Read Online Putting Out Old Flames by Allyson Charles - Free Book Online Page B

Are you even divorced?”
    He hesitated. “Almost. Just waiting for the judge’s signature.”
    She snorted.
    Chance dipped his head, lowered his voice. “I was eighteen, and you’re right. I acted like a jerk. This is a different situation. I wasn’t hiding my wife, I just didn’t want to talk about her. It hasn’t been an easy divorce.”
    The pain in his eyes deflated her righteous indignation, like a nail to a tire causing a slow leak. He sounded so reasonable. She might have read more into his comment about his wife being gone than she should have. Maybe.
    â€œBesides.” Chance crossed his arms across his chest and narrowed his eyes. “I’m not the one who almost cheated on her boyfriend by kissing me in the elevator. My relationship with Annette is over. Yours with bailiff-boy still seems on.”
    And just like that her understanding evaporated. “ Leon’s and my relationship is none of your business. And I wasn’t about to kiss you.” Mimicking his position, she crossed her arms across her chest. The aggressive stance didn’t look as tough on her as it did on Chance. “I was feeling a little light-headed from the lack of oxygen.”
    â€œUh-huh.”
    â€œLook.” She dug in her purse, pulled out her spiral notebook, and made some notations. “You deal with your wife. I’ll deal with the hotel.” With a vicious yank, she tore her to-do list off, shoved it into his chest. “You wanted to be brought up-to-date? Here’s what you have to do. You handle those, I’ll handle the rest, and we don’t have to talk to each other about it.”
    â€œFine,” he bit out.
    â€œGood.” Turning on her heel, she stalked off, his glare searing her the entire walk down the hallway. At the door to the ballroom, she forced herself not to look back. She didn’t want him to see that he had the power to hurt her yet again.
    The manager was waiting for her inside, and came toward her, hand outstretched. She put on a smile and made herself a promise. She’d get through this fundraiser with Chance. It was too important to let hurt feelings get in the way.
    But once it was over, she’d make sure that her errands didn’t take her past Firehouse 10 ever again.
    * * *
    Annette led Chance back to her room. Following her inside, he slammed the door behind them. Or he tried to. The damned thing was on some sort of hydraulics. It lazily hissed its way across the carpet, mocking his angry gesture.
    â€œWhat the hell do you think you’re doing just showing up here like this?” Picking her purse up off the desk, he tossed it on the bed and cocked a hip onto the empty space.
    â€œI came to see Josh.” She sat on the thin tan bedspread and crossed one slim leg over the other. “He’s my son, too.”
    â€œYes. And when I’m granted permanent full custody, I don’t intend to cut you out of his life.” He narrowed his eyes. “Aren’t you supposed to be in rehab?”
    Smoothing the skirt of her dress, she said, “It wasn’t mandatory. I checked myself out.”
    â€œOf course you did.” He didn’t bother trying to keep the disgust out of his voice. A gambling addiction might be considered an illness, but he couldn’t forget, or forgive, her actions.
    â€œI was there for two weeks. I learned plenty and I’m doing better.” Standing, Annette strode to the minibar, pulled out a tiny bottle of white wine. “Want anything?”
    â€œNot from you.”
    Rolling her eyes, she poured herself a glass. Eyeing him over the rim, Annette said, “I met someone.”
    â€œCongratulations.”
    â€œWe’re getting married.”
    He crossed his arms over his chest, not liking where this was going. “Seems awfully sudden considering we only separated eight months ago. Were you having an affair?” He hoped she was. It might be