The Millionaire Claims His Wife Read Online Free PDF Page A

they began to shake. “I wish you the best, Annie. You and your cadaver, both.”
    Annie’s smile flattened. “You always did know the right thing to say, didn’t you, Chase?” Turning on her heel, she propelled herself and Milton off the edge of the dance floor and toward the buffet.
    â€œAnne,” Milton whispered, “Anne, my dearest, I had no idea...”
    â€œNeither did I,” Annie whispered back, and smiled up into his stunned face hard enough so he’d have to think the tears in her eyes were for happiness and not because a hole seemed suddenly to have opened in her heart.
    * * *
    Married, Chase thought. His Annie, getting married to that jerk.
    Surely she had better taste.
    He slid his empty glass across the bar to the bartender.
    â€œWomen,” he said. “Can’t live with ‘em and can’t live without ’em.”
    The bartender smiled politely. “Yes, sir.”
    â€œGive me a refill. Bourbon and—”
    â€œAnd water, one ice cube. I remember.”
    Chase looked at the guy. “You trying to tell me I’ve been here too many times this afternoon?”
    The bartender’s smile was even more polite. “I might have to, soon, sir. State law, you know.”
    Chase’s mouth thinned. “When I’ve had too much to drink, I’ll be sure and let you know. Meanwhile, make this one a double.”
    â€œChase?”
    He swung around. Behind him, people were doing whatever insane line dance was this year’s vogue. Others were still eating the classy assortment of foods Annie had ordered and he hadn’t been permitted to pay for.
    â€œI’ve no intention of asking you to foot the bill for anything,” she’d told him coldly, when he’d called to tell her to spare no expense on the wedding. “Dawn is my daughter, my floral design business is thriving and I need no help from you.”
    â€œDawn is my daughter, too,” Chase had snarled, but before he’d gotten the words out, Annie had hung up. She’d always been good at getting the last word, dammit. Not today, though. He’d gotten it. And the look on her face when he’d handed her all that crap about his engagement to Janet made it even sweeter.
    â€œChase? You okay?”
    Who was he kidding? He hadn’t had the last word this time, either. Annie had. How could she? How could she marry that pantywaist, bow-tie wearing, gender-confused—
    â€œChase, what the hell’s the matter with you?”
    Chase blinked. David Chambers, tall, blue-eyed, still wearing his dark hair in a long ponytail clasped at his nape the same way he had since he’d first become Chase’s personal attorney a dozen years ago, was standing alongside him.
    Chase let out an uneasy laugh.
    â€œDavid.” He stuck out his hand, changed his mind and clasped the other man’s shoulders. “Hey, man, how’re you doing?”
    Chambers smiled and drew Chase into a quick bear hug. Then he drew back and eyed him carefully.
    â€œI’m fine. How about you? You all right?”
    Chase reached for his drink and knocked back half of it in one swallow.
    â€œNever been better. What’ll you have?”
    Chambers looked at the bartender. “Scotch,” he said, “a single malt, if you have it, on the rocks. And a glass of Chardonnay, please.”
    â€œDon’t tell me,” Chase said with a stilted smile. “You’re here with a lady. I guess the love bug’s bitten you, too.”
    â€œMe?” David laughed. “The wine’s for a lady at my table. As for the love bug... It already bit me, remember? One marriage, one divorce...no, Chase, not me. Never again, not in this lifetime.”
    â€œYeah.” Chase wrapped his hand around his glass. “What’s the point? You marry a woman, she turns into somebody else after a couple of years.”
    â€œI agree. Marriage is a female fantasy.