Free The Best Man by Carol Hutchens Page A

years ago, she would have lashed out at him in anger. But in the past year she’d learned a measure of confidence and self-control she never imagined she had. Even now, with her temper rising, she kept her emotions hidden.
    Giving Joel a long steady look, she nodded and settled in a chair in front of the desk. “Good idea. A rational discussion makes sense.” Her tone implied she didn’t think him capable.
    Relief flashed across Joel’s face. His lips tightened. His eyes, turned the color of heated steel. His glare bored into Luke. “I think this is something my wife and I need to discuss in private.”
    “Ex-wife don’t you mean?” Kate felt Luke glance in her direction. Knowing she had his support gave her the comfort she needed. For a moment there, pain from the past year threatened to smother her good intentions. Then she remembered this wasn’t about Joel. This wasn’t about his lack of love for her or his betrayal.
    This was about getting her life back. Today was the day to start. Either she left the firm for good, and let Joel have his way, or she’d take a stand and help Luke save the firm her father had established.
    Being an attorney defined who she was.
    She needed to remember that. She chose to study law as a way to connect with her father. But her efforts had gone beyond the initial plan. She was good at what she did. Maintaining her position in this firm was the first step to gaining her identity as a person in her own right. Thanks to Luke’s encouragement she understood that.
    Luke moved from the corner of the desk and turned toward the door.
    Confidence freed Kate’s tongue. “I don’t think so.” She looked over her shoulder as he stopped at the door. Her glance tangled with the dark emotions in his eyes, then she turned back to Joel. “This issue affects the firm. Luke stays.”
    “So you sided with him? It’s two against one.” Joel sneered. “I always knew this day would come.”
    Kate frowned, unsure what he meant. Luke settled in the chair beside hers. His calm expression was all the encouragement she needed. “This is about establishing my position in the firm. Luke is a voting member just as we are.”
    “Right!” Joel slapped the desk. “And, I suppose this has nothing to do with the fact that you shacked up with him all weekend?”
    “Don’t judge me by your standards.” Luke half rose from his chair.
    Kate blinked and stared at Joel as if she had never seen him before. His lips curled back from his teeth in a snarl. Light burned from his eyes. If she hadn’t been afraid someone would lock her up, she would swear she saw horns sticking out the sides of his head.
    Her reaction to that thought made her shoulders shudder. Giggles escaped past her lips as his horned image flared in her head.
    Luke fell back in his chair and sent her a look of concern. Joel’s lips pulled back, baring his gums like a snarling dog. Another rush of giggles escaped.
    “That is so rich.” She gurgled past laughter. “You have me declared dead. Give away all my clothes. Take a new bride to live in our house. And then say something nasty about the friend who offers me a place to stay.” Kate shook her head. All signs of amusement left her face with each word she spoke. Reality returned. Her breath expelled in a resigned sigh. “So, this is the real Joel. It’s too bad I didn’t see through your act before I married you.”
    “Now, wait a minute.” Joel pointed a finger at her. “I’m not the one who deserted our marriage for a year-and–a-half.”
    Kate almost crumbled under the stabbing pain. But memory of her long days of mourning for Joel’s loss flashed in her head and gave her strength. “No, Joel, you’re the one that deserted his wife after three days, without searching to see if she was alive.”
    Joel sputtered. “I was traumatized.” His glance darted to Luke. “Tell her, Luke. Tell her how awful that time was.”
    Luke stared at Joel silently as his fingers formed a