I wanted to follow Vaughn to the bedroom while he changed for dinner, but there was no way I could walk in there without both of us ripping into each other with a thousand questions. He undoubtedly wanted to know what Paul Auclair was doing in our kitchen. And I wanted to know why he hadn’t told me the man he was supposed to target lived two floors down from us. Why hadn’t he told me who Eloise really was? Where was he all evening if Paul was here?

Instead, I turned to our guests with a bright smile.

“He’ll be right back.” I crossed the hardwood floor to the fridge and withdrew an enormous cheese board I had prepared. “I can’t take full credit for this, but I picked up a few things for us to eat while we wait for Leo.” I presented the huge cutting board and slid it over the counter.

It was possibly the most artistic food display I had ever made. I felt more Parisian in that moment than I had since we moved. It was worthy of a picture and a hashtag, not that I could post either of them.

“This is a feast. See, Aubrey?” Paul winked. “Not that difficult.”

She shrugged and lifted a slice of cheese from the center. “I never told you I could cook.” I saw the wink she returned to her husband. “You knew exactly what you were getting into.”

There was something between them that was warm, yet playful. I could tell they were close, like old friends, but there was an air of romance that vibrated between their glances.

“How long have you been married?” I asked.

“Ten years,” Aubrey answered.

“That’s a long time.” I smiled. “Ten years is a milestone.”

“What about you?” she asked.

“Oh. Us?” I fidgeted in a drawer for a pair of serving tongs. “Two years.”

“Newlyweds. Babies.” Paul laughed.

“I guess so.” My eyes lifted when Vaughn strolled in from the hall into the living room. He crossed into the kitchen. “There you are.”

“Sorry about that.” Vaughn leaned over to kiss my cheek. “I would have gotten home sooner if I knew I was keeping everyone waiting,” he apologized.

Paul touched a finger to his lips. “I knew I recognized you.” My stomach curdled. Was this a good or bad thing? “I thought it was just from the building, but now I know where I’ve seen you before.”

Vaughn nodded. “Mertech.”

“Yes. Yes.”

Vaughn plucked a grape from the center of the board along with a piece of cheese. “I’m in one of the upstairs office suites.”

“And I’m down in the lab,” Paul offered.

“You two work in the same building?” Aubrey sounded surprised. “And now live in the same building?”

“You do?” I was just as shocked. I didn’t know Vaughn had an office. I didn’t know about Mertech.

“It’s a huge facility,” Vaughn explained. “I’m in advertising and marketing. I didn’t realize we had met. I know you from some of the promotions we’ve worked on. You’re a popular man there.”

Paul shook his head. “We haven’t met, but I think maybe I’ve seen you in the lobby or something? I knew your face was too familiar.” He waved his hand in the air as if the case were dismissed now that he realized how he knew Vaughn.

“I guess so. It’s nice to meet a legend in the field, an honor actually. Your work is important.”

“I have a team who also works hard.”

I stared, trying to digest the conversation. I had no idea what kind of work they were talking about. I only knew that whatever it was, it was important to Blackwing, and that meant it was worth a fortune to someone.

“Have you ever been in the lab, Leo?” Aubrey sipped her wine. “It’s Paul’s pride and joy.”

Vaughn shook his head. “No. I don’t have much need. It’s really out of scope for what I do.”

“You should come down some time. See where the magic happens. It’s not as bad as what you’ve probably heard. I promise it’s not a dungeon.”

“I know it’s a lot of trouble to get clearance, but thank you.”

“No trouble at all.” Paul waved him off. “I’ll show you the lab. I like giving tours. Makes me feel a little more human when I’m down there. Maybe in return you can show me an office with windows,” he joked. “That’s one thing I don’t have. We have to keep a sterile environment.”

“You might have a deal.” Vaughn grinned, pausing as if he had to consider the offer. I already knew what his answer would be. “All right. I’ll take you up on that, if you’re sure.”

Was this the plan? Vaughn needed to get inside Paul’s lab? What in the hell did Paul do? Was he a researcher? A scientist? I was too afraid to ask.

“You should do it.” Aubrey leaned against the counter. “I’ve only been once. Can you believe it? It’s not every day you get an offer like that.”

“Cherie, I didn’t know you wanted to spend more time in the lab with me.”

Aubrey laughed. “I don’t. But some people might find it fascinating. Nerdy scientist types,” she teased. Her eyes traveled to Vaughn. “I wouldn’t say you look nerdy, though.”

His eyebrows raised.

I bit my lip. “I think the chickens are ready. Anyone else hungry?” I wasn’t sure if my job was to steer the conversation away or toward the target, but my instincts told me to change the subject from Paul’s lab to something else.

