The Almost Wives Club: Kate Read Online Free PDF Page B

seduce my future wife, I’d say no one can.”
    Everyone in the room nodded, after a moment, even Ted’s father made a brisk up and down motion with his head. He reached into his pocket and handed Nick a check. She saw the man she’d eaten dinner with glance at the amount and then stuff the check into his pocket.
    “You’ve got a faithful woman there, buddy. Congratulations,” Nick said, and held out his hand.
    “Thanks. It’s a relief, I can tell you,” Ted said, giving the hand a hearty shake. “You sure I can’t talk you into staying for the wedding?”
    “Might be a little difficult to explain to your bride that the man you pretended you didn’t know in the restaurant tonight is your old buddy from college.”
    “I’m sure we could—”
    “No. Thanks. I’ve got to get back to Seattle. I’ve got a big case.”
    “Well, thanks again. Look, at least have a drink for old times.”
    But Nick was collecting his jacket. “Some other time. Good luck.” And he left.
    She flattened herself against the wall of the pool house but Nick strode up the path without so much as a glance her way. He seemed like a man in a hurry.
    She let a moment pass as shock turned into the most blinding anger she’d ever experienced in her life.
    The man she’d planned to marry had set her up. Deliberately made her vulnerable and then sent in a practiced womanizer to try and seduce her.
    What kind of a person would do such a thing?
    Not any kind of man she wanted to marry. Where was the loyalty? The trust? How could you claim to love someone and—
    It was as though a volcano burst somewhere inside her and she could not stop the explosion. In truth, she didn’t even try.
    She stalked to the door leading into the pool house and wrenched it open. As she stormed into the middle of the room, pretty much where Nick had stood, she was treated to four varying expressions of surprise and shock.
    “Kate,” Ted said, recovering first. “What a great surprise. We were just—”
    “I know what you were doing. I heard you.” She wanted to throw the expensively golden bottle of scotch at the big picture window, wanted to hear the crash and see the explosion, but she stuck to yelling instead.
    “You set me up. Who was that guy? An actor?”
    “A private detective,” Duncan Carnarvon said, looking down his nose at her as though angry women were distasteful to him. “You have to understand that marrying into this family is a heavy responsibility. Ted’s wife must be discreet as well as loyal. You did very well.” He sounded like he was trying to give her a compliment. Like this was normal.
    “How dare you?” she yelled, turning once more to Ted. “I am not a business venture to be tested and judged. I am the woman who loves you. The woman you were going to marry.”
    As she shrieked, she tried to pull the ring off her finger but it was being stubborn.
    “I am going to marry you,” Ted said, soothingly.
    “The Hell you are,” she screamed. Finally, the ring came off. Maybe she’d never be a major league pitcher, but she had so much anger in her that she launched that ring like a sparkly rocket. It flew through the air, tossing out rays of VVS1 until it hit Ted in the face.
    “Ow!” he howled, putting a hand to his cheek.
    “This wedding is off. I never, ever want to see you again.”
    As she turned away, she heard a commotion, four voices all talking at once.
    “Ted, you’re hurt,” his mother cried.
    “Kate, wait,” her mother cried.
    “You get back here young lady,” his father cried,
    “I love you,” Ted himself cried.
    As for Kate, she just cried. But she kept on walking.

Chapter Four
    Kate assumed Ted would be right behind her, running to catch her and explain. He knew she had no car. She contemplated hiding in the bushes until he gave up looking for her, but that was cowardly and besides she was too angry to stay still.
    But no one followed her. She stood in the dark wondering what to do. She heard the ocean