Read Online Sweet Peas in April by Clare Revell - Free Book Online Page A

is the guy suing her, but he’s involved as deep as it’s possible to be without drowning. And the third is Peter Carter. But I think she’s seeing him on a personal level.”
    “And do you have proof of this? Or is it simply jealousy and a thought?”
    Adam scrunched his nose at her and yanked at his suddenly too tight shirt collar. “He was arrested, along with her, three days ago for drunk in charge of a motor vehicle, outside Lancini’s where he’d taken her for a supposedly spontaneous lunch. Sam was arrested for obstruction. He’s very touchy-feely. And she doesn’t object. I saw them after I left court at lunchtime, hugging. Now how many co-workers do that?”
    “You’re jealous.”
    “No. Yes.”
    She tilted her head. “Good answer. Typical lawyer response if I may say so. Which is it?”
    He drew in a deep breath. “She’s my wife, even if we are separated. Of course I still have feelings for her.”
    “Which is why you can’t be impartial over this.” Freddie sipped her coffee and put the cup down. “So, let me walk you through it.”
    Over the next hour, Freddie went over her notes with Adam. Adam’s heart sank and his gut knotted. It did make sense. There was no doubt where her figures were leading. He might be able to stall for a few more days, but he had to hand all these files over to the fraud squad, who’d hand them straight to the CPS.
    The door opened. “Adam, are you ready?”
    He glanced up. Sam stood there, her eyes narrowing as she took in the two of them bent over the desk. He was just grateful he and Freddie had closed the files and put them away as they worked. “Sam. Hi.”
    “Oh, sorry. Am I interrupting? Only it’s gone half five and there’s no one at the desk out here.”
    “It’s fine. We’re about done.” He looked at Freddie. “Thank you for your time, Mrs. Bryant.”
    Freddie, to give her due, didn’t skip a beat. She gathered her files. “Not a problem, Mr. West.”
    Adam shook her hand. “I’ll give you a call over the next day or two and let you know what’s happening.” He showed her to the door, praying desperately Sam would assume Freddie was a client or a fellow lawyer.
    Sam pushed away from the wall where she stood. “She’s pretty.”
    “I hadn’t noticed. How’s Peter?”
    “He’s fine.”
    “Is he back at work?” Adam asked, shoving the last remaining files into the safe and locking it.
    Sam folded her arms across her middle. He knew she’d gone on the defensive. “He never left.”
    “Have you seen anything of him outside of work?”
    “What is this, Adam? Twenty questions?”
    “Just making conversation.”
    “Well don’t,” she snapped. “There is nothing going on, and even if there was, it is none of your business.”
    Adam wasn’t convinced. The more she denied it, the surer he was something was going on.
    She sighed. “So are we having dinner or what? Or are we skipping the meal and going straight to the fight and you walking out this time?”
    He caught his breath. She was right. “I’m sorry. It’s been a really long day. Yes, we’re still having dinner. No, I don’t intend to fight or walk out. I just need to make one phone call, then I’m done for the night and all yours.”
    “OK. I’ll wait out in the hall for you.”
    “Thank you.” Adam waited until the door had shut before pulling a card from the index on his desk. He dialed the number and waited for the connection.
    “Hello?” A woman’s voice answered. He hadn’t expected that.
    “Could I speak to Vincent Reece, please? It’s Adam West.”
    There was a slight pause. “Hello?”
    “Hello, Mr. Reece. This is Adam West, Sam’s—”
    “I know who you are, Adam. I wasn’t expecting to hear from you. And I thought I said you could call me Vincent.”
    Adam took a deep breath. “It’s been a long time, and I wasn’t sure I should presume I still had that right. I was wondering if you were busy tonight. Sam tells me you’re getting married