The First Wife Read Online Free PDF

Like a movie set, she decided.
    She said so, and they all looked at her. Raine smiled, clearly delighted with her
     naivete. “And what kind of movie will this be, my surprise sister-in-law? A comedy?
     Or a tragedy?”
    “Why, neither, of course.”
    The man’s voice was silky and deep, with what sounded to Bailey like a European accent.
     They all turned.
    “August,” Raine said, sounding amused. “You never miss the chance for an entrance.”
    He kissed Raine’s cheek, then turned to Bailey. “And you must be the new Mrs. Abbott.”
    Physically, he wasn’t a big man, yet in every other way seemed larger than life. Black
     hair pulled back in a ponytail, his dark coloring a dramatic contrast to the white
     silk shirt he wore. Tight jeans; a brilliantly white smile.
    He caught her hand, met her eyes as he brought it to his lips. “Obviously, this movie
     is a romance. Epic, no doubt.”
    Bailey smiled. “August,” she said, feeling everyone’s eyes on her and sensing this
     was a test, “you’re just as charming as Logan warned me you’d be.”
    He laughed. “And you, Bailey, are as young and lovely as I expected.”
    She wasn’t certain what he meant by that, but she wasn’t about to let him best her.
     “A testament to my husband’s excellent taste?”
    “Something like that.”
    Logan announced the steaks were done and they assembled around the grand dining room
     table. Bailey would have preferred a more casual evening, but Logan had insisted it
     was a celebration, so only the finest would do. So, they had set the table, using
     linens and china and lighting the long white tapers inside antique hurricanes.
    After only a few minutes of polite conversation, the interrogation began. Bailey had
     been waiting for it. How could they not be curious? Here she sat, a stranger, virtually
     forced upon them.
    And as she had also expected, it began with Raine. “Bailey, tell us about you. Where
     are you from?”
    “Nebraska. A little town named Broken Bow.”
    Her eyebrows shot up. “I’ve never actually met anyone from Nebraska.”
    “Now you have. Finally, you can call your life complete.”
    Beside her, Logan stifled a chuckle.
    “What about your family?” Paul asked.
    “I don’t have any.”
    Raine made a choked sound and grabbed her water.
    August leaned forward, eyes sparkling. “How very interesting.”
    “I’m not certain what you mean by that.”
    “He doesn’t mean anything by it,” Raine said. “He’s just trying to be clever.”
    He laughed and went back to his wine and Raine refocused on her. “I’m curious,” Raine
     murmured, “how does one end up with no family at all?”
    “I’m an only child, raised by a single mother. She—” Her throat closed over the words.
     She felt like an idiot and looked helplessly at Logan.
    “Her mother passed away recently,” he said. “The loss is still very fresh.”
    “I’m so sorry,” Paul said to her. “Forgive me for bringing it up.”
    Raine stabbed a piece of steak. “Was it sudden?”
    Bailey cleared her throat. “It depends on your definition of sudden. For me, it was.
     She was diagnosed with bone cancer, and six months later she was … gone.”
    Logan laid his hand over hers. “Bailey withdrew from school to care for her.”
    “What were you studying?” Paul asked.
    “To be a teacher,” Logan answered for her. “Elementary education.”
    “I’m going back.” Bailey smiled. “Logan tells me Southeastern has a good program.
     And that I could easily commute.”
    “They do,” Raine interjected. “I’m a professor there. In the art department.”
    “Logan told me.”
    “Of course, Logan and I are Tulane grads.”
    The subtle stress she put on the words made it clear Southeastern was fine for people
     like her, but not them. Bailey’s hackles rose. “Why’s that? It’s more expensive?”
    “Catfight,” August murmured, bringing his glass to his lips.
    “Yes, it is,” Raine responded. “But it was