Daniel moved to the kitchen. Someone had noticed Jade but not done something about it. Then a polite knock at the front door cut through his thickening thoughts and the soaring music.

When Daniel opened the door, his breath jammed in his throat. Monique stood in the half-light, a black dress hugging every curve down to her calves, a sparkle on her neck, her hair up save for two tendrils that fell on either side of thick lashes and wide eyes. A heady waft of Chanel threatened to derail his marriage on the spot. Monique’s smile eased into his discomfort.

He scrambled to regain a sense of control and stepped back to breathe distance into their interaction. “Monique, welcome! May I get you a drink?” He waited for the inevitable. It didn’t take long.

Daniel felt Kelly arrive behind him five seconds before he heard her voice. “Hello, and welcome to our family home.” She thrust a fresh platter between them. “Something to eat?”

Kelly’s voice hardened as she turned to Daniel. “A few people need drinks. I suggest you fill them.” She turned back to Monique. “Please come in and enjoy the evening.”

Daniel was pleased for the escape route—and the chance to avoid giving Kelly ammunition she didn’t need.

Peter raced up to him, brandishing the camera. “This is wonderful. It has a unique quality to it when you look through the viewfinder.”

“Would you use the word clarity?”

Peter waved a finger. “Yes! I’ve never seen a camera like it, and like I said, I’ve had some Olympus cameras over the years.”

Daniel felt fingers on his arm, pulling him toward the deck. Monique, holding a champagne flute.

“Daniel, can we talk?” Her glass was empty. Already.

Daniel planted his feet. “Sure.”

Monique gestured to the deck. “Alone?”

A faint alarm sounded in his head, and his testosterone fought to hit snooze on it. “Can’t we talk here?”

Monique’s head tilted, baited lashes batting. “Please? For just a moment?”

A moment. He could give one of his own staff members a moment. Monique’s curves sashayed across the deck toward the railing. Daniel forced his eyes to stay on the back of her head. She spun to face him, the playful breeze bouncing her curls on flushed cheeks. “I just want to thank you for the opportunity you’ve given me to work at Crossroads.”

That had to be said on the deck, alone? The alarm bell rang louder. It was time to put an end to this. Here. Maybe that would be enough for Kelly. “It’s great to have you on the team.” Daniel moved to the door.

“Daniel?”

His rational side screamed at him to head back inside, but the buzz of his hormones pulled rank. “Yes?”

“We make a great team. Two couples said today we’ve saved their marriage.”