"It sends the message that we want everyone to survive the trip," Max said dryly.

  "I understand security is your priority, but mine is the success of this project." Hamid's jaw tightened slightly. "And that requires presence. Dominic shaking hands, being seen, showing confidence. Otherwise, why bother going at all?" He paused. "Can I steal you away for just a moment?"

  Max gave her a questioning look.

  "Go," she said. "I'll be fine."

  "We won't be long," Hamid promised her.

  She nodded as she sipped her champagne. The crowd was growing bigger, and as a new group descended on the room, she had to back away. Unfortunately, she ran into another body, a man who appeared to be in his early forties with dark-framed glasses and a pleasant expression.

  "I'm so sorry," she said.

  "No problem. It's getting crowded. I'm David Hartford."

  "Kara Reid. Do you work with Dominic?"

  "Sometimes. I run an investment company."

  "Are you an investor in the Tajikistan project?" Kara asked.

  "I am, yes." David pushed his glasses up his nose. "Dominic's work is inspiring. He's going to change lives, and it's exciting to be a part of that. What about you?"

  "Oh, no. I'm just here with a friend." At his questioning glance, she added, "I'm a middle school teacher. This is not my usual scene."

  His smile broadened. "Middle school teachers change lives, too. I've always believed teachers to be our unsung heroes."

  "That's nice of you to say, and of course, I agree," she said. "My mother was a teacher, too."

  "Mine as well," he said, tipping his champagne glass to hers.

  She gave him a smile as Max rejoined them. "Max," she said, "Do you know David Hartford?"

  "I don't," Max replied as he shook hands with David.

  "Are you a teacher as well?" David asked.

  Max blinked, but he was a quick study. "No. I'm in security. Nothing as noble as teaching."

  "Well, security is important, too. Would you excuse me? I see one of my associates looking a little lost."

  "No problem," she said, watching David move across the room to greet a rather plain-looking woman in a simple dress, who would have definitely faded into the background of this glittering crowd.

  "So, you're a teacher?" Max asked.

  "Middle school. I borrowed my mom's profession. Turns out his mother was a teacher, too, so we had a moment."

  "Your mom was a teacher?"

  "Still is, actually. She teaches sixth-grade math and is very popular. Her students love her, and she loves them, despite their often bratty pre-teenage bravado."

  "Sounds like it's the perfect job for her."

  "Did your mother work?"

  "Yes. She was a diplomat for the State Department."

  Surprise ran through her. "Really? Is that how you ended up at prep school with Dominic?"

  "We lived in the UK for a couple of years."

  "Where else did you live?"

  "All over. We moved every few years. It was both annoying and kind of exciting," he said. "I didn't like changing schools and countries. Not only was I the foreign kid, but I rarely spoke the language. That made it tougher. Although I did sometimes go to the American school wherever we were."

  "What an interesting childhood you must have had. What did your father do?"

  "He wrote books about history and travel articles about where we were living. He still writes and publishes now."

  "That's cool. Do you see him often?"

  "No. He lives in the UK and rents a cottage in Bath."

  She wanted to ask more questions because Max was finally opening up to her, and she was even more intrigued, but dinner was about to begin, and they had to find their seats. There were two long tables, and they were seated at the end of one table. Olive Elliott and her husband Brent were next to Max, while Kyle Travers and his girlfriend Eliana Ribera were seated next to her. Kyle introduced himself as the owner of JQ Properties, which was currently developing a new high-rise in Hudson Yards.

  Despite her not asking questions, Kyle told her about how his company was changing New York's skyline one building at a time, how he'd tripled his company's profit in the last eighteen months, and how his father, who had founded the company had now stepped aside to an in-name-only position on the board. His Brazilian model girlfriend sat next to him with a bored look on her face as she looked at her phone while Kyle did everything he could to impress her with his brilliant money-making skills, and his complete disregard for any local regulations that might slow him down. Because he was making history, and if those idiots at the planning department couldn't see that, then they were just being stupid.

