Carrots: A Shelby Nichols Adventure by Colleen Helme Read Free Book Online Page A

“It looks like it’s time to eat.”
    “Oh, you’re right,” I smiled at him like he was brilliant. “We’d better find our places.” I gave Kate a frosty smile, so she’d know I was on to her.
    She blinked. “I’d better find my date, but save us a place. It would be nice to sit by the two of you.” She wasn’t about to let me intimidate her. She was a Lawyer. I was Chris’ wife, but as far as she knew, that was my only accomplishment.
    She left before either of us could agree to save her a place, and I felt the same disgruntlement from Chris that I was feeling. “I don’t like her,” I said before I could stop myself.
    “She’s a hard worker.” Chris was being diplomatic.
    “She’s a…” I was going to say slut, but caught myself. “A very attractive woman.” Now Chris was uneasy. “Is that why you didn’t tell me about her?”
    “I told you all about her two weeks ago,” he said defensively. He knew he had covered his bases, and wasn’t going to be blamed if I hadn’t been paying attention.
    “I remember you talking about your new associate, but I had no idea she looked like that.”
    “Oh? And it would have been better if I’d told you how she looked?”
    “Of course not.” I certainly didn’t want him taking her side. I could tell she bothered him in more ways than he cared to admit. So, it was going to be up to me to take care of her. “Let’s see if there’s room for all of us at Brad and Emily’s table.”
    Chris readily agreed, glad to change the subject, and anxious to let the episode pass. I made sure we were settled so that Kate had to sit by me and not Chris. When she returned, she was disgruntled that I had out-maneuvered her, but rallied by having her date sit by me so she could see Chris better from her side of the round table. She also wanted him to see as much of her cleavage as possible. She kept leaning over the table, and I had to restrain myself from dumping my ice water down her neck.
    Not only was Chris struggling, but Brad was having a hard time too. Emily was grateful Kate was working with Chris, and not her husband. It made me feel better toward Emily to know that she thought Kate was a slut too. Sitting next to me, Kate’s date was enjoying the view, and hoping he’d score later.
    Disgusted, I withdrew my concentration. I didn’t want to hear any more thoughts. I sat back in my chair, and tried to shut it off. The buzz in my mind started to die away until it became an annoying whisper. I could still hear loud thoughts every now and then, but it was bearable. I just wasn’t sure how long I could keep it up.
    By the time dinner was over, a deep pain had started at the base of my skull, and was radiating over the skin of my head to fall behind my eyes. I had to escape, even if it was only for a few minutes. I excused myself from the table, and hurried to the ladies room. When the bathroom door shut, a wall of silence hit me so hard I nearly cried with relief.
    I must have been there for a good ten minutes when Emily came in looking for me. “Oh, there you are,” she said. “Chris was wondering if you were all right. He told us about the bank robbery. How’s your head?”
    “I’m fine. I just needed some time alone. Crowds sometimes get on my nerves.”
    “I know what you mean.” She straightened her dress, and put on some lipstick. “I don’t want to alarm you, but I think you’d better get back out there. That new associate, Kate…well she’s…” she hesitated, looking for the right words.
    “Throwing herself at Chris?” I finished for her.
    “To put it bluntly, yes.” It was making her sick, and she was grateful it wasn’t Brad. Of course Brad wasn’t as drop-dead gorgeous as Chris, but for once she didn’t mind in the least.
    “Thanks for the warning.” I high-tailed it out of there as fast as I could. Kate’s date was at the bar, and she had moved to his chair and was leaning over the table toward Chris. When she saw me