An Independent Wife by Linda Howard Read Free Book Online Page B

to be common knowledge?"

    "I wouldn't think so," she hedged. "He didn't mention that. Coral is in his office now, and I don't think he'd want anyone fouling up that relationship."

    "What a wonderfully understanding wife you are," he mocked, and she stuck her tongue out at him.
    With all of the tension behind her she attacked the article she was writing with renewed vigor and finished it that afternoon. Again Chris stopped by her desk, this time to tell her that he was leaving that night for Miami. "Want to see me off?" he invited, and she readily accepted.

    Sometimes it was nice to see a familiar face in the crowd when you got on a flight in the middle of the night, so she saw nothing unusual about Chris wanting her company. It wasn't until they were on their way to the airport that Sallie realized that Chris had sought out her company several times lately. She liked Chris, he was a good, steady friend, but she knew that it would never develop into anything more serious on her part. Rather than let the situation stew, she asked him frankly, "Just for the record, why are you asking me to lunch, to see you off, etcetera? Is it for a reason I should know?"

    "I'm using you," he admitted just as frankly. "You're good company and you don't expect anything more than friendship. You keep my ego built up, too, because you're a great-looking woman."

    She had to chuckle; in her opinion great-looking women were not petite dynamos with more energy than fashion sense. But it was still nice to have a man voice that opinion. "Thanks," she told him cheerfully, "but that still doesn't tell me why."

    He raised his sandy eyebrows. "Because of another woman, of course. What else could it be?"

    "Anyone I know?" she asked.

    "No, she's not in this business. She lives in my apartment building and she's the nesting type. She wants a nine-to-five husband, and I can't see myself settling down into that routine. It's a standoff. She won't back down and neither will L"

    "So what will you do?"

    "Wait. I'm a patient man. She'll either come around or we won't get together, it's that simple."

    "Why should she do all the giving?" Sallie asked indignantly, amazed that even reasonable Chris should expect the woman to make all of the adjustments.

    "Because I know I can't," he mocked, smiling a little. "I know my limitations, Sal. I only hope she's stronger than I am and can make some changes."

    Then he deftly changed the subject and Sallie realized that he had revealed as much as he was going to.
    They talked shop for the rest of the time, and she waited with him for his flight to be called, sensing that he felt vulnerable. Leaving for a long trip in the middle of the night with no one to see you off was a lonely experience, and she was willing to give him at least one familiar face to wave goodbye to.

    It was after ten when she finally got back to her apartment and she quickly showered and got ready for bed. Just as she turned out the lamp the phone rang and she switched the light back on to answer it.

    "Sallie? Where in hell have you been?" Rhy demanded impatiently, and as always his husky voice made her spine tingle.

    "At the airport," she found herself answering automatically.

    "Meeting someone?" he asked, and his voice became sharper.

    "No, seeing someone off." She had recovered her poise, and she quickly asked, "Why are you calling?"

    "You left this afternoon before we got anything settled," he snapped.

    Mystified, she echoed, "Settled? What's there to settle?"

    "Our marriage, for one thing," he retorted sarcastically.

    Abruptly she understood and tried to reassure him that she wouldn't cause any trouble in the termination of their marriage. "We shouldn't have any trouble getting a divorce, considering how long we've been separated. And getting a divorce is a good idea. We should have done it sooner. Seven years is a long time. It's obvious that our marriage is over in every respect except legally. I see no reason why it shouldn't be