“No.” He curved his arm around her shoulders and lowered his mouth to her ear. “She’s trying to get to you. Don’t give her what she wants.”

Lina met his eyes. “I hate her.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“When I promised not to seek her out, I didn’t know she’d be goading me all night.”

“Why don’t we dance?” He nodded towards the dance floor, which was beginning to fill up. “Come on.” He came to his feet. “I promise to try to keep up,” he teased.

Lina swayed slightly as she came to her feet, and Phil clasped both her arms. “I’m fine,” she assured him when she saw the concern in his eyes. “I just got up too fast.” She was tipsy, not drunk, and she knew she’d be fine on the dance floor.

They danced for forty minutes, only taking short breaks for Phil to remove his jacket and then tie, moving together effortlessly across the dance floor. For the first time all evening, Lina stopped thinking about Kim.

She bumped hard into someone to her left. “Excuse me,” she said breathlessly, and found herself face-to-face with Kim, standing in the center of the dance floor with bodies jostling them from all directions. “Get away from me, you whore,” Lina hissed.

Kim’s eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly regained her composure, and a smile came to her lips as her eyes flicked dismissively over Lina. “Your husband couldn’t get enough of me.”

Lina swung back her hand and then, for the first time in her life, struck another human being, slapping Kim hard across the face.

Chapter 18

18

“Slow down or let go of my hand,” Lina said as Phil practically dragged her down the cobblestoned path towards their cottage. “I can’t walk this fast in heels.”

Phil slowed his stride, but the hold on her hand remained firm. He didn’t say a word until the front door closed behind them. “What in the hell, Lina?” he exploded, turning to face her. “You can’t just hit people.”

“Obviously, I can,” Lina said as she stepped around him. “I just did.”

“I know you did,” he said, following. “Everyone in that room is going to know about the affair now.” He tossed his jacket on a chair and then roughly ploughed his fingers back through his hair. “Jesus Christ!”

“I’d do it again.” She removed one sandal and then the other. “Did you hear what she said to me?”

“You called her a whore. That’s what I heard.”

“It’s the truth. She is a whore. And she was baiting me all night.”

“You assaulted her in front of two dozen witnesses. She could have you arrested.”

“It would be worth it.”

“I’m going to go check on her—make sure she doesn’t call the police.”