The Pre-Nup (25 page)

Authors: Beth Kendrick

BOOK: The Pre-Nup

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“Ah.” Ellie tried to sleuth out the connection as politely as possible. “And you know Mara from…?”

The voice laughed, deep and dark and sexy, and Ellie felt an unexpected tingle just south of her panty line. “From the emergency room. I’m the guy with the golf clubs and bad aim.”

“Oh,
that
guy.” Ellie blushed at how breathy she sounded.

“Yeah, that guy.” He laughed again.

She did her best to ignore the tingling and steered the conversation toward the least provocative topic she could think of. “Mara’s not pursuing legal action, is she?”

“No, I actually tracked her down. To find out if you were single.”

“I guess I am.” The breathiness was back. “Well, almost. I’m separated, if you want to get technical about it.”

“Does that mean I technically can take you to dinner?”

“I—my divorce isn’t final,” she stammered. “It won’t be for months.”

“Okay, then, how about just coffee and dessert?”

“I have a daughter.” Ellie knew she sounded curt and defensive, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself. “She’s three.”

“Mara told me.” He sounded totally unfazed.

“And I’m starting a business, and I may be enrolling in an accounting class, too.” Ellie could see Alex shooting her questioning glances, so she turned her face to the wall.

“You sound like a busy woman,” Ben said.

She lifted her chin. “I am.”

“Then you’ll need to eat to keep up your strength. We’ll keep it casual.”

All the lousy golfers in the world, and Mara had to get beaned in the head by this one. Ellie took a moment to decide how to answer. He sounded so funny and charming and engaging.

Just like Michael had been in the beginning.

She released the breath she’d been holding. “I appreciate the offer. Truly.”

“But you’re turning me down,” he finished for her.

“It’s not you; it’s me. Honestly. I’m booked solid for the next six months.”

“Fair enough.” His tone remained upbeat. “Talk to you in six months.” And with that, he clicked off the line and out of her life.

“Who was that?” Alex charged up behind her.

Ellie brushed an imaginary strand of hair off her coat sleeve. “No one you know.”

“Bullshit.” Alex laughed her loud, throaty laugh, and heads turned all the way down the block. “You should have seen your face.”

“Leave me alone and let’s get back to business. We have our first client! And she’s going to refer us to lots more.”

“Don’t try to distract me. Who was on the phone?”

“Would you please focus? We have a higher mission here: to track down and bust wayward husbands.”

“Yeah, but there’s no reason why we can’t have a little fun along the way.” Alex shook out her wild red hair and challenged, “You
do
remember how to have fun, don’t you?”

“Vaguely.”

“So call the guy back. Right now.”

“But Michael just moved out! What will the neighbors say?”

“Who cares? Do you want to go out with him?

“Yes. Maybe. I don’t know anything about him!”

“Let me tell you about this newfangled thing they’ve invented to get to know more about people. It’s called dating. Dial the phone!”

So she did. She bit her thumbnail and punched the callback button before she lost her nerve, and Ben picked up right away.

“Has it been six months already?”

“You know, I took another look at my schedule, and I may just be able to squeeze you in.” Ellie couldn’t stop smiling. “Things have suddenly started to open up.”

About the Author

BETH KENDRICK
is the author of four previous novels, including
Nearlyweds
and
Fashionably Late.
She also writes teen fiction as Beth Killian. She lives near Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband, son, and an assortment of badly behaved dogs. Visit her website at
www.bethkendrick.com
.

THE PRE-NUP

A Bantam Discovery Book / December 2008

Published by Bantam Dell

A Division of Random House, Inc.

New York, New York

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Bantam Books and the rooster colophon are registered trademarks and Bantam Discovery is a trademark of Random House, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Kendrick, Beth.

The pre-nup / Beth Kendrick.