Read Online The Drifter by Kate Hoffmann - Free Book Online Page B

glass of beer in front of him. She stood at the door watching him, wondering what she’d ever seen in him. He was self-involved and immature and a…a wimp. “Matt,” she murmured, as she stepped up beside him. “What can I do for you?”
    He turned and smiled, but Eve could see it was forced. “Eve. Hi. Wow, you look good. How long has it been?”
    “A while,” she said. “Why are you here?”
    It was clear he’d expected some polite chitchat before getting down to the business at hand, but Eve didn’t have time to stroke his ego and make him feel comfortable. “Word around town is that you’ve got a new boyfriend. People have seen you out together.”
    “So? I’m single. I’m allowed to date. You dated while we were married and it didn’t seem to bother you then.” She sighed. “What do you want?”
    “I also heard you’ve been talking to some investors about a restaurant in Seattle.”
    “Where did you hear that?” Eve asked.
    “A reliable source.”
    “What do you want, Matt?”
    He looked uneasy and a bit pale. “Business hasbeen a little down lately. And I—I figure since I helped build your business, I should get a share of anything that comes out of it like this new restaurant. Of course, if you want to buy me out right away, we could negotiate a fair price.”
    “Buy you out of what?” Eve said, staring at him in astonishment. He really was an idiot. How could she have missed that?
    Matt cleared his throat. “A lawyer friend of mine mentioned that I might want to consider renegotiating the divorce settlement, seeing as how it’s had such a negative impact on my earning ability.”
    “Did you ever think maybe it was your bad behavior that had an effect on your business? Messing around with college-age girls doesn’t make you look particularly responsible.”
    “Come on, Eve. Both you and I know that our marriage was a mistake from the beginning. You didn’t want me anymore than I wanted you.”
    “Get out of here,” she said. “If you want to try to renegotiate the settlement, feel free. But I don’t think there’s a judge in this county who will side with you.”
    Eve could see that he hadn’t expected the response she gave. In the past, Eve might just have given him the money, hoping to keep their relationship pleasant. But she wanted Matt out of her life. If she paid him, he’d be back for more.
    “I’m not looking for much,” Matt said. “I just havesome…unexpected expenses. My lawyer says I’ve got a good case.”
    “Great. Go for it. Show the entire city of Boulder what a horrible excuse for a husband you were.”
    He stood up and drained the rest of his beer, then set it down on the bar. “You don’t have to be so nasty.”
    It felt liberating to tell him off, Eve mused. She was slamming the door shut on that part of her life and moving on. “I made a mistake five years ago,” Eve said. “But I’m not going to make another one tonight. If you come after me for more money, I will spend every last cent I have making sure you don’t get anything. Now get out of my restaurant.”
    He walked to the door, his shoulders slumped. When he was finally outside, Eve leaned back against the bar and tried to slow her pounding pulse. She’d never loved him, that much was clear to her now. And he’d never loved her. Their marriage had been a huge mistake.
    “Good for you.”
    Eve looked over to find Lily watching her from the kitchen door. She smiled weakly at her friend. “Thanks. It felt good. How could I have been so stupid? Why couldn’t I see what kind of man he was?”
    “Maybe you were in love with someone else?” Lily offered.
    “Maybe,” Eve admitted.
    Perhaps Charlie had been the reason her marriage had failed. Maybe, deep down in the secret corners of her heart, she’d loved him and not Matt. And now they had a second chance to make things right.
    But did she have the courage to put her heart on the line all over again? Or would she let another chance