The Best Man (11 page)

“My client is due a third of the assets acquired by the firm during her absence.”

Which explained Luke’s presence at the meeting, and the reason her nerves were on edge, Kate sighed. She sent a quick look in Luke’s direction and felt her heart speed up. From that first moment, when she saw him in church, warm tingly feelings had rushed over her. His reaction to her return made her feel as if someone cared.

That was part of her problem. Staying at Luke’s apartment was torture and exhilarating at the same time. She wasn’t sure how much more of his company she could take and still keep her focus on her goals.

Getting her life back on track was her main priority. Once she had things in control, she wanted to help others. Losing sight of her goal because of her growing awareness of her law partner spelled trouble.

Joel’s fist hit the table. “That’s insane. Luke and I did the work. We took over the clients, the headache. Why does she get—”

“She inherited her father’s share of the firm, Joel.”

Joel’s face flushed the color of dark wine as he reacted to Luke’s reasonable tone. “There you go, taking her side again.” His glare bounced from Luke to Kate. “Since she came back, you’ve taken her side on every issue.”

“I’m not taking sides. I’m stating facts. Kate is part owner of this firm. She deserves her share of the profits.”

“I think Luke is right.” Laurel’s voice squeaked in the emotionally charged air as she looked up from taking notes. “It isn’t Kate’s fault she was washed away in that storm.”

Joel looked ready to spit nails. The veins in his neck bulged. “Okay, I agree she didn’t have a choice.” He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. “It’s just that getting my hands on that kind of money won’t be easy. And selling the house will take time.”

“Don’t sell the house on my account.” Kate met his glance across the table. If Joel wanted to live in the house they had shared as a married couple, he was welcome to it. For her part, she never wanted to see the place where she first became disillusioned with her marriage.

After she discovered he had left Thailand without searching for her, she had erased all emotional connections from their life together from her mind. She didn’t want Joel. She didn’t want the house or his money, except what was due her from the law firm. “I need enough money to get an apartment and some clothes.”

“How can you be that short of money, Joel? We’ve been covered up in cases.” Luke said.

Joel shifted in his chair, darting a glance from Laurel to Kate. His jaw firmed. “It takes money to entertain—”

“So, get a loan. Get married. Go on a honeymoon.” Luke’s glaring focus on Joel made it clear he didn’t have any sympathy for his partner’s excuses. Then his glance rested on Kate. Color drained from her face. He had been thoughtless again, put his foot in his mouth. “Sorry, Kate, I wasn’t thinking.”

Kate stared at Luke as his words soaked in her brain. Even the mention of going on a trip in the same sentence with Joel’s name made her nauseous. She had tried that once and barely made it home alive. She just wanted to get on with her life, make a fresh start.

“Oh! We did that already.” Laurel’s eyes looked ready to bounce on the floor when she saw their reaction. She gripped Joel’s arm and shook it. “Why didn’t you tell them!” She turned to Kate. “I-I hope you don’t mind?”

Mind? They were really married?
Kate shrugged as realization hit.
She was legally free from Joel.
Even though she was starting over, she would have to deal with baggage from her life with Joel. Could she work in this firm and handle the reminders, day after day? “Why—”

“Why call it a commitment ceremony?” Luke demanded over Kate’s blurted question.

All eyes turned to Joel. His gaze dropped under the stares. Then he lifted his chin. He cheeks slashed with color. ”Kate—”

Kate’s chest tightened, dreading of what he might say. He looked…pensive. He ignored Laurel’s attempts to snuggle against his side, making her heart knock against her ribs. If he hinted they should give their marriage a second change, she was out of here.

She had made her share of mistakes. She had even given her father second, and third chances to repair their relationship. But she would not repeat her mistakes with Joel.

It was too late. He’d left her for dead on an island in a foreign country. She drew in a shuddering breath and waited for his words.

Joel’s eyes beseeched her to understand as he looked at her from across the table. Suddenly, she appreciated her father’s ego and his stubborn insistence in making sure the conference room gave the impression of affluence. The wide dark surface of the table afforded her some breathing distance from Joel.

“Kate, we thought a commitment ceremony would raise fewer questions until all the paperwork came through.” Joel turned to his partner. “Luke, tell her we meant no harm.”

Luke’s eyes touched on her frown. He sent her a warning glance before returning his attention to Joel. “Kate can speak for herself. But I’m sure she realizes you meant no harm.”

Kate sent Luke a startled glance.

He’d guessed at her reluctance in dealing with Joel and was trying to diffuse the tension filling the room. Like usual, Luke was taking the role of protector, but for her or for the firm? Did he have issues with Joel’s handling of the situation?

Despite her intention to keep free from emotional entanglements, Kate shivered with excitement at Luke’s show of support. Even if she wanted to be independent, she couldn’t turn her back on a friend. Antagonizing Joel would do more damage than good. She needed to remain calm.

“I’m just glad the divorce is final.” Her words weren’t out of line, were they? She wanted to be free of Joel so she could put this marriage and the memories behind her. Free to be her own person, not what she thought would impress others.

Reality stepped in, causing her heart to settle in a normal rhythm. Of course, Luke had an opinion about his partner’s personal life. Any decisions they made were likely to affect the firm. This was a business arrangement to him. She needed keep that in mind and stay focused.

Still, warmth filled her heart when he said. “I’m concerned with what Kate wants.”

What Kate wants?

Luke’s words made her feel like a real person for the first time in years. How long had it been since anyone considered her wishes? Not while she was married to Joel. Things had gone his way in their years as a married couple. And not with her father. She’d been working for the firm before Joel arrived and pushed her out. And definitely not with the mother who raised her to put on a good front for the neighbors, no matter how bad things were.

