Free The Cost of Commitment - KJ2 by Lynn Ames Page A

Jay’s gentle tone touched Kate’s heart, as it never failed to do. “Trish already knows, and she’s stood by me. He can’t hurt me, and I’d be damn proud to be identified as your lover. Heck, imagine the envy out there. I’d acquire a reputation as a stud overnight!”

    Lynn Ames

    “I don’t want to give him the satisfaction.”
    “Kate, you know I’m right.”
    “You’re correct that giving him something personal, rather than professional, might be the right thing to do. But not that. Tell you what,”
    Kate sighed, “let’s make the story about my parents’ deaths.”
    “How does that satisfy Breathwaite?”
    “The drunk who killed them never served time. We could slant the story to sound like my bitterness at the criminal justice system affects my performance in the job.”
    “That’s professional.”
    “Not really. The focus would be on this orphaned eighteen-year-old with an axe to grind who schemed for years to get back at the system that abandoned her. Like all the other stories that have been written to date, it has elements of truth, but this time she gets extra points for bringing in a personal angle.”
    Peter considered. “I like it. It’s different than what’s being written now, which might satisfy Breathwaite temporarily, yet so far-fetched that it won’t even raise the commissioner’s eyebrow.”
    Kate added, “And we get the added bonus of controlling the story.”
    “Right.”
    “Kate, I know that was a painful time for you. Are you going to be all right with this?”
    Kate tried to ignore the ache that always accompanied thoughts of her parents’ deaths. This was an area that she held most private; even Jay didn’t know the depth of her feelings or thoughts on the subject. As she had for years, she shut down the emotions that threatened to swallow her.
    “Thanks, baby. It was a long time ago, and while I miss my parents every day, I don’t waste a second of my time on the scumbag who ran them into that tree.”
    “Do you think Wendy will go along with it?”
    “I think there’s a good chance she might if I can convince her that the story will be enough to get Breathwaite off her back and out of her bedroom.”
    “What was she planning to do with the tape?”
    Kate laughed. “I think it has something to do with proctology.”
    “Delicately put, love.”
    “Yeah.”
    “When will you talk to her next?”
    “We’re meeting at the Falcon tomorrow night.”
    “I do love your sense of humor. Don’t be letting any strays follow you home.”
    “No worries, my love, you’re the only one with a key.”

    The Cost of Commitment

    “On that disgustingly mushy note,” Peter intoned, “I’m kicking you both out so I can get some shuteye. Good night, Jay.”
    “Good night, Peter.”
    “Good night, John Boy.”
    “Good night, Mary Ellen.”
    “Ugh, you didn’t actually watch that drivel, did you?”
    “No, the credits were my favorite part.”
    “Get out of here. See you soon, Jay.”

    The Falcon was crowded for the middle of the week. Bodies pulsed to the music; the clink-clink of glasses and beer bottles mixed with laughter and loud conversation. On the level slightly above the dance floor, a serious game of pool was in progress.
    “Whoa, would you get a load of that one.”
    More than one set of eyes followed the sleek form of the woman in tight blue jeans and a button-down shirt as she surveyed the room.
    “Put your tongue back in your mouth, Tess, I saw her first. She’s mine.”
    “You can both forget it; you’re not her type. She’s far too sophisticated for the likes of you.”
    “Oh, and you think you’re more her style, Robbie?”
    Stepping down from the entranceway, Kate ignored the leering and the chatter and nodded to the bartender, who was serving someone at the other end of the Formica-topped bar.
    “What can I get you, gorgeous?”
    “Just a Diet Coke with lemon, thanks.”
    “Oh, big drinker, eh?”
    “Yeah,” Kate laughed.