In the Dark Read Free Page B

establishment.
    A great place to run after a bad marriage, with everything she needed: a good job doing what she loved, water, boats, sand, sun, privacy.
    Too much privacy.
    And now…David was here. Damn him. She wasn’t going to change a thing. She was going to do exactly what she had planned. Shower, dress nicely, blow-dry her hair, wear makeup…sip piña coladas and dance at the Tiki Hut. Flirt like hell with John Seymore. And ignore the fact that every single woman in the place would be eyeing David.
    Over. It was over. They had gone their separate ways….
    “Well?” Laurie said.
    “I’m sorry. What?”
    “Do you want to hear about Date Tournament? Or doyou just want to sit here, me quietly at your side, while you damn yourself for divorcing such a hunk?”
    “Never,” Alex protested.
    “Never as in, you never want to hear about Date Tournament, or never as in…what, exactly? You are divorced, right?”
    “Of course. I meant, I’ll never regret what I did. It was necessary.”
    “Why?”
    Alex was silent. Why? We were going different ways? We didn’t know one another to begin with? It was as simple as…Alicia Farr? No, that was ridiculous. It was complex, as most such matters were. It was his needing adventure at all costs, her needing to be a real trainer. It was…
    “Oh my God!” Laurie gasped suddenly, staring at her. “Was he…he was abusive?”
    “No! Don’t be ridiculous.”
    “Then…?”
    “We just went different ways.”
    “Hmph.” Laurie toed a little crab back toward the water. “Whatever way he was going, I’d have followed him. But then, I’ve had the experience of Date Tournament, which you haven’t—and which I thought you wanted to hear about.”
    “I’m sorry. I’m being a horrible friend. I’m in shock, I think. Having this lovely time with John Seymore, and then…up pops David.”
    “So what?”
    “It’s uncomfortable.”
    “But you and David are divorced, so what are you worried about? Enjoy John Seymore. He’s a hunk, too. Not like anyone I met at Date Tournament.”
    “There must have been some nice guys.”
    “If there were, I didn’t happen to meet them. Now let’s get back to your love triangle.”
    Alex grinned. “There is no love triangle. Let’s get back to you. You’re gorgeous, bright, sweet and intelligent. The right guy is going to come along.”
    “Doesn’t seem to be too much wrong with Mr. John Seymore. Did you know he’s an ex-navy SEAL? But there you go. Apparently, when my right guy comes along, he wants to date you.”
    Alex arched an eyebrow, surprised. “I hadn’t realized that…that…”
    “You hadn’t realized ‘that’ because there was no ‘that’ to realize. I hadn’t even talked to the guy until today. Then there’s your ex-husband.”
    “He’s certainly a free agent.”
    “He’s your ex. That’s a no-no.”
    “I repeat—he’s a free agent.”
    “One who sends you into a spiral,” Laurie noted.
    “I’m not in a spiral. It’s just that…I was married to him. That makes me…I don’t know what that makes me. Yes, I do. It makes me uncomfortable.”
    “You never fell out of love with him.”
    “Trust me—I did. It’s just that…”
    “All you’ve had for company since your divorce has been a bunch of sea animals?” Laurie suggested, amused.
    “Neither one of us has dated in…a very, very long time,” Alex agreed.
    Laurie sighed glumly, setting her hands on her knees and cupping her chin in them. “Think it might be due to the fact that we’ve chosen to live on a remote islandwhere the tourists are usually married, and the staff are usually in college?”
    Alex laughed. “Maybe, but you’d think…sun, boats, island—fishing. Oh, well.”
    “What do you mean, oh well? At least there’s excitement in your life. You’ve got the triangle thing going. Husband, lover.”
    “Ex-husband and new acquaintance,” Alex reminded her.
    “Ex-husband, new almost-lover. Vying for the same woman.