“Is there something I can do to help you?” Aubrey offered. “Everything is already so put together. This would have taken me a week to do. And you did all this in one afternoon?”

I shrugged. There was no way to explain that I had done it to save Vaughn. I still hadn’t figured out what I was saving him from, but I didn’t have a choice.

“Really, it’s not a big deal. I like cooking, and it’s always just us, so this was fun.”

“Ok, domestic goddess, what can I do?”

I smiled. I liked Aubrey. It occurred to me that she was the kind of person who could be a genuine friend if the circumstances were different. “Maybe wine refills?”

“I can do that.” She lifted the bottle and began pouring fresh glasses.

“What about me?” Paul rose from his barstool. “I’d like to help.”

“Why don’t you and Leo carry the salads in?” I suggested. “They’re on plates in the fridge.” I cracked the oven door and admired the chickens. The smell wafted through the kitchen.

The four salads were already prepared and chilling. Everyone began on their tasks while I placed the roasted chickens on the counter. A few minutes later, we sat around the dining room table.

It was the first time we had used the room. It was simple and elegant. The candles on the center of the table were lit. Our wine glasses were full. Everything should have felt perfect for a night with another couple, but it didn’t. It felt off. Wrong. I fidgeted with the napkin in my lap.

“I think a toast is in order.” Vaughn lifted his glass.

I held my breath, but I wasn’t sure why. I was more tense now than I had been the entire night.

“To new friends.” He nodded toward the Auclairs.

“Oui.” Paul lifted his glass in unison.

“And to Kate for making this dinner,” Aubrey piped in.

“To Kate,” Vaughn echoed.

I felt their eyes on me. The blood rushed to my cheeks. I guzzled the wine before my voice could crack or my nerves falter. This dinner meant something different to each person sitting around the table. Only, I had no idea what it meant for me. Had I saved Vaughn or hurt him? Did delivering Blackwing’s message put things back on track, or had I thrown him too far off course?

After dinner, I cleared the table and we moved into the sitting room. Vaughn and I sat together across from Paul and Aubrey. He squeezed my knee lightly before serving liqueur in tiny crystal cups. If there was one thing I had learned in Europe, it was that there was alcohol for every hour of the day. The cordial was sweet.

“New coffee table?” he asked.

“Yes. I found it today.” I’d never be able to look at it again without remembering my conversation with Eloise. I hated that table.

“I love it. Everything in your apartment is beautiful.” Aubrey touched the inlay with her fingertips. “I guess I’ll have to go furniture shopping soon. The flat feels empty even with boxes everywhere.” She sighed.

“I have a long list of stores if you’d like them.”

“That would be great.” She clutched the small cordial glass. “I have no idea where to even begin. Paris feels overwhelming at times. I miss my regular stores.”

“I understand that feeling.” I smiled softly. There were so many things I missed from home. Some days were easier than others. Being around another American made the distance seem farther.

“Are you going back any time soon?” Aubrey asked.

“Oh no.” I shook my head. “Not at all.”

“I keep thinking I’ll sneak a trip when Paul goes to a conference in a couple of weeks. It’s the holidays. I’d like to at least see my sister. She has three kids. It’s fun to visit them.”

The urge to volunteer my family’s information was there. I wanted to tell her I missed my brother too. I wondered how my mom and dad were doing. I wanted to talk to Greer. It was like they were suddenly sitting at the top of my heart—the pain of missing them was more palatable than it had been in all the weeks we’d moved to Paris.

“Maybe you can work that out.”

“Maybe.” Her eyes darted to the last sip of the liqueur.

Paul leaned into the sofa and closed his eyes while we talked.

“Uh-oh.” Aubrey poked him in the ribs. “You are not falling asleep here. Kate and Leo will never invite us for dinner again. His snoring is the worst.”

I laughed. “Don’t worry. We can do this again.”

Paul huffed. “I guess we should be going, cherie. I have an early morning. Trial tests start before the sun comes up.”

They rose from the loveseat. “Thank you again, Kate. It was a wonderful dinner.” Aubrey leaned over to kiss me on both cheeks.

Vaughn and Paul shook hands and we walked them to the door.

Aubrey gave me another quick hug. “Thank you.”

“Of course. Thanks for coming.”

The door closed and they were gone.

Vaughn’s eyes were dark.

“Say something, Em.”

I walked into the kitchen. I started washing plates and collecting bowls and platters.

Vaughn reached across me and turned off the faucet. The water dripped into the center of a pile of bubbles.

“You need to tell me what in the hell that was about.” The look in his eyes was powerful. Heated.

I didn’t want to break away. My heart hammered in my chest. The alcohol swirled in my head. This conversation had been festering all night. Lingering between us. Building.

And now things were going to explode.