  She wasn't at all impressed. And she really wished she could switch seats with Max, who was talking to Olive Elliott about the biography she and her husband were co-writing about Dominic's life.

  As Kyle rambled on, she heard Olive mention how sad she was to hear about Dominic's girlfriend being in the hospital, how she'd recently had drinks with Samantha, and was so impressed with her intelligence and her sharp wit, how she thought she might be the perfect match for Dominic, because she wouldn't fawn all over him the way so many others did.

  "Don't you agree?" Kyle asked.

  Having no idea what he'd just said, she simply nodded, and that's all he seemed to need. Thankfully, his girlfriend called his attention to something on her phone, and she could eavesdrop more openly on Max's conversation.

  Olive's husband Brent said, "I'm not sure they're the right match, Olive. I think there are reasons Dominic mostly dates cheerleaders. And I can't see how Samantha's job wouldn't get in the way of Dominic's ambition."

  Olive nodded. "That's true. Anyway, I'm sorry about what happened to her. I pray she recovers. It's just tragic. I really hope they find whoever did it. It's scary to think you can just stop for coffee and end up fighting for your life."

  Max nodded. "Life is unpredictable. Did Samantha talk about what she was working on when you met with her? I'm just wondering if someone she was trying to prosecute wanted to get back at her."

  "We've been thinking about that," Brent cut in. "Samantha was very vague about specifics. And we're writers. We like to dig. She was happy to chat about Dominic and her general life, but not about herself. Although she did say once it's tough to be so tough all the time…something like that."

  "Like she was tired of being that cold, sharp prosecutor," Olive added. "I actually told her I would love to write her story one day. Now, I'm worried her story will be cut tragically short." Olive paused as someone called for their attention, and Dominic stood up, and all attention turned to him.

  "Thank you all for joining me tonight," he said. "As you know, we're approaching a significant milestone with the Pamir Highway project. In six weeks, we'll break ground on what will be the longest high-altitude tunnel in Central Asia."

  A polite round of applause followed that statement, and Dominic seemed happy to soak it in. Then he continued, "We'll be opening routes that have been dangerous or impassable for decades, connecting communities that have been isolated, bringing opportunity and infrastructure to one of the most challenging regions in the world." He paused, his gaze sweeping the table. "This project represents everything Ashford Global Development stands for—vision, persistence, and the belief that the right infrastructure can transform lives."

  More applause followed, and she had to admit she felt a little energized by his words, his vision. Dominic was definitely a charismatic man.

  "I also want to acknowledge that this hasn't been an easy week for me," Dominic continued. "Many of you have reached out to me about Samantha, a woman I care a great deal about. She was injured in an explosion on Monday at a café. She was just getting coffee, and now she's fighting for her life. I ask that you keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you." He raised his glass. "I'd like to make a toast to Samantha's recovery, to the Pamir Highway project, and to partnerships that make impossible things possible."

  She tipped her glass to Max's and said, "He's a powerful speaker. I got chills when he started talking about changing the world."

  "Dominic has always been a good salesman."

  "You don't think his project is as good as his pitch?" she asked in a quiet voice, not that anyone was paying them any attention anymore. Olive and Brent were talking to the couple next to them. Kyle had gotten up and moved down the table to chat with someone else, while his bored girlfriend played on her phone.

  "Actually, this project is going to be great for the region, if he can pull it off," Max said. "But he's going to need more money to take that tunnel and road as far as it needs to go, so if these investors don't pony up, he may end this project at one bridge."

  "Well, he'll probably get the investment. Everyone here seems to be very interested and engaged."

  "That's his hope."

  "Olive and Brent might be able to give us more information," she murmured. "They've been talking to Samantha and Dominic and digging into their lives. Could be worth a follow-up chat at some point."

  "Possible. Although I sense they're searching to dramatize the story as much as they can."

