Free Now You See Her by Linda Howard

“Oh, I doubt this is anything permanent. Life’s too short and too full of men to chance making another mistake. But I admit I was hoping Richard was interested in you.”
    â€œWhat?” The word was faint with surprise.
    Candra laughed again. “Don’t sound so shocked. I don’t care if he has a lover, or ten lovers. I don’t hate him; I don’t wish him ill. I just want him to stop being so stubborn about the settlement so we can be finished with this and move on. If he were interested in someone, he might want to get the divorce finalized and out of the way so he would be free. I know Richard, I know how he is when he focuses on one woman.” For a moment Candra’s voice softened, warmed with memory, and then she gave a little chuckle. “I had some
very
good times.”
    Sweeney almost said Richard
had
asked her out. She wanted to ask exactly how good a time Richard showed a woman. For a moment the words lay on her tongue like ball bearings, ready to roll out. Caution made her swallow them. She had turned Richard down, so there was no point now in putting herself in the middle of this situation. Nor did she want to exchange girly talk on how good a lover Richard was, not that she knew or had any intention of knowing. She couldn’t bear any more of this weird conversation, so she subtly changed the subject.
    â€œI thought I would bring some new pieces to the gallery.” Then she grimaced; damn, why had she blurted that out? Why couldn’t she have come up with something else? She didn’t want anyone to see the mess her work had turned into.
    Candra laughed. “Enough of Richard, huh?” She shifted into business mode. “I’d love to see your new work. I’ve been so worried about you; you haven’t been producing the way you were before.”
    â€œOh, I’ve been producing,” Sweeney muttered.
    â€œI know, you think it’s crap. I admit, I’ve been consumed by curiosity, but I didn’t want to push you. When can you bring them by? I want to be certain I’m here.”
    She was committed, damn it. She glanced out the window to check the weather. “If it doesn’t start raining again, how about this afternoon?”
    â€œWonderful. I don’t have any appointments, so I’ll be here. See you then.”
    Sweeney hung up the phone, then hugged the blanket tighter around her. Damn it, damn it, damn it. This was it, then. She had to take some canvases in, let someone else see them. She cringed at the thought, but at least now she would know if what she was doing was awful, or salable. This uncertainty about her work was dreadful, paralyzing.
    She shivered violently and swore under her breath. Damn, why couldn’t she get warm?
    *   *   *
    Candra stretched to hang up the phone, then lay with her head pillowed on her arms. A large warm hand stroked her naked bottom. “No luck, huh?” Kai said. “I told you.” He bent to press kisses down her spine, more interested in his libido than her financial worries.
    Normally she loved having sex with Kai. He was young enough to still be obsessed with sex, but old enough to have acquired some skill. There was a certain freedom in being with him, because he was so innately self-centered she had no qualms about focusing totally on herself, which intensified herpleasure. Now, however, she felt annoyed that he couldn’t seem to grasp how important it was that Richard stop being such a hard-ass about the divorce settlement. She shrugged away from his kisses and buried her face in the pillow.
    He merely shifted closer, pushing the damp head of his erection against her leg. The hand on her bottom curved downward, fingers probing.
    â€œStop it,” she said irritably, shaking her ass to dislodge his hand. “I don’t feel like doing it again. You should be worried, too,” she added spitefully. “If Richard doesn’t