Free Dancer in the Shadows by Linda Wisdom

will give me more time to talk with her."
    Valerie opened her mouth to protest at the casual way he was taking control of her life, then closed it again as she saw his eyes slide down to Michael. She realized anything she wanted to say would have to be said away from Michael.
    "I have a lot of things to do today," she said stiffly as Sean unlocked the passenger's door of the car.
    "Such as?" he asked casually.
    "Washing Michael's school clothes, my things, cleaning the house, and doing some mending," Valerie said triumphantly.
    Sean eyed her skeptically as he slid behind the steering wheel. Michael chattered throughout the ride, climbing from side to side of the large back seat.
    "Don't put your feet on the upholstery, Michael. You'll get it all dirty," Val scolded, her tone sharper than usual.
    "It can be cleaned, Val," Sean said calmly. "He can't hurt anything."
    "He still has to learn to be careful with other people's possessions." She bristled at Sean's high-handed way of letting Michael do whatever he wanted.
    "Do you have horses at your house?" Michael's question brought Sean's edict back into her mind. "Can I ride one? Can I have a tricycle?"
    "Michael!" she reprimanded sharply. "You do not go around asking other people for things."
    Michael, unused to his mother's anger, sat back in his seat, his lower lip trembling.
    "I'm not 'other people,' Val. I happen to be his father." Sean's icy voice brought a flush to her cheeks. "Which happens to make a great difference."
    She was grateful when the car pulled into the apartment parking lot and hurriedly flung herself out of the car without a backward glance, leaving Sean to see Michael to the door.
    As soon as she had put Michael to bed, Val turned to Sean, her eyes blazing. "It's all your fault! I was doing just fine until you came around. I made a good life for myself and Michael. We don't need you."
    "That's what you think," Sean ground out, pulling her against his hard body. His hard mouth punished her soft one and Valerie's head whirled until she thought she would faint from lack of air. When he abruptly released her, she swayed toward him until his words hit her like a shower of cold water.
    "That's to remind you who's in charge now. I'll see you next Saturday at ten. And try to look a little more presentable." He spun on his heel, leaving the apartment.
    Her anger dissolved any other emotions she might have felt earlier. She picked up a gold velour pillow and threw it against the door. Her first thought was to pack her belongings, and Michael's, and run away. But she knew Sean would be after them like a shot, or rather, after Michael. It was painfully obvious that he cared only for his son and not at all for her.
    Val knew that she would have to tell Craig about Sean, but she would put it off as long as possible. Knowing him as well as she did, she doubted she would be able to make him understand, especially when she still couldn't understand Sean's motives for this reconciliation.
    By mid-morning Monday, Valerie was exhausted. Craig noticed her darkly circled eyes and pale face as she sat across from him, taking dictation. "You look awful. Are you coming down with something? Why don't you and I go out for a long drive this Saturday? Do you good to be away from the kid for a while. Where would you like to go?"
    She realized that she had to tell him now.
    "I-I can't go anywhere, Craig." Valerie swallowed hard, her eyes on her neatly written steno pad. "You see, my husband is in town."
    "Val, that's wonderful!" he said happily, rising from his desk and moving around to take her hands in his. "How did he find you?"
    "I don't know. I-I guess he's always lived here, but I didn't know it. He had been out of the country for a long time and just came back a few weeks ago," she said faintly. "I guess he's back here for good now."
    "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" he reproved. "We can get the separation papers in the works and you'll soon be a free woman."
    "I'm afraid we can't