Read Online Ties That Bind by Kathryn Shay - Free Book Online Page A

When his jacket pulled away, a studded dog collar became apparent.
    Just what they needed. The ending to a perfect visit.
    o0o
    KATE STRODE AHEAD of Reese to car. She couldn’t deal with the fact that her own child hated her. And right now she was very afraid that she was going to turn to her ex-husband for comfort, which would be a total disaster.
    When she reached his Mustang, Reese came up behind her. It was dark out now, but the parking lot was illuminated by lamps. Kate shivered into the cold April evening, despite the wool blazer she’d donned. He didn’t touch her, thank God, but tried to soothe her with words. “Sofie’ll come around.”
    Kate felt tears moisten her eyes. She fought them back with the verve of an emotional gladiator.
    “It’s a phase,” he continued. “She’s mad at us, she’ll get over it.”
    His words calmed her. Finally Kate gained some control, turned and looked up into his sympathetic face. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m so emotional about this. I thought I was dealing with it better.”
    “Things have been tough lately, with this Bingham accusation. Sofie’s behavior just makes everything worse.” He moved closer. She would have stepped back but the car was behind her. Slowly, he raised his hand and brushed a thumb under her eye. “Didn’t sleep much last night, either, did you?”
    Her breath caught at his touch—so slight, but the very first one since the divorce. She had to clear her throat before she could answer. “N-no.”
    “Me, either.” He was staring down at her.
    She stared back at him. Suddenly, a different kind of tension rose between them.
    He focused on her lips.
    She licked them.
    He froze.
    So did she. You don’t want to do this, she told herself.
    His face darkened and he moved forward a millimeter. Still he said nothing. She watched him for a minute, forcing herself to remember those last few years were horrible. The final one hauntingly grim. She couldn’t bring that darkness back to their lives. She couldn’t risk hurting her daughter even more by acting foolishly. She was needy, but she would not seek solace in Reese. Who knew where that would lead?
    So she straightened her shoulders and sidled around him, circling the hood of the Mustang to get to the passenger door. Reese stayed where he was for a moment, then slapped his hand on the hood, making her jump. She didn’t look at him as he fished out his keys and popped the locks. Kate slid inside the car, wordlessly, as he did. And when he started the engine, his scent surrounded her. She forced herself remember that scent, during one of the blackest, bleakest moment of their lives together…
    “I have to tell you something,” she’d said that night she’d confessed all, erroneously thinking he would forgive her. She should have known, because things had been so bad, baring her soul was the wrong thing to do.
    “Let me guess. “ They were in their bedroom, in the farmhouse she’d loved, and he yanked off his tie mercilessly. “The judgeship came through.” The infamous judgeship that had proved to be the last wedge between them.
    “No, it’s too soon for that.”
    His eyes narrowed. “Something with Sofie?” She’d been almost ten at the time.
    “No, Reese, it’s about us.”
    He’d cocked his head. He’d looked haggard already. Just wait.
    “I did something today.” She’d started to cry then. Tears she’d suppressed all afternoon coursed down her cheeks.
    She watched him try to resist. Finally, he crossed to her and took her in his arms. He felt so safe, so secure. The smell of his woodsy aftershave calmed her. “It can’t be that bad.”
    “It is.”
    She felt him stiffen. Then he asked wrenchingly, “You didn’t go to another man, did you?” They hadn’t been getting along for months.
    She shook her head. It was beginning to pound with migraine force.
    “Then it’ll be okay. I know things between us have been bad. I’ve been thinking we should get that