A few hours later, after a long, hot shower, where Devin and I enjoyed his phenomenal abilities of recovery, I stood along the banks of the Colorado River, where Jacinta’s party was in full swing. Every politician, socialite, and celebrity who wanted to be in the society magazines was in attendance.

The moment we’d arrived at the house, Devin and I had separated. Richard had taken Tyler and Devin to meet prominent members of his party and Carol had done her best to introduce me to everyone and anyone she believed had any useful political pull.

I appreciated her support, but the majority of people wanted to discuss my clients, my new celebrity status, and the fact that I was now on the cover of five popular magazines, including one that named me one of the top single professionals in Washington and the United States. A topic I was positive had reached Devin’s ears.

For the past thirty minutes, every time I glanced toward the balcony of Jacinta’s house, I’d caught him watching me.

The possessiveness of Dev’s gaze made my pulse jump and would add to the rumors swirling around the party about us. Several people had alluded to my closeness to the Camden family but no one had directly asked me about it.

“Excuse me, Samina. You don’t mind if I call you Samina, do you? Ms. Kumar sounds so formal.”

I turned as Veronica Jane Cartwright approached me with her sister, Jill. Just the sight of Veronica made my green-eyed monster want to rear its ugly head. She was a leggy Amazon who loved to parade around all the elite circles acting like an intellectual. She also thought my husband was her living boy toy.

She gave me one of the fake smiles she was known for and took a sip of her cocktail.

“No, of course not. That is my name.”

She was all bottled blond and teased hair. The quintessential Louisiana debutante, who came from the right family and pedigree. She was everything I wasn’t. The kind of woman Devin was expected to marry.

I was sure the only reason she’d sought me out was that she’d heard the rumors about my marriage. We’d encountered each other before, and she hadn’t given me a second glance.

Now I had to smile and act like the well-bred daughter of a billionaire I was and not punch her in the face the moment she said something snide as she was reputed to do.

“What’s it like to represent celebrities? I’m sure you have all kinds of gossip.”

I looked to her side and caught Jacinta watching me. She cringed and mouthed, “Sorry.”

Girl owed me big time for dealing with Veronica.

Samina, this is only the beginning. You’re about to jump into politics. Kissing babies and pretending to like people will become part of the job.

“It isn’t all the tabloids make it out to be. They are normal people, for the most part.”

“Oh, come on. I’m sure you have some great stories to share.” Jill was the polar opposite of her sister. Beautiful in a more natural way, and her smile was genuine. The kind that could draw anyone in and make them feel important.

“Attorney-client privilege. I don’t disclose anything private about the people I represent.”

“What about Clint Bassett’s push to have you run for office?”

I laughed. “That is something my former client is using to get ratings. Don’t take any of it as truth.”

Shit. I had just given a politician’s answer, a lie and the truth at the same time. I guessed being a litigator gave me practice.

I lifted my wrist to glance at my watch. Fifteen minutes and Dev was supposed to get me.

“Oh my God. Look at those rings,” Jill exclaimed as she snatched my hand into hers. “I’ve never seen a pink diamond wedding band before. And look at that solitaire. It has to be at least five carats. Veronica, do you see this? You have a man with exquisite taste.”

I cringed. I loved my rings but drawing attention to them when Devin and I hadn’t appeared in public as a couple outside of Devin’s statement to the reporter was uncomfortable.

From a distance, I saw Dev smirk in my direction. I narrowed my eyes at him and he lifted his cocktail as if saying, “Glad it’s you and not me.”

“I guess the rumors are true.” Veronica inspected my ring with a frown. “Who’s the lucky man?”

Like she had no clue. I’d heard enough people making whispered comments to tell me they’d listened to the tabloid reports about Devin and me.

“He’s here somewhere. I’m sure you’ll meet him later tonight.” I kept my answer vague. “I heard you’ve been dating one of the Texans players.”

Her face lit up as I moved the conversation to her. “Oh, you know how it is. Athletes are perfect to practice on, but I’m holding out for someone else.”

I could guess the man she was waiting on.

“Do I know this gentleman?”

“Devin Camden, of course,” she said as if that had been a stupid question, and her glare could have killed me. “We’ve been seeing each other on and off for years. Our families are very close.”

Veronica grabbed a drink off a passing tray and chugged the contents of the glass. Hope she realized the cocktails Jacinta served at her parties could lay a three-hundred-pound man on his ass.

“Veronica, I think that ship has sailed.” Jill lifted a brow. “Rumor has it that he’s been in a secret marriage for years. You’re close to the family. Do you know who she is?”

I kept my face composed, not giving away anything. “Everyone will meet his wife sometime during the evening.”

“I’m sure I’ll like her very much. Devin has great taste.” Jill smiled up at me, reiterating to me how different she was compared to her fake sister. “Is she from down south or a Seattle girl? I bet she’s gorgeous, like you.”

“I wouldn’t say she’s a Southern girl, but she isn’t from Seattle either.”

Veronica handed her glass to a passing waiter and then asked, “Is she foreign? Is that why he kept her hidden?”

Jill nearly spit out her drink and not-so-subtly elbowed Veronica in the side.

“I’m sure they have their reasons for wanting their privacy. I can respect that,” Jill assured her sister, who was frowning. “Wouldn’t you agree, Veronica?”

I could see myself being friends with Jill. She played the social game but never crossed the line. She reminded me of Jacinta. Too bad her sister was sour-faced next to us.

“I suppose. What I want to know is, how does she compare to me? What about her made Devin marry her?”

The woman’s underhanded digs were getting me to the point of retaliating. Veronica knew I was Devin’s wife, and no matter what she hoped, it wasn’t going to change anytime soon.

