An Act of Deceit: Book 2 of the Sarah Woods Mysteries by Jennifer L. Jennings Page A

rain; his skin slightly tanned. “Still no word about your car?”
         “No, I haven’t heard a thing. It looks like you had time to get some sun between meetings.” As we drove away from the airport I could feel Daniel’s eyes on me.
         “I had time to play golf one afternoon because a meeting got postponed. What’s going on with you? How’s Sammy working out as your new receptionist?”
         For the briefest moment, I wanted to tell him everything: about Carter, about Marty, about Tiffany, even about Armand. But I knew Daniel too well. If he knew what I was involved in, he’d certainly find a way to put an end to it.
         “He’s great.” I glanced quickly over and smiled. “I love having him there.”
         “I’m glad you decided to continue doing massage therapy. You’re too old to start something new. I’m glad you came to your senses.”
         My hands clenched the steering wheel. “What do you mean I’m too old? I’m forty-two. You think that’s old?”
         “You know what I mean,” he said.
         I braced myself for another one of his patronizing speeches.
         “It’s a tough economy out there. You’re lucky to have a thriving business. You think it would be wise to give that up in search of something better? Let me tell you something. There is nothing better. Besides, we can’t afford for you to go back to school. We can barely afford college for Brian when the time comes.”
         I didn’t say a word. He had a point, of course, but I didn’t want to hear it. I’d heard it all before, more frequently than I cared to recall.
         “So are we in agreement on this?” he asked. I could feel his eyes on my cheek.
         “Sure,” I said, maintaining my focus on the road ahead. It was fruitless to argue with Daniel. He was entitled to his opinion, of which he had many. I maintained my silence as the unfortunate reality of our lives crashed down upon me like a crumbling brick wall. What would happen to us when Brian went off to college? Would we somehow rekindle our relationship, or drift further into the void.
     

 
     
    Monday, March 12
     
     
     
    I rose early, grabbed a quick workout at the gym, and returned home to find Daniel sitting at the kitchen table. He barely looked up from his coffee and newspaper as I came in. I immediately sensed some tension.
         “So,” he said, clearing his throat, “you were up and out early this morning.”
         “Sorry, did I wake you?” I set my gym bag on the chair.
         “That’s not the point.” He folded the paper and tossed it aside.
         Was I supposed to know what he meant? “Okay, what is the point?”
         He shook his head, wearing an indignant smirk. “I’ve been gone almost two weeks. The first morning I’m back you scuttle off to the gym as if I wasn’t here.”
         “Did we have plans to do something this morning?”
         “No, I just figured we’d spend the morning in bed--”
         “You mean having sex?”
         He hesitated, obviously taken aback by my blunt nature. “Well, okay. Yeah, maybe--”
         “I’m not a mind reader,” I said, cutting him off a second time. “If you want something from me, please let me know verbally instead of telepathically, okay?”
         He stared at me, mouth agape. I couldn’t blame him for feeling insulted, but I’d had about enough of his games. Did he expect me to feel amorous toward him just by virtue of the fact that I was his wife?
         “I shouldn’t have to remind you that it’s been months since we did anything in our bed other than sleep.”
         “Actually, while you were away, I had a grand ole’ time all by myself in that bed.”
         Daniel’s face turned bright red. He stood up so abruptly the chair fell over backwards onto the floor. “Damn it, Sarah. What the hell’s come over you? How did you get to be such a