Page 532 of The Sinner: James

Our hands disconnect as he greets hour guests, giving me no choice but to step aside.

It’s not much different than what happens in real life.

From the other side of the lobby, Eve gestures at me.

She catches sight of my expression and flicks her chin a few times, encouraging me to smile.

At least, that’s what I think it is.

A server passes by when I snatch a glass of champagne from the tray and take a few sips. A bit more relaxed, I grin, my eyes not getting enough of him.

* * *

RAIN

It’s almosttwo in the morning when the guests begin to leave.

James spends some time in his home office with Ed, Lex, and David while I linger on the terrace with the girls.

Minutes later, Ed and Lex exit James’ room and say goodbye to us before heading to their respective homes with their wives.

The last few guests leave shortly after.

“Let’s go inside,” I say to Eve.

She grabs her glass of champagne while I pick up a plate of desserts and walk into the house with her.

We turn left and enter the reading room in front of James’ home office.

The doors are wide open, and we can see across the hallway.

“They’ve been in there for a while,” she says, her gaze swinging to the carved wooden doors as she slips into a chair.

“Yes,” I say, sitting on the sofa.

“David Moore is so hot,” she mouths to me, running her hand over her skirt.

Her draped white dress fits her flawlessly, the low plunging neckline revealing the smooth skin between her breasts.

A necklace is wrapped around her neck.

Her lips glimmer, coated with a nude shade of lipstick, and her eyes sparkle in the barely lit room.

“I can say the same thing about you.”

She chuckles.

“He noticed you,” I add.

“I know,” she murmurs, hiding her smile behind her drink.

“Are you considering David now?” I toss at her, smiling.

She shakes her head, gesturing.

“No way. That’s not to say he’s not handsome. I don’t know how he was back in the day, but he sure is the whole package.”

“He’s always been like that,” I say before popping a bite-size piece of lemon cake into my mouth.

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