Say It Again (First Wives, #5)(56)

Trina laughed. “I bet.”

“That shoots all my fantasies to hell,” Cooper added.

Sasha shot him a snarl. “Zip it.”

He lifted his hands in front of his face, palms out. “I’m kidding. You’re like a sister.” He took a swig out of his glass of tea.

She brought her attention back to her dinner.

“A hot sister,” Cooper said under his breath.

Neil, who almost never broke a smile, grinned.

Lilly started to fuss and reach for Trina.

Trina stood, lifted her daughter from Claire’s arms. She looked across the table at AJ, then back to Sasha. “You’re going to have to stand in line, Cooper.”

“Ohhh . . .” Eyes fell between AJ and Sasha.

Heat simmered on her face.

“Someone needs to be changed,” Trina said as she left the table to attend to her daughter’s needs.

Claire sat a little taller and changed the subject. “I can teach you Mandarin, Cooper.”

“And how long will that take?”

“Two years, if you’re quick.”

A wave of commentary erupted from the table.

“You’d be better off learning how to sing,” Wade offered.

Sasha noticed Claire staring at Neil; disappointment hovered over her brow.

Neil was mopping up his food and disengaged with the conversation. He didn’t seem to notice that a teenage girl was looking to the largest man at the table for approval.

Memories of Sasha’s own childhood, and the need for positive affirmation, surfaced. “Claire has a point. Her language skills could prove valuable. At least while she’s in college.”

Neil lifted his eyes to Sasha, glanced at Claire.

“Too dangerous.”

Claire leaned back, her chin lifted. “Who said anything about college? I can’t afford that now.” She reached over, grabbed Trina’s wineglass, and took a drink. “Maybe the Service will have me. I’m a good shot.”

Sasha lost her appetite, set her fork down. “They’d exploit everything you’ve learned.”

Claire shrugged. “Don’t all employers? Isn’t that their job . . . find your strengths and use them for a fraction of what they’re worth?”

The table had grown silent.

AJ sat forward. “We don’t have to think about this tonight.”

Claire waved the wineglass at him. “What’s this we thing? I didn’t know any of you a week ago. When this is all over, you’ll all go back to your lives. I’ll just . . .”

Sasha felt, more than saw, Claire trying to keep it together.

AJ leaned forward. “Teach me Mandarin.”

Claire was onto him. “Why do you need to learn a new language, especially that one?”

AJ glanced at Sasha, then back to Claire. “Fine, teach me Russian. I have a feeling I’m going to need it.”

Claire shook her head.

“No one is joining the military,” Neil stated, his voice commanding everyone’s attention. “Last I looked, we’re in the States, and minors aren’t allowed to drink alcohol. Put that down.”

Hair on Sasha’s neck stood up.

Claire slowly turned her head, met Neil’s stare. “What’s it to—”

“Now!” The walls shook.

She nearly dropped the wine.

“You want to work for me?” Neil looked directly at Claire.

She sat quietly.

“Your night is done once every dish on this table is clean. You report at oh five hundred. Showered, bed made. Is that clear?”

Claire blinked. “Uhm . . . h’okay.”

Neil narrowed his already piercing gaze. “Excuse me.”

She glanced at Sasha, then back. “Sir.”

He nodded and turned his attention back to the last bite in his hand.

Trina walked back in the quiet and motionless room, stopped short of her husband. “What did I miss?”

Wade pulled his wife onto his lap. “Claire volunteered to wash the dishes.”

Three people laughed . . .

Including Claire.



Sasha’s shift on the cameras was scheduled to start at four in the morning. Instead of fighting sleep and the headache of jet lag, she made her excuses early to find the quiet in her own room.

She shed her clothing the moment the door to her room was closed and headed straight for the shower. With her hair balled in a knot on top of her head, she let the hot water ease some of the tension from her shoulders.

Things were moving along. They were on the tip of new information now that they had more names to run through their system.

Mandarin.

Sasha didn’t realize Linette even spoke that language.

Then again, what did she really know about the woman? Almost nothing. It wasn’t like the two of them had sat down for drinks at the pub the night she’d returned to Richter. Sasha smiled at the thought. Brigitte certainly turned out to be a lot more forthcoming than the headmistress.

Maybe looking into Linette’s personal life would shed some light on things.

Sasha made a mental note to run Linette Lodovica’s name through the paces.

She cut the water and grabbed the towel hanging off the shower door. The cool air of the room combined with her wet skin had her moving quickly to dry off.