Free The Old Deep and Dark by Ellen Hart

deeply wicked thoughts. She wondered if he was involved with anyone at the moment. “Let me put a hypothetical question to you,” she said, playing with a tassel on one of the pillows. “What if Jordan had written something—something I don’t want anyone to see. And what if he insisted on making it public? Is there any way I could stop him?”
    â€œAgain, this isn’t the area of my expertise,” said Ray, adjusting his glasses. “Is it true? Whatever it is that he’s written?”
    â€œSome of it.”
    â€œBut not all.”
    â€œNo, definitely not all.”
    â€œSo you’re saying it’s libelous?”
    â€œI guess … right. It’s libel. But if I sue him, will the content become public knowledge?”
    â€œThat’s a hard one,” said Ray. “You would normally expect a certain amount of privacy, but with people as public as you and Jordan, it might prove difficult. I assume you have reporters sniffing around all the time looking for dirt.”
    â€œSo there’s no way to prevent him from going public with it?”
    â€œYou’d need to put that question to a libel attorney.”
    She shifted in her seat. “Then a different question. Jordan and I keep separate bank accounts. It’s been that way from the start of our marriage. He makes millions, so he pays for all of our living expenses—the houses, the cars, the clothes. What I’ve earned has been invested. I took a huge hit in the stock market like everybody else a few years back. I pulled much of my money out, which was probably a stupid thing to do. I’m not poor, but I’m hardly wealthy, the way I am with Jordan as my husband. So the question is this: Will the fact that we’ve kept our finances separate hurt me in a divorce?”
    â€œWhere’s your legal residence?” asked Ray.
    â€œTennessee.”
    â€œAgain, you’d need to consult a divorce lawyer from your state. There’s no real way I can answer that for you.”
    â€œBut can’t you give me an educated guess?”
    He held her in his blue-eyed stare. “It could be a problem. Have you and Jordan considered counseling?”
    She couldn’t help herself. The idea made her giggle. “Not going to happen.”
    â€œAt least you haven’t lost your sense of humor.”
    â€œIf I have anything to say about it, I’m not going to lose anything.”
    â€œThat sounds ominous.”
    She offered a smile. Nothing more.
    â€œLook, I’m not trying to rush you, or change the subject, but I’m starving. I didn’t have any lunch today and all I had for breakfast was toast and coffee. I don’t suppose we could continue this conversation over an early dinner.”
    â€œWhy, Ray, I’d love that,” she purred. Her first thought was Beverly—how she could ditch her. Her second thought was the dinner Jordan had planned at the lake house. It suddenly occurred to her that she could use one to take care of the other.
    As they came out of the sunroom, Beverly, who’d been sitting in a chair in the hallway, stood up. Ray continued on to the front foyer, while Kit pulled Beverly aside. “I need you to do something for me.”
    â€œSure. Anything.”
    â€œDrive back to Frenchman’s Bay and tell Jordan I won’t be joining the family for dinner.”
    â€œReally. Why? He’s going to be upset.”
    â€œAnd I should care … because?”
    The evil gleam in Beverly’s eyes told Kit that not only would Beverly go, she’d enjoy being the bearer of bad tidings.
    â€œHow will you get home?” asked Beverly.
    Archibald had dropped them off at a rental car company earlier in the afternoon. Both Kit and Beverly had cars of their own back at the house, but because they were staying in town, at least for a few hours, they’d needed a set of wheels to get them around, and then later, out