  She tipped her head. "I can't disagree."

  "What about the guy who was sitting next to you?"

  "He's a developer, very cocky, thinks a lot of himself, and likes to share."

  Max smiled. "Sounds like you two didn't hit it off."

  "Are you kidding? I smiled my ass off, and he thought I was fascinated by his amazingness. But then he got bored and moved to find someone else to impress."

  "He's talking to Sebastian Hanover now, Dominic's Executive VP of Operations."

  "Another British guy?" she mused.

  "Yes. And one of the few people in the company who seems able to tell Dominic the truth and not just what he wants to hear. In fact, sometimes I think Sebastian relishes problems a little more than he should."

  She was surprised by that comment. "As in he wants Dominic to fail?"

  "Maybe. He'd be next in line if he did."

  "Could be a motive for something."

  "Or nothing," he said with a shrug.

  She sat back as a server put a salad in front of her, the first of many courses, and she turned her attention to that. While she was here to observe, she was also excited to try food in a restaurant she could never afford or probably even get into on her own.

  One course followed another, each plate small but elegant, each bite absolute perfection.

  "This is amazing," she told Max as they made their way through the fourth course. "But how many more courses do you think we're getting? I'm pretty full."

  "I think there are at least two more," he said.

  "Do you always eat this well on Dominic's dime?"

  "On his dime? Absolutely. On mine, not so much. What about you? Are you a foodie?"

  "I like to eat, but this kind of meal is nothing I'm used to. I can't wait to tell my cousin about this place. She's an aspiring chef and has a food channel on social media. She would love this."

  "Do you have a lot of family in New York?"

  "A ton," she said. "My immediate family is small, just my mom and my younger brother, Hayden."

  "How old is he, and is he also in law enforcement?"

  "No. He's twenty-nine, and a newly minted doctor of orthopedics. My mom said it was a great specialty for him because he broke a lot of bones when he was younger. Hayden loved skateboarding, and he was great at it. But he liked to do tricks, and he took a lot of falls," she said with a smile. "My Uncle Danny and his wife, Beth, have four kids ranging from their early thirties to their early twenties. And my Aunt Nancy and Uncle Tim have three kids ranging from twenty-five down to fifteen. And my Uncle Joe and Aunt Linda have five kids ranging from twenty to eight."

  He shook his head. "That's a lot of family."

  "And a lot of fun," she said. "I miss my dad terribly, but it has been great to have so much support from everyone else. My mother has been a single mom for much of my life, but it hasn't ever really felt that way. What about you? What's your family situation beyond your dad and you? I haven't heard about any siblings."

  "No siblings. A couple of cousins, but I haven't seen them since I was probably twelve. Our extended family fizzled out years ago. The traveling put too much distance between us, and now my dad doesn't seem to even care about trying to keep up with any of them."

  "That's a little sad."

  He shrugged. "It is what it is."

  She sat back as the server put a fancy cheese plate in front of her. "Cheese, really?" she whispered.

  He laughed. "It goes with dessert."

  "I've never understood that."

  "You don't have to eat it."

  "Oh, I'm eating it," she said. "When in Rome, right?"

  He laughed and picked up his fork. "When in Rome."

  As they finished their cheese plates, Olive engaged Max in conversation once more, and she found herself studying his profile: the firm jaw, dark brows, the slight crook in his nose that suggested it had been broken at least once. He really was handsome, in that dangerous, unpolished way that made her pulse quicken. He was a sexy chameleon who could probably blend into any environment, become whoever he needed to be.

  Max suddenly turned and caught her eye, raising his brow in a silent question. "Everything okay?"

  "Yes." She picked up her water glass and took a long drink, feeling a little too warm, but it had nothing to do with the heat in the room and everything to do with him.

  "You're supposed to be observing the room, not me," he added quietly.

  "I wasn't looking at you."

  "Yes, you were. What did you see?"