Inhaling a shuddering breath, Kate realized this might be the first time ever, anyone had asked her opinion on a personal matter. Her father certainly hadn’t given her feelings any notice when he passed her over and gave the partnership to Joel.

Later, Joel blocked her efforts to bond with her father through work by imploring her to become a stay at home wife. Then, he ignored her wish for children.

But that was all behind her. Kate had some reoccurring doubts about the past, but she was excited about starting new. Staying with the firm meant accepting Joel as part of her future. But she wasn’t the same person who married Joel. It was time she made that clear. “As long as we’re divorced, I’m fine with your intentions—”

The insistent ringing of the office phones interrupted. “I'll get it,” Laurel said, getting to her feet. “But I know it’s the media.” She turned to Kate. “They’ve been on the phone all morning. Do you want to talk to them?”

Before Kate could formulate a response, Joel’s cell phone started ringing. Then Luke’s phone chimes sounded. Both men looked up from checking the caller ID.

“The newspaper,” Joel snapped.

“The TV station,” Luke added, looking at Kate.

“You have to face them sometime,” Joel grumbled, closing the phone.

“What do you want me to do, Kate?” Laurel asked from the door.

“I—”

“Well, do something. I’m tired of answering calls.” Joel snapped.

“Do you want to give an interview, Kate?” Luke asked.

She frowned, looking at him across the shinning expanse of the conference table. Giving an interview was the last thing she wanted to do, but…

“She sure as hell can’t give an interview dressed like that.”

Luke turned to Joel. “What is it with you and dressing appropriately? Are you the fashion police or something?”

“Joel says people judge you by the way you dress and conduct yourself.” Laurel purred as she sat down. “That’s why I dress for success, now, instead of wearing sexy outfits to the office.”

Kate had noticed Laurel’s change in style. She had replaced her low revealing tops with business suits. “You look nice, Laurel.”

“Maybe she could go shopping with you, give you some tips.” Joel offered helpfully. “We could use all this press coverage to the firm’s advantage.” He leaned back in his chair and stretched. “Never turn down free publicity.”

Kate’s startled discomfort changed to humor when she saw the look on Luke’s face. Deciding she’d better take charge before he could, she turned to Joel. “I’m not sure that’s the kind of interview reporters have in mind, Joel, but I'll let you know.”

His next words took up where the phones had interrupted. “So, you don’t mind if we have a big celebration? A reception and welcome home party combined?”

“Please say yes, Kate,” Laurel pleaded. “We could have so much fun.”

Kate’s brow lifted.
They might have fun
.

But she couldn’t imagine celebrating with her ex-husband and his wife. Sounded like a blast, but leave her out. She met the pleading look in Laurel’s eyes, and had a flash memory. Recalled a time when the pout on Laurel’s face had won her choice of restaurant, or movie.

“Okay, if it will be good for the firm, let’s do it.” She looked down at her second pair of Capri's, and frowned. “But I’ll need to buy some clothes, first.”

“Isn’t that just like a woman?” Joel glared from across the table. “The future of the firm is at stake, and my chance at happiness with someone I love, and she’s worried about clothes.”

His words struck Kate mentally and emotionally. If she’d even thought of giving their relationship a second chance, Joel’s words made his choice clear. He loved Laurel.

The idea stung, making their six years together seem unimportant, but that’s what Kate wanted. Habit controlled her first reaction. She didn’t care who Joel loved. She didn’t love him anymore. So why did his words feel like a physical blow?

Joel was just like her father. He had never loved her, anymore than her father had. The only difference was her ex-husband had pretended to love her until he got established in the firm.

Kate swallowed the bitter taste of rejection filling her mouth, glanced at her attorney and gave a nod.

Dan Alford turned to Joel. “We need to get back to the reason for this meeting.”

Joel adjusted his tie. “A cash settlement will take time.”

Kate’s head swam. She had been back in town only a couple of days, and already she was letting Joel make the decisions. When would she learn? “We need this settled as soon as possible.”

Luke sent Kate a keen glance. “I agree, the sooner, the better.” Then seeing Kate’s surprised look, he added. “When we get this issue out of the way, we can concentrate on business.”

The walls seemed to close in on Kate. After months of not knowing who she was or why no one had reported her missing, she didn’t like feeling pressured. She’d been through that married to Joel. Look where that had landed her. “I agree that we need to put the business first. But I need this issue settled so I can move on.”

***

“Luke, I found an apartment.”

“You’re welcome to stay here as long as you like.” Luke tried to tone down the alarm building inside him. Kate’s appearance in the door leading from the hall with a couple of shopping bags in her hands, had given him a start.

Her words sent him reeling.

“Thanks, but I need to get out on my own.”

“Where is the apartment?” Luke didn’t need to fringe the interest in his tone. He wanted to know where Kate was moving so he could look out for her. He’d failed her twice already. Once when he stood by and let her marry Joel without speaking his feelings. The second time was when he’d searched all over Thailand and hadn’t found her.

He wouldn’t fail her again. But he didn’t have the right to stand over her like a protective nanny. “You don’t have any furnishings. You could stay here until you get on your feet.”

Kate lifted on shoulder. “Thanks, but I need to get out on my own. I found a furnished apartment over the pizza place on 4th Street. Remember when we used to drop in there for lunch?”

Yeah, he remembered. He forced back a frown. “That’s…not the best part of town.”

“Maybe,” Kate grinned, “but it’s the best pizza in town.” Seeing Luke’s expression darken, she rushed on. “It’s perfect for the time being. It’s furnished, and the rent is reasonable.”

“But vagrants hang around that soup kitchen located just down the street.”

“That’s the best part. I want to volunteer in the soup kitchen, and I’ll be close.”