Strapless by Leigh Riker Read Free Book Online

this wasn’t a circus for the Barbies to watch. It was the Roman Colosseum. Lions, gladiators, victims…
    Daddy. Darcie bent down until she reached eye level with the child.
    â€œHi.”
    Merrick stepped between them. “Uh, why don’t you run over there, kiddo.” He pointed at a pyramid of dolls on a nearby table “Pick out one you like.”
    Assuming he was talking to the child, not to her, Darcie straightened and the little girl said, “Can I? Can I? ”
    â€œYes,” he said. “You may.”
    Her mission approved, she scampered off. A heavy silence hung in the air.
    Claire had been right. He’s lying, Darcie.
    She squished her package in rigid fingers, choking the zebra. Buster goggled at Merrick and so did Darcie—without her eyes crossed. Shoppers pushed by. A baby, like Claire’s, fussed. Over the PA system a male voice announced a sale in Electronic Games.
    She felt sick.
    â€œWell. Now I know.”
    â€œDarcie, don’t make a big deal of this.”
    She reeled back at his weary tone.
    â€œNo big deal? Just call me naive…” To her horror, she choked up. She hadn’t thought this would really matter, if it proved true.
    â€œIt isn’t what you think.”
    â€œOh, that’s too tacky. What a classic line.” She swallowed hard. She could smell his aftershave, expensive, woodsy. Smell popcorn on the air. Smell the more acrid scent of…betrayal. “Are you saying you’re not married?”
    He turned away. Darcie snagged his arm.
    â€œMerrick, you owe me an explanation.” When he remained silent, she said, “No wonder you didn’t remember your ‘nephew.’ Or are you more used to calling him your son? ” She flicked a glance toward the table nearby. “Your daughter looks like you. So does he. How old is she?”
    â€œSix. Yes,” he said. “I’m married.” The words came out loud, and he deliberately lowered his voice, color slashing across his cheeks as if Darcie had slapped him. Not a bad idea. “I’ve been married for ten years. Is that what you want to hear?”
    â€œNo, I want to hear why you’re screwing me instead of your wife!”
    His tight schedule. His one-night-a-week free. Two this week, lucky her. You wouldn’t leave a man in need, would you?
    â€œIt doesn’t work between us,” he said.
    â€œWhat doesn’t work? Sex? You and me? What? ” She’d never felt so mortified, so hurt, in her life. Which was saying a lot.
    He tried to lead her to a quieter corner but Darcie dugin her heels. She thrust the zebra bag between them like a shield.
    â€œJust say it here.” And if there was anyplace more absurd, more public, than the doll department of FAO Schwarz, she couldn’t think where. That didn’t matter now. Then he shocked her again.
    â€œI love you, Darcie.”
    â€œOh. You bastard.” A first, she thought. It was a wonder he didn’t strangle.
    â€œNo, I mean it. It’s over between Jacqueline and me. She won’t even care.”
    â€œHer name’s Jacqueline?” He nodded, looking at the floor, and Darcie’s mouth tightened like a prune. His wife had probably gone to Smith, like Annie.
    He glanced up through a screen of thick lashes. “Do you hate me?”
    â€œRight now, I’d say that’s a definite yes.”
    For several moments neither of them spoke. Darcie clutched the zebra and listened to her own breathing. It seemed capable of overriding the noise around them. Roared like an oncoming subway train. She might drop dead right here on the floor. Attention, please. Emergency. Would Medic Barbie go to Aisle Four…
    â€œWhen do you leave?” he said.
    â€œI told you, tomorrow.”
    â€œI can’t see you before then?”
    â€œI don’t want to see you.”
    He looked miserable. “How long will you be gone?”
    â€œI