Jill set a gentle hand on my arm as if to keep me calm. “He’s obviously in love with her.”

Veronica snorted, making me see red. She had to be drunk, that could be the only answer.

I’d thought Southern belles were poised to perfection and held in their insults until they were in private circles.

I’d better leave before I said something I shouldn’t and possibly deck her hard enough to knock her into the water.

“If you’ll excuse me, I need to check when my brother will arrive.”

“One second.” Veronica grasped my arm, stopping me from leaving her. “I have a message you can relay to Devin’s wife.”

Jill pried Veronica’s fingers from me. “Veronica. Let Samina see to her family. We can talk later. Maybe on the riverboat.”

She ignored her sister. “Hold on with both hands. Secret wives can be easily replaced.”

Jill gasped and pulled on her sister, giving me an apologetic look. “Ver, I think it’s time we had some water. I don’t want you to get seasick on the boat. Samina, please excuse us.”

“I know what I’m saying.”

“Veronica, I agree with Jill. It’s time to switch to something that will clear your mind. I would hate for you to have to explain to your father why you were raising your voice to the daughter of one of his biggest donors.”

“Is that a threat, Samina Kumar? Fine.” She huffed. “Just make sure you…Devin’s tramp…knows I plan to make it very difficult for Devin to forget me. I wouldn’t be surprised if I was his date to the Governor’s Ball again and to every other event in the future.”

A throbbing started in my head, and I clenched my fists.

Oh, this bitch was about to get me arrested.

Before I could respond, Veer slipped an arm around my waist. “Hello, ladies.”

He inclined his head at Jill and Veronica.

“I hope you don’t mind me taking Sam away. Jacinta wanted to introduce her colleagues to her best friend and sister-in-law.”

I barely had any time to notice the ladies’ reactions before Veer tugged me forward.

“You did that on purpose. You used Jacinta’s name as a way to rescue me from Her Royal Bitchiness.”

“Guilty.” He smirked.

“Thank you. I was about to commit a homicide.”

“Anyone with eyes could see Veronica was five seconds from floating in the river. The whole family has issues.”

“Jill isn’t so bad.”

“She’s the exception. Probably has to do with the fact she’s only Veronica’s stepsister and has lived overseas for the last ten years.”

“Why do you know so much about her?”

“I’m not a stalker, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“The thought never crossed my mind.” I laughed up at him and followed him down the path toward some of our friends from Houston.

“You’re such a brat. The reason I know so much about Jill is that she manages my family’s London offices and is married to one of my European partners.”

“At least she only has to deal with Veronica in small doses. I’d hate to see what the witch was like as a child.”

“Come on, shorty. Where’s your husband? Shouldn’t he be the one to keep you out of the clutches of the evil witch?”

“He’s over there, staring daggers at me.”

Dev glowered at me from his position in the middle of the crowd.

“No, the knives are pointed in my direction. I’ve got my arm around his woman.”

“Whatever, he’s been over there for the past hour instead of with me. I’m going to enjoy the company of my almost-brother.”

“Give him a break, Sam. This is his sister’s party and she going to run for Senate this year. He has to help her make connections.”

I scanned the area around Devin again. People surrounded him and Jacinta on all sides. I could tell both of them wanted an escape, but with so many people talking, they weren’t getting away anytime soon.

“You’re right. I’m an ass.”

“You said it. Not me.”

I shoved him on the shoulder as we laughed.

“Let’s go mingle and make fun of everyone in a language no one else understands.”

“Samina, you are wrong on so many levels.”

* * *

An hour later, I left Veer to his parents, who’d just arrived, and sneaked into the kitchen for a quick break from the crowd outside.

Caterers and servers shuffled around the large room, preparing dish after dish. Jacinta had something for everyone, including Indian dishes for Veer’s parents, who were vegetarian.

I loved that girl. She was not only a brilliant litigator but a top-of-the-line hostess.

I walked around the large island, enjoying all the delicious smells. Well, except the meat. It smelled too pungent.

I moved to a tray of naan, grabbed a piece to nibble on, and then had the urge to use the bread to scoop up some paneer tikka masala, a dish I hadn’t made in ages.

I used to make all kinds of Indian dishes, especially those from the region of Gujarat, where my family originated. Over the past year, I never seemed to have time and then when I did, I was too tired to cook and ordered takeout which left me disappointed and hungry. Restaurant food never tasted as good as the homemade dishes my mom taught me to make.

“Here you go, Ms. Kumar.” The chef handed me a plate filled with samples of all the Indian dishes. “Ms. Camden had a feeling you’d sneak in here. She said you’ve barely eaten today.”

“Thank you.” I took my plate to the breakfast nook in the back of the room.

I dug in, and before I realized it, I’d all but licked the plate clean.

Whoever Jacinta hired to make the food was a rock star. It was almost to Anya Kumar standards, and comparing anyone to my mom’s level of cooking was a compliment.

I missed her so much.

Ashur had said he was going to do his best to get Mommy to come, but I doubted it would happen. Papa had a tight hold on her, and she never did anything without his permission.

At least I’d get to see my big brother.

I got up to set my plate in the sink and then ran upstairs to make a quick pit stop in my old room to brush my teeth. Jacinta always kept extra hygiene supplies in the medicine cabinets. Indian food had a very aromatic scent that I loved. However, not everyone shared my opinion.

After freshening up, I made my way down the hall leading to the front of the house. Ashur was due to arrive within the next half hour, and I wanted to be outside when his car approached.

Just as I passed the library, someone pulled me into a nearby room and covered my mouth with their hand.

“Don’t make a sound. I have something to discuss with you.”