He took another sip. “At my house the other night, you made it sound like you were pretty in love with your husband.”

She tilted her head and gave him a flirty smile. “That’s true, I am. I love my husband, but no one can really hold a candle to your first. You know?” She had to force out the words, almost choking on them.

His eyes widened. “I didn’t realize. Oh, Blaire. If I’d known.” He shook his head. “Why didn’t you get in touch all this time?”

As if it would have changed things? She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter now. We both have our own lives. But that doesn’t mean we can’t recapture a little of the old magic, right?” She took a long swig from her glass and watched as he did the same. “You have a nice life. Kids. Your own company. You really seem to have it all.”

He beamed. “I guess it looks like that.” His hand moved to her right thigh, and he ran it up and down. “But I don’t have everything I want.” He gave her a knowing look.

She gamely put her hand on top of his and gave it a squeeze. If enduring this could lead her to Lily’s killer, then, well . . . it would all be worth it. “Well, who says you can’t?” She moved toward him and pressed her lips to his, and he kissed her back, pushing his tongue into her mouth. She pulled away. “Maybe we should save that for later. We’re in public, after all. My hotel isn’t far from here.”

He was staring at her, his eyes glazed, and she controlled the urge to slap him across the face. Breathe, she thought. Picking up her glass, she held it up again. “To later,” and downed it all.

Carter followed suit. “I’m going to see if our table’s ready. The sooner we eat, the sooner we can leave.” He gave her a wink.

“Why don’t we just have dinner here at the bar? It’s so cozy.”

“Great idea.”

They ordered. A steak for her, and shrimp scampi for him. While they waited, she asked for two more drinks.

“I’ll bet you’re the one with all the great ideas at your firm,” she ventured. “Simon doesn’t strike me as all that brilliant.”

Carter straightened his shoulders and gave her a slight nod. “Well, I guess I do come up with a lot of the creative ideas and new business contacts. But don’t get me wrong,” he rushed on, “Simon’s a pretty good architect too.”

She uncrossed and crossed her legs again. “But you’re the real star, aren’t you? Admit it, Carter. You don’t have to pretend with me.”

“Well—” He smiled and bowed his head for a moment, then looked up at her. “I guess you could say that.”