Second (Betrothed 6)

“Oh.” I always felt awkward when Liam and Damien were in the same room together. It was obvious Damien despised him because he could barely hide it. I was surprised Liam hadn’t noticed. I also felt guilty for continuing to keep Damien’s identity a secret. If Liam knew Damien was the man I loved, he wouldn’t continue their business relationship. He had the right to know who he was dealing with, but I also knew it would complicate everything…and might get Damien killed. “Just the three of you?”

“No. The wives too.” He came around the kitchen island and kissed me, his hand gripping my lower back.

Instead of enjoying the kiss, I thought of Charlotte. Would Damien bring her?

He noticed the way I flinched. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah…I’m just surprised you want to have dinner with them.”

“They’re good guys. I’ve had my problems with Damien, but we moved on.” He turned away and grabbed two plates so he could prepare dinner. “We had an entire business plan built around my return to the ring, and I just want to make up for that.”

I’d only been around both Damien and Liam once—and we didn’t speak. Damien stayed on the opposite side of the ballroom because he was just as uncomfortable. Now I had to sit with both of them, let Liam touch me in front of him, watch Charlotte stick her tongue down his throat… It was going to be terrible.

Hades and Sofia arrived, and we exchanged hugs and handshakes. We sat at a square table, and I was disappointed when Hades and Sofia chose the chairs directly beside us rather than across from us.

That meant Damien would sit there—right in my line of sight.

“Where’s Damien?” Liam asked.

“Late,” Hades answered. “Always late.”

“We were late too,” Sofia said. “So, he’s just later.”

Hades placed his arm around her chair. “Shh, baby.”

She gave him a playful glare. “Did you just shh me?”

“What are you going to do about it?” he asked, enjoying the rise he got out of her.

“Oh, I’ll show you what I’m gonna do…later.” She grabbed the bottle of water in the middle of the table and poured herself a glass.

I could barely focus on their conversation because I was so tense. Would Damien bring Charlotte? He wouldn’t, right? He would know how awkward that would make everything, so he would avoid it. And he said it wasn’t serious.

Liam moved his hand to mine under the table. “Want some more wine, Anna?”

“Uh…” My eyes flicked to the entry, and I saw a gorgeous woman step inside. In a short cocktail dress, toned physique, and with beautiful long hair, she looked like model material. And then Damien walked in behind her. “Yes, I’ll take some.” I pushed the glass close to him because I would need every drop.

Once the host directed Damien to our table, he headed our way, in the lead.

Charlotte moved behind him, and she sped up in her heels so she could slide her hand into his, gripping his palm like reins.

I shouldn’t care. I was married to Liam, so Damien’s personal life shouldn’t bother me. He was sleeping with this gorgeous woman, but I was sleeping with a gorgeous man, one who loved me. I forced myself to be indifferent, to let it go.

Damien reached the table and looked at everyone but me, as if he knew this was awkward. “Charlotte, this is Sofia.”

“So nice to meet you.” Charlotte came to her chair and shook her hand.

“You too,” Sofia said politely.

Damien turned to me next, a slight look of dread in his eyes. “And this is Annabella…”

Charlotte moved to me next, ignoring the frown on my face as she smiled wide. She extended her hand. “Hello. I love your dress.” She seemed to be trying hard to impress us because she thought it mattered to Damien. That meant she had no idea that Damien used to be mine, that I wanted him to be mine forever. If she knew, she wouldn’t want to touch me.

“Thank you.” I shook her hand and quickly pulled away.

She seemed to pick up on my dismay because her smile faltered. She turned away, suspicion written on her face. And because my luck was terrible, she sat in the chair directly across from me.

Now I had to stare at this stunning model all night.

God, this was going to suck.

Charlotte was all over him.

It almost seemed purposeful, as if she wanted me to know I had lost and she had won. But if she didn’t know about me, then this was just who she was…a woman smitten with her man. Anytime she laughed, she pressed her hand into his chest to steady herself, and whenever Damien spoke, she stared at him with a gaze so focused, it was like she was listening to a lecture. She hung on every word, finding Damien to be the most amazing man to walk this earth.