me to mind my own business if you must, but why aren’t you telling Nick and Angela you’re having Kinsley watched?”
His lips flattened, retreating into his mouth as he bit down. When he expelled the breath he held in, he responded. “There’s no need for them to know. I don’t want anyone involved right now. I promised Kinsley she’d have space, and I’m already violating that. I’m going to try to prompt Nick into going after her himself. I won’t tell him where she is, he’d wonder how I knew, I’ll just point him in the right direction. If he won’t, it has to be this way.”
“Your call.”
His gaze moved upward, and he saw his wife coming onto the patio. Angela had the same demeanor she did when they met thirty-four years ago. She acted as if she was born privileged. In those days, she was his princess. Now, her manner was simply unattractive.
“You’re not doing business already this morning, are you? You’d think you do enough work with the amount of time you spend at the office.” She stood waiting.
“I have to go.” He cut off his call and gave her a displeased glance before spooning the last of his oatmeal into his mouth.
“Well, are you going to force me to pull a good morning out of you?” Her voice could take on the most grating quality when she was unhappy.
Tight lipped, he offered her a half-hearted smile. “No, dear.”
She shut up, but continued to stand beside the table, rearranging her flawlessly styled, pixy length, black hair. When he persisted to ignore her, she tilted her chin downward and looked from beneath her lashes, scolding him.
Paying no attention to her attitude, he pushed his empty bowl to the side, settled himself behind his Wall Street Journal, and offered his usual, “Good morning, darling.”
Satisfied, she smoothed her impeccably pressed, designer skirt, so it hugged her well-rounded bottom, and sat down across from him. She began thumbing through her daily planner. “Have you spoken to Nick lately?”
He snapped his newspaper to attention and continued reading. “The last I knew he was in Atlantic City. Probably boozing and whoring. He’s been acting like a fool since Kinsley left. I understand his initial reaction, but it’s been three months.”
She gave him a dismissive wave. “How can you talk like that about your own son? Don’t you love him? He’ll get over her.”
“I love him. That doesn’t mean he isn’t a disappointment at times. He wouldn’t have to get over her if he’d wake up and think of anyone but himself for a change. She might’ve never left if he did.”
She hunched over the table and spoke in a whisper through clenched teeth. “Things have been hard on him this year.”
He darted his head from behind the paper. “He’s had things too damn easy lately if you ask me.”
“I didn’t ask you.” She sighed heavily and went back to her planner. “We’re having dinner tonight with the Ericsons at the club, and we’re attending a benefit at the hospital tomorrow evening.”
He stood to leave, but paused and turned to her, annoyed. “Wonderful. I know how important maintaining our social obligations is to you. I’ll be at the office until seven.” He folded his paper, tossed it in front of her, and left.
~ ~ ~
Kinsley stripped off her gown and headed into the shower. After a superfast one, she hurried from the bathroom, grabbed her purse, and dumped what little make-up it contained onto the dresser. Good. Her perfume was here. She pulled on a sky blue tank top and tugged on her favorite worn-out jeans, jumping up and down as she wiggled into the perfect fit. After towel-drying her hair, the natural waves fell into place, ending inches below her breast. The sunlight streaming through the small opening in the drapes highlighted the dark chestnut color, revealing an array of rich, red undertones. She spread her lips taut, covering her teeth, to create a smooth canvas to apply the rose blush lipstick and then followed with a light overlay of mascara to the lashes of her cobalt blue eyes. Once she finished preening, she slipped her feet into the comfortable leather flip-flops she tossed into her bag when she left the house. Out of habit, she peeked into the mirror and pouted her full lips. Not bad at all.
The heavy wooden door to her room pulled open easier than expected, slamming against the wall. She stepped out smiling at random strangers and pretending the