Old Flames Never Die (Valentine Mystery) Read Free

Except
for the fallout with Bobby Wilson, I don't know much about what Charles' life
was like.”
    Tess frowned, but before she could say
anything, she felt another squeeze on her knee.
    “You should probably call a lawyer,”
Jack suggested.
    “But I've got an alibi—”
    “I know. But the police can be tricky.
If it weren't for Tess, I might be in jail today.”
    “You're a lawyer, Tess. Can I hire you?”
    Tess nearly choked on the wine she was
sipping. She wiped her mouth with her napkin to give her a moment to gather her
thoughts. “Liv, I'd love to, but my practice is closed right now and I haven't
been working. I think you should call someone who specializes in defense law. I
can give you some names if you like.” Tess could feel Jack's confused eyes on
her.
    “Do you really think I need to do that? Won't
that make the police more suspicious?”
    “I think it's always best to have a
lawyer with you when you talk to the police,” Tess said.
    “I guess I'll need those names then.”
     
    ~~~~
     
    “So what did you think?” Jack asked once
he and Tess were in the car heading home.
    “She's nice.”
    “Nice? That's it?”
    “What do you want me to say?” Tess
asked.
    “What did you really think of her?”
    “I thought she was beautiful, smart,
charming, and I can't imagine why it didn't work out between you two.” Well,
she could think of one reason, but she wasn't going to share that.
    “I was afraid this might happen.”
    “What might happen?” Tess asked, not
liking what she thought Jack was about to insinuate.
    “That you might not be able to meet her
without thinking about my past relationship with her. Is that why you refused
to help her?”
    “No. You know I haven't been working.”
    “But you've been talking about it. This
would be the perfect opportunity to get back to work. Instead you acted like
she wasn't worth it, which is what I was afraid would happen if you came.”
    “Then why'd you invite me?”
    “I wanted you to see that you had
nothing to worry about.”
    “Who's worried?” Tess defended herself.
Sure, she was a little unsettled about the idea of meeting one of Jack's old
flames, but not because she thought he’d take up with her again. It was just a
woman's insecurity.
    He glanced at her and then the road. “I
thought you'd realize by now that I'm committed to you and our relationship.”
    “I do realize it. You think that by not
representing her I'm questioning your love for me?”
    “I know you. You're waiting for
something to happen to prove that you shouldn't have let yourself fall in love
with me.”
    Waiting wasn't quite right, Tess
thought. Wondering was more like it. “My reason for not working with Liv has nothing
to do with my worrying I might lose you to her. Sure, I compared myself to her.
That's what the new woman and old flame do. I'm sure she did it too. You and
Daniel do it all the time,” she said, referring to the annoying pissing matches
Jack and her friend Daniel got into.
    “I'm not jealous of Daniel,” Jack said.
    “And I'm not jealous of Liv. I'm going
home with you and she's going home alone. I have no reason to be jealous.”
    Jack pulled into the driveway and parked
in front of the house. He sat with his hands on the wheel looking out through
the windshield.
    “What's going on?” Tess asked. “You're
acting strange.”
    He turned to her, his face etched with
worry. “We need to talk.”
    Tess' heart dropped to her feet. She
knew as well as anyone that the words 'We need to talk' were never followed by
anything good. “It sounds like maybe I should have been jealous after all.”
    “No. No,” he said again as he reached
out to her. “I love you. But I need to tell you something and I don't think
you're going to like it.”
    “So don't tell me.”
    “I have to. If this thing between us is
going to work, we need to be honest.”
    Tess swallowed. Whatever happened to
ignorance is bliss?
    “Let's go inside,” he said.
    Tess could