Ties That Bind Read Online Free PDF

Bingham?”
    No need for names. “Not with her. Actually, he contends Malibu Barbie was the only one he cheated with. And then it was because of what I did.”
    “Speaking of Malibu Barbies, I saw Dray Merrill today.”
    Reese’s young lover. Slender, fragile, nurturing in a way Kate had never been. And a good thirteen years younger. “Where?”
    “Starbucks, across the street.”
    “Hmm. I think her gym is near here. If I recall, that’s how she met Reese. He worked out there on lunch hours.”
    “She was with Tyler.”
    “Tyler? My Tyler?” At Jillian’s nod, Kate said, “Why?”
    “I marched right over and asked them.”
    Kate chuckled. “You would. What did he say?”
    “That they’d bumped into each other and stopped to chat.”
    “Sounds odd.”
    “He was lying.”
    “How do you know?”
    “Judge’s instinct.”
    “Hmm. Circumstantial evidence at best.” Her heart started beating a bit faster. “I can’t believe anything’s going on there. Dray Merrill thinks Reese walks on water.”
    “So did you, at one time.”
    “He has that effect on women.”
    “In any case, Tyler wouldn’t cheat. He’s crazy about you.”
    “So why were they together?”
    “Observation of their body language tells me they were talking about you and Reese.”
    “Really?”
    “Maybe they’re worried this case thing will throw you two back together and you’ll realize you’re still in love with each other.”
    A huge gaping hole made itself known in Kate’s heart. “You know how I feel about him.” During those long periods after her surgery, when Jillian couldn’t sleep, she and Kate had talked about everything. “I’ve gotten over him, don’t think about him all that much, but he still has some kind of…power over me.” She thought of his cutting words this morning, and how they’d thrown her emotions into a tailspin. “I have some residual feelings for him.”
    “Which, as you know, I’ve always thought are returned.”
    “I doubt it. Even so, I’ll never let myself in for that kind of pain again. Neither would he, I’d guess.” She thought of her daughter. “Mostly though, we didn’t put Sofie through the horror of a divorce to fool around with something best left alone. “
    “I’m worried about your spending this time together.”
    “Me, too.” She shrugged. “I’ll just have protect my heart.”
    “I’m here if you need to talk.”
    “Thanks.”
    “What are you going to do about Tyler?”
    “Nothing. He’s a big boy, and has his own life.”
    “He’d love it if you were jealous.”
    “I’m not.”
    “Too bad. He’s a great guy.”
    “That he is. Now, tell me about the great guy in your life. I have a half hour before I meet Reese.”
    “Okay, just be careful. With him.”
    “Always am. Now, let’s change the subject before I start to panic.”
    Her friend smiled, and Kate counted her blessings that she had people in her life like Jillian and Tyler. She didn’t need Reese Bishop anymore.
    o0o
    “LIGHT PINK SAUCE on the gnocchi. Peppercorn dressing on the salad. Garlic bread. And chocolate cannoli. At the office. Thanks, George.” Reese hung up the phone and stared at it for a minute. “You’re an idiot,” he said aloud. How could he remember such minute details about his ex-wife?
    And it wasn’t just the food. He remembered sensory things—the way her lotion tasted on her skin, the coarse texture of her hair as it wound around his fingers, the sounds she made when he was inside her.
    Fucking son of a bitch. He didn’t want to recall any of that.
    Rising, he strode to the bathroom off his office and changed into jeans and a sweater. It was almost seven and they’d be working for a while. At the end of the day, he and Kate had always had their fill of being dressed up and put on sweat suits or jeans as soon as they could. Arrgh…what the hell was going on here with all these flashes to the past?
    Back at his desk, he pulled out the information he’d had his