Free Tangled Web by CATHY GILLEN THACKER

Houston, Chase considered her a gold digger because she’d married a wealthy man twice her age. Unfortunately, no matter how much it grated on her nerves, it was an erroneous assumption she was going to have to let stand. To tell him the truth about her and his father’s desperate personal situations at the time of their marriage was unthinkable. She had promised Edmond that no one would ever know the shame and humiliation he had suffered. And that was a promise she was determined to keep for herself and her son, as well as for her late husband. Joey had been devastated by his father’s death. He couldn’t be expected to weather a scandal as well.
    She pedaled harder, her hands gripping the handlebars on thestationary bike. What bothered her most about all this discord was that, their long-standing differences aside, Chase was such a nice and honorable man. He was remarkably unspoiled for someone who’d grown up with as much wealth and power as he. He also knew his own mind, and hadn’t been afraid to go after a career in medical research even when he’d been continually pressured to do otherwise and take over the family business. She admired his strength of character and was certain had they met any other way that they would’ve been friends, and possibly much, much more.
    After all, he was good with children and interested in them; he’d evidenced that with Joey. He cared about people, as did she, and tried not to hurt anyone voluntarily. But even more compelling than that was the attraction between them. She couldn’t be around him without feeling very much alive and very much a woman. And like it or not, she knew those feelings weren’t going to go away.

Chapter Four
    â€œWell, it’s about time you got here!” Rosemary Barrister said the moment Hope stepped off the elevator the following morning.
    Knowing Chase was right behind her—they’d driven to the office separately and met up in the parking garage—Hope tightened her hold on the briefcase in her hand and headed for her office. She did not want to argue with Rosemary in front of the staff. Rosemary looked as if she wanted very much to fight.
    Rosemary followed Hope into her office, her stiletto heels clicking on the polished floor. Chase was close on their heels.
    â€œDo you know what this woman has done now?” Rosemary demanded of her son. She pointed an accusatory finger at Hope.
    Looking dismayed, Chase shut the door behind them.
    Rosemary continued vehemently, “She turned down the chance of a lifetime for silly personal reasons!”
    Hope put her briefcase down and moved behind her desk. Although it was barely nine, she could feel the beginnings of a monstrous tension headache. It made her just want to go home and crawl into bed and pull the covers over her head. “What are you talking about?” she asked Rosemary wearily, wishing Edmond’s ex had just stayed in Monte Carlo, where she belonged.
    â€œRussell Morris.” Rosemary uttered the name in vindictive triumph, then turned to Chase. Hope’s heart stopped and the blood drained from her face. “He had a wonderful proposition for Barrister’s,” Rosemary continued spitefully, “and Hope wouldn’t even hear him out.”
    No emotion readily apparent on his face, Chase looked at Hope for confirmation.
    She didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t very well tell Chase that she hated Russell without revealing why. She couldn’t do that without hurting herself even more. Her stomach lurching, she struggled for an excuse. “He didn’t have an appointment.”
    â€œOh, for heaven’s sake! Russell Morris owns one of the largest textile companies in the entire South! He doesn’t need an appointment,” Rosemary said.
    Hope worked hard to keep her panic hidden. He couldn’t hurt her anymore, she schooled herself firmly. Keeping an iron grip on her soaring emotions,