with their older brother’s reluctance to advance her in the company. “That’s the kind of thing Nico notices and appreciates.”

Nico did nothing but stonewall her. No matter how hard she worked, he treated her as though she was five, not twenty-five, but Eve was willing to try anything to get him to take her seriously.

Even face Dom again.

Or maybe not. Ugh. She was regretting everything about being here as she and Logan arrived at the outdoor dining room—including the fact that she’d left her hair down because there was just enough breeze and humidity to make tiny strands stick to her face and neck.

Running back to her suite for a scarf wasn’t an option. It would look like another retreat, not that Dom even noticed her, but she would know that she was being a coward.

After her first sweeping glance—and the painful awareness that sliced through her when she spotted him—she looked anywhere but where he stood with the tall brunette she’d overheard earlier. Was that woman his wife? His fiancée? He’d been engaged ages ago, before they’d met, but nothing of the sort had been reported lately.

Not that she cared.

Eve barely noticed what the other woman looked like. Dom’s image dominated her vision. She forced herself to smile as they began moving through the receiving line, but all she saw was Dom’s athletic frame in bone-colored trousers and a pale blue Henley in fine cotton. His jaw was shaved clean which made him look even tougher than when he’d worn stubble. Maybe it was the aviator glasses reflecting the sinking sun against the water that gave him such an air of remote arrogance. Maybe it was a stronger air of command that had developed in response to his takeover at WBE.

Maybe it was the same belly-deep loathing for an adversary that sat in her own stomach.

But who is your loathing really for? a sneering voice mocked deep inside her.

It was for herself. She had been so eager that morning in Budapest. So easy. It was the great irony of her life that she’d resorted to telling men she was waiting for marriage as an excuse for not sleeping with them. The truth was, the only man she’d ever wanted to have sex with was that man, the one she hated most on earth. The very last man she would ever touch.

Logan introduced her to the bride and groom and their parents.

Eve forced her bright smile to stay in place as the mother of the bride drew her aside. “I’m so sorry, dear. I was just informed of the bad blood between you and one of our guests.”

“What?” A wet sack of cement landed in her gut.

“The professional rivalry between the Viscontis and the Blackwoods. Dom is here as a guest of my niece.” The woman glanced over, but Eve refused to give in to the temptation to do the same. “I wouldn’t want anyone to be uncomfortable...” The woman meant her niece and her daughter, the bride.

“Are you referring to the court case between our fathers?” Eve asked with manufactured confusion. “Oh, that trademark dispute was settled ages ago. It’s old news.” She dismissed it with a wave of her hand. “Besides, I understand there are more than seventy islands to explore here. I doubt we’ll even speak.” She leaned in to add with forced levity, “Maybe don’t seat us together, just to be sure.”

The woman chuckled with relief and went back to the receiving line.

Eve took a subtle, shaken breath, hoping her request would be taken seriously. She absolutely did not want to talk to Dom.

“Everything all right?” Logan appeared beside her to offer a glass of white wine.

“Mmm. She...um...warned me that Dom Blackwood is here. I’ve never met him.” She used the excuse to glance around, deliberately looking the wrong direction.

“Over my left shoulder. Your brother won’t be happy,” Logan said ruefully.

Eve did her best to appear disinterested, sipping and glancing past Logan.

Dom’s attention seemed angled her way, but with his mirrored sunglasses it was impossible to tell if he was looking at her. Her heart rattled in her chest anyway. Hot coals of yearning glowed brighter in her midsection. It was shameful to react this way. It took all of her control to hide her response behind a blank expression.

You mean nothing to me, she transmitted, before looking to Logan with a sweet smile.

“What do you want to do tomorrow?”

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