Free Her House Divided (Beach Haven Book 1) by A.J. Goode Page B

as I am concerned, you two acted like strangers the day of the reading of the will out of a shared concern for your ex-wife’s feelings. You weren’t quite ready to reveal to her that you had already moved on.”
    “Now, Tara, she is using your financial situation as proof that you had a motive for trying to get into Bea’s will.  And the fact that most of your bills were incurred after the date of her stroke, makes it look as though you started spending like crazy as soon as you thought she would pass away soon.  It doesn’t look good.”
    Tara’s chin came up to a determined little point.  “I can explain every single one of those bills,”  she stated.  “I was in a car accident on May 22 and most of the bills are medical ones. The rest are just my day-to-day expenses and bills that fell behind because I haven’t been able to work.”
    “Did you have medical insurance?”
    “No.  I know that was stupid, but I worked in a five-chair salon, on a commission basis.  Hairdressers don’t usually get medical insurance through work.”
    “You had car insurance?  Full coverage?”
    Tara nodded.
    Ben looked annoyed.  “Did they pay out on  anything ?”
    “No.  They said it was an “Act of God” and wasn’t covered.”
    “Would you mind giving me the name of your insurance agent?  I’d like a word with him.”
    Tara hesitated.  “I—can’t afford—“  she stammered, but the attorney waved aside her objection.
    “Don’t worry, Tara,”  he said.  “I’m just going to make a phone call on behalf of a friend.  Who just happens to be involved with another friend of mine, right?”
    Doubtfully, she gave him the information. He jotted it down and set the piece of paper aside, then leaned forward to give them both a long, serious look. 
    “Bea Ahrend was one of my favorite clients,” he said, after a moment of silence.  “I don’t believe for a second that her mind was anything less than sharp, right up to the day she died.  But I also know that she was a sly, manipulative old bat when she wanted to be, and I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if she really set this whole thing up as a way of bringing you two together.”
    He cleared his throat and sat back in his chair before continuing.  “I want to make it perfectly clear that I am not instructing you to lie if anyone asks you directly.  I am not asking you to lie to me, either.  To all outward appearances, you seem to be very happy together, and that’s enough for me.  Oh, and Tara?  Did you give Jacqueline signed permission to access your financial records?”
    “Of course not!”
    “Excellent.”
    “What’s so excellent about it?”
    “It’s excellent because Jacqueline should not have been able to access that information without your permission,” Ben explained.  “This may give us some leverage in getting her to back down.”
    “Jacqueline  never  backs down,” Ethan warned him.
    After their meeting with the attorney, they made a few stops in town before heading back to the Seashell.  Ethan tried to think about anything other than the woman on the seat beside him, but every glance her way brought to mind images of the previous night. 
    “Hello?” Tara touched his arm, and the thoughts that raced through his brain nearly sent them into a ditch.  “You seem kind of distant, Ethan.”
    “Just thinking about things.”
    “’Things’?”
    “ Things .  You know.  Jacqueline.  The house.  Last night.”
    “Ah.”  She folded her hands neatly in her lap and looked out the window.  “You regret it.”
    “What? No! I just—“
    “It’s all right.  I get it.  It was Pity Sex.”
    “I’m not—“
    “Ethan.  Stop.”  Her voice was cold, her words crisp and brittle.  “I never asked you for a commitment, did I?  We agreed to do whatever it takes to keep the house, and I guess that includes sleeping together.  Whatever it takes.  Right?”
    Whatever it takes.
    Ethan was silent as he