  His challenging gaze held hers. "It looks like you broke your nose at some point," she said

  "Bar fight in Dublin."

  "What were you doing in Dublin?"

  "Drinking. Which led to the fight." His smile was crooked. "I was younger and stupider."

  "And now?"

  "I'm older and marginally less stupid."

  "I think that's still to be determined."

  As he gave her a sexy smile, she felt a catch in her throat, and a shiver ran down her spine. She needed some space, some air. Putting down her napkin, she said, "I'll be back."

  She headed into the nearby restroom and found Caroline reapplying her lipstick. She caught her gaze in the mirror. "Are you enjoying yourself?"

  "I am. The food is incredible," she said, moving to the sink to wash her hands.

  "Ceylon never disappoints." She capped her lipstick with a click. "How long have you known Max?"

  "Not long," she said vaguely.

  "Mm." Caroline studied her reflection in the mirror and turned to face her. "He never brings dates to business events."

  "Is that what this is? It seems very social."

  "With Dominic, everything is business." Caroline paused. "I know who you are."

  "Who I am?" she echoed.

  "You're an FBI agent. I looked you up online, and then I confirmed it with Dominic. He said Max told him he was bringing you, but I don't understand why."

  "I'm trying to find out who planted the bomb that injured Ms. Barkley."

  "And you're going to find that person at this dinner party?" she challenged.

  She didn't flinch at Caroline's accusatory tone. "I wanted to get some insight into Dominic's world. There's a possibility one of his enemies went after Samantha."

  "He mentioned that, but it seems unlikely to me. And it's not like Samantha and Dominic are really that close. They've been dating a few months. It's not like Dominic is in love with her."

  She wondered if Caroline was trying to convince her or herself.

  "Have you worked with Dominic for a long time?"

  "I've known him for almost ten years and worked for him for the past two. He's brilliant, one of the smartest men I've ever worked with."

  "What do you think about Richard Greco?" she asked. "He caused quite a scene, and his dislike of Dominic was palpable."

  "Richard is a wild card who has a short temper and drinks too much; that's one reason Dominic has been leaning away from working with Richard. He enjoyed a good relationship with Joseph, but the son is an entirely different matter."

  "Richard told Dominic he'd be sorry for cutting him out. Do you think he's capable of hiring someone to plant a bomb in a café and hurt someone close to Dominic?"

  Caroline didn't act surprised by the suggestion. Instead, she seemed to consider the idea. Finally, she said, "Maybe. I guess that is possible. It seems extreme, but Richard is going to lose a lot of money. Still, I would think he would go after Dominic before Samantha."

  "Samantha was a lot easier to get to. Dominic has a ton of security."

  "Well, they didn't stop Richard from bringing drama here," she said sharply. "Something Dominic needs to address with his team and with Max. I know this party wasn't his responsibility, but with everything going on, he needs to be on top of his game." As the door opened and two women walked in, she said, "It was nice chatting with you. Have a good night."

  She smiled, reapplied her own lipstick, and then left the restroom.

  When she got back, she found a beautiful chocolate dessert waiting for her.

  "That took a while," Max said. "I was about to eat yours."

  "That would have been fine. I'm stuffed. I ran into Caroline and had a little talk with her. She knows I'm an FBI agent."

  "I'm not surprised Dominic told her. They're close."

  "I definitely think she has a thing for him. But we can talk more later."

  "Let's get out of here," Max said. "I think we've seen all we need to see."

  She grabbed her coat and slipped it on as they made their way down the stairs. Max handed the ticket to the valet, and she shivered as they waited for his Jeep.

  "You're cold," he said, shrugging out of his coat to drape it over her shoulders.

  She started with surprise at the gesture. "Now you'll be cold."

  He shrugged. "I'll survive."

  As she met his gaze, she felt another sizzle between them, and she found herself unexpectedly wishing this was a date, that they'd met under different circumstances, that this wasn't about a case, because she'd really like it to be about something else.