Free A Wife by Accident by Victoria Ashe

out the remaining five hundred dollars in monthly payments all on her own, too. It was the first thing she’d ever completely earned by herself. And Gary Tarleton hadn’t even bothered to consult with her about it before giving it away.
    As she turned the key in the car’s ignition, she couldn’t help but sigh again. It truly was a gorgeous car—exactly what she’d drive if she were really the wife of a wealthy businessman. Maybe she would drive it for a day or two until Gary could get her real car back for her. After all, when people saw her in a car like this, there would be no doubt she’d really married the renowned Gary Tarleton. Maybe that’s what he’d been thinking all along.
    As usual, Hayely was nearly the first person to arrive in the office. She would have arrived earlier if she’d been able to find all the gears in her new car a little better. Someone had already put a pot of coffee on to brew, but the lights in her area were off. No sooner than she’d turned on her computer, sent out the routine e-mail and sorted through the faxes, the rest of the staff began pouring in.
    Her hands were almost clammy as she watched the human resources staff settle into their chairs. She drew in a deep breath and walked into the manager’s office.
    “Do you have a minute?” Hayely asked. “I just need to make some changes to my paperwork.”
    “Sure. What kind of changes?”
    There was no backing out now. “I got married,” she answered, running the three words together as if they were one syllable.
    The human resources manager got up from her desk and walked over the Hayely . “Congratulations,” she squealed. “I had no idea you were even engaged. What’s his name? What does he do?”
    “Well—”
    The sound of Kathy Mark’s demanding voice rang from the doorway behind her. “There you both are. I don’t like to see empty chairs. You know Dee, don’t you? She’s just made senior vice president and isn’t it wonderful, she’s here from Arkansas this week.”
    Hayely smiled at Kathy’s stout, square-faced daughter. It was common knowledge that Dee Mark’s brief stints as a bartender and used car saleswoman had hardly prepared her for an executive position. It grated on Hayely’s nerves whenever she was asked to prepare documents that Dee should have been doing herself. With her meager month of experience, Hayely thought it was like the blind leading the blind—except one of the blind was making about six figures a year more than the other for the same expertise. No wonder the company scrambled for work.
    Dee gave a hearty laugh and thumped Hayely on the back. “Good to finally see you in person.”
    “Nice to meet you, too,” Hayely replied. Was that beer she smelled in the air?
    The human resources manager spoke up. “Kathy, Hayely was just telling me she’s gotten married.”
    Kathy’s eyebrows rose. “Oh?”
    The manager asked, “What’s your new last name?”
    “I haven’t decided to change it yet. I might keep my maiden name for a while.”
    Dee hooted again. “That’s what I did, too. Mercy, we Mark women don’t stay married long enough for it to be worth a name change anyway!” Her ruddy face turned even redder as she laughed at her own joke. “What’s his name?”
    “Gary,” Hayely answered softly. She had definitely picked up the scent of alcohol again. She’d seen Dee’s brother, Darryl, in the office from time to time and thought she’d caught of whiff of booze on his breath, too. It was sad really, and in spite of herself, Hayely felt her dislike turn to pity.
    Kathy looked coolly down her nose at Hayely . “Speaking of men named Gary, I hear Gary Tarleton is going to the Chamber Banquet this Wednesday evening. I’d like you to see if you can find a good hairdresser for Dee.”
    Dee pointed to her short sandy blonde hair. “Can’t go looking this way in front of Gary.”
    “You know Gary—Mr. Tarleton well?” Hayely asked.
    Kathy interrupted the start of