Page 53 of The Sinner: James

He notices my reaction––the trembling of my lips and tension in my jaw––yet he doesn’t flinch.

Stern and emotionless, he presses his lips together and keeps his eyes unreadable.

They are as fascinating as they’ve always been.

The woman looks at him, confused.

He keeps staring down at me, cold and detached.

“You’re late,” Lex says behind me, talking to him, not realizing I’m the woman blocking his view.

Oblivious to me, he inches closer to James, the brunette waiting for an explanation.

She wears a strapless blue dress that brings out the color of her eyes.

Dangling sparkling earrings touch her delicate shoulders.

She’s pretty and reminds me of the hostess who took our order at Red’s last year.

James narrows his eyes, observing me in silence as I grasp the inconvenient truth.

The last piece of the puzzle has fallen into place.

Prompted by the awkwardness of the moment, Lex follows James’ gaze and meets my eyes.

“Rain??”

Surprise lines his voice, flooding his gaze.

He whips his eyes down, taking me in while grappling with disbelief.

Stunned, he lifts his gaze and searches my eyes.

The tuxedo does him justice, the fabric falling smoothly over his frame, outlining his athletic body.

The formal clothing does nothing to balance out the wild glint in their eyes.

I hand Lex my glass without a word, sneak between the two of them, and quickly move outside.

One of my mom’s friends spots me hurrying down the stairs.

She waves at me, and I gesture back at her, signaling I can’t talk right now.

Mouthing a rushed apology, I dart to my car.

“Rain?”

James’ voice––the last thing I thought I’d hear––rings out behind me, igniting a chemical reaction in my body.

My hands shake, and my knees feel funny.

I hurl a glance over the crowd.

Unfortunately, my car is parked way in the back behind a dozen of other cars, the valets moving slowly as the guests keep coming in.

I turn right and walk across the lawn, avoiding the groups of people partying outside, and then I dash away.

With one flick of my hand, I grab the bottom of my dress to move with ease and make a beeline for the farthest corner of the estate.

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