Ties That Bind by Kathryn Shay Page A

neck.
    “Remember our honeymoon here?”
    He’d grinned. “We had that shabby hotel room, six blocks from the beach. It was sweltering hot at night, and was smaller than a postage stamp.”
    “It had a bed. That’s all we cared about.”
    His lips had traveled from her ear to her neck and she luxuriated in the feel of his mouth on her.
    “Remember the plans we made out there on that very sand, the dreams we had?”
    “And we’ve gotten it all, sweetheart.”
    She’d pivoted in his arms. “It can’t get any better than this, Reese.”
    He started to unbutton her blouse. “Hmm. Let’s see what I can do about proving that statement false, Counselor.”
    Gently, she’d stayed his hands. “I’m serious. I love our life. I love you, so much. Promise me it’ll always be this good.”
    His face lost the sexy tease and sobered. His green eyes had glittered like polished jade. “I promise it’ll only get better. I love you, too, Kate. I’ll never do anything to hurt you…”
    Her eyes began to mist. Those had been the vows they’d made at their wedding. Sappy. Sentimental. Emotional as hell.
    “I’ll protect you from others who want to…I’ll give you everything I have and always put your needs above mine…I’ll stay with you no matter how tough life gets and rejoice in the good things…” By the time he’d finished reciting those precious words they had written ten years before, she’d been sobbing…
    Sitting on the bench, Kate sighed. She’d forgotten they’d renewed their vows again, in the privacy of their suite overlooking Siesta Key Beach, as the sun rose into the pink and white sky over the gulf, on their anniversary.
    Now, as she looked at another sunrise, this time over Westwood’s horizon, Kate knew the truth. A man who vowed all those things on that beautiful, sunny morning, wouldn’t have an affair with a client the next month.
    When the coffee shop opened, Kate stood, crossed the road and entered it. There were no customers inside yet; the pungent smell of strong coffee suffused the small space, and a waitress was behind the counter sipping from a steaming mug. Before Kate could close the door, someone came in behind her.
    A delivery boy for the Herald. Turning, she saw him place a stack of the morning papers on the counter.
    From where she stood, the headline leaped out at her.
    NEW JERSEY POLICE DECLARE DEATH OF ANNA BINGHAM A SUICIDE.
    o0o
    REESE OPENED THE door to his house and stepped out into the morning air, cool at seven a.m. He shivered in his pj’s bottoms, having not thought to put on a shirt because his mind was muddled from tossing and turning all night; finally he’d given up on sleep at five. He’d downed a pot of coffee by the time he heard the newspaper delivered.
    At the mailbox, he snagged the Herald out of its metal cylinder and turned to go back to the house, when his gaze caught on a cab coming down the street, unusual for this hour, on this quiet suburban street. He was further surprised to see the taxi stop in front of his house, and shocked to see his ex-wife climb out of the car—dressed a black-and-white running suit. His pulse began to thrum. He was still furious at her for doubting him. He’d met with his lawyer and they had a strategy all planned if she sold him out.
    Which he guessed she would. Maybe that’s what she’d come to tell him. Kaitlyn Renado never backed away from a fight and he knew she’d inform him of her decision face-to-face.
    She paid the cabbie and approached him. For a minute he was taken aback by her appeal—the sun rising behind her, the flush on her face from running, some of that glorious hair escaping from a tie of the ponytail. “Hi.”
    “Kate.” He said her name stiffly. He wasn’t about to be bulldozed by her beauty when she was going to bury him.
    Nodding to the paper, she asked, “Did you read that yet?”
    He shook his head and opened it; the headline jumped out at him. “Terrific.” He glanced up at her.