Read Online Now You See Her by Linda Howard - Free Book Online Page B

had ever noticed his accent, though now that she thought about it, his speech did have a certain lazy quality about it. Virginia wasn’t exactly the Deep South, though Candra made it sound as if Richard talked like the Beverly Hillbillies. Sweeney didn’t want to talk about him; just thinking about him made her uncomfortable. She especially didn’t want to talk about him with his soon-to-be ex-wife.
    â€œYou know we’re getting divorced,” Candra said casually. “It’s a mutual decision. Richard and I had been drifting apart for some time, and shortly after you moved to the city last year, we separated and filed for divorce. He’s being a bastard about the settlement, but I suppose that’s to be expected. A divorce isn’t exactly a friendly proceeding, is it?”
    â€œNot usually.” Maybe if her responses gave Candra no encouragement, the other woman would tire of the subject and move on.
    â€œAh . . . did Richard say anything yesterday?”
    The hesitancy was back in Candra’s tone. Sweeney got the feeling this was the real reason behind the call. “About what?” She actually managed to sound blank. She was proud of herself, and irritated at the same time. She had no reason to feel guilty, because even though Richard had asked her to dinner, she had turned him down, but evidently logic had nothing to do with guilt.
    â€œAbout the divorce.”
    â€œNo, he didn’t mention it.” Relief crawled through Sweeney at being able to say something that was totally, one hundred percent true. She wasn’t good at this subterfuge stuff, even though everything she had said was accurate in letter, if not in spirit.
    â€œI didn’t really think he would, he’s so damn discreet.” The words sounded bitter. Candra paused again. “I noticed when we were in the gallery, he barely took his eyes off you.”
    The uncomfortable feeling intensified as it inched like a worm up Sweeney’s back. She didn’t want this. She didn’t want to get caught in the middle during their divorce. All she wanted was to forget she had been bushwhacked by some malfunctioning hormones and for a moment responded to his attractiveness.
    â€œHe’s been so damn careful since we separated that if he’s had any lovers, I haven’t been able to find out about it,” Candra continued. “When I saw the way he watched you yesterday . . . well, I was curious.”
    Yeah, sure. There was definite bitterness there, Sweeney thought. And she definitely wanted to endthis conversation. “Maybe there haven’t been any.”
    Candra laughed. “What, Richard go without sex? Not likely. Anyway, what I wanted to say is, if you and Richard have something going, I wouldn’t mind. We’ve been separated for almost a year, so of course I’ve gotten on with my life. I’ve met someone I’m very fond of, and he’s far more comfortable to be with than Richard ever was.”
    Sweeney couldn’t think of anything appropriate to say.
Thank you
was out of the question. Why on earth would Candra call about this, anyway? Was she concerned that if Sweeney actually did begin seeing Richard, she would try to find another art dealer to handle her sales? That didn’t make sense, because Sweeney had no illusions about her worth to Candra; the gallery handled artists who made a lot more sales than she. No, this call was prompted by sheer nosiness, the curious inability of estranged couples to let go even though they were embroiled in the legal surgery that would sever them.
    Well, she didn’t want any part of it. She shivered and reached for a blanket to wrap around her while she tried to think of a way to tiptoe through this conversational minefield. But a response seemed called for, so at last she said, “I hope you’ll be very happy.” There! That was innocuous enough.
    Candra laughed, and sounded genuinely amused.