Momentary Marriage(64)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“I’d like a turkey on rye, light mayo and mustard,” Kelsey told the guy behind the counter. His was a face she didn’t recognize, a new hire, she supposed. Since the Big Apple Deli was two doors down from her office building, she came here often enough to know the regulars.

Waiting for her sandwich, her mind drifted back to the day before, making delirious love to her husband on the balcony.

Being with him again had left her feeling satisfied and mindlessly peaceful. For about five minutes.

She’d initiated sex to prove something to herself, but the outcome wasn’t as clearly successful as she’d like. Her heart was proving to be very unruly.

Then she’d overheard his phone call about the union     and remembered that nothing was simple between them. Jared went after what he wanted. But did he do it without regard for others’ feelings? She couldn’t be sure, didn’t even know why it mattered so much to her.

The entire day had left her with mixed emotions. She wished things could have stayed as simple as she’d planned. Yes, he appeared to have a hidden agenda, but wasn’t that to be expected?

How many people didn’t have something or other they wanted out of a relationship? And how many were completely honest about it?

Maybe he hadn’t been trying to trick her into having his children for him. Perhaps he really had just thought she’d make a good mother. After all, she was on the pill. Even Jared couldn’t magically alter the power of pharmaceuticals, could he?

She was so confused.

Still, she knew nothing about his business. His way of handling the union     negotiations might be typical. But it bothered her to hear that hard note in his voice, bothered her to think he’d manipulate people heartlessly.

She didn’t want to think of him like that.

“Mrs. Barrett. Mrs. Barrett!”

Kelsey jumped, realizing the male voice to her right was speaking to her. She didn’t use her married name generally.

Turning, she saw Stewart Black, the union     negotiator.

“Hello,” he said with a warm smile. “What a lovely surprise, running into you.”

Startled to see him, of all people, Kelsey didn’t immediately take the hand he offered.

“Stewart Black,” he prompted, “I had dinner with you and your fiancé, husband now, a few weeks ago.”

“Of course.” She shook his hand.

“Turkey on rye, light mayo and mustard,” the counterman interrupted, shoving the sandwich at her.

Stewart waited while she paid for her lunch. When Kelsey turned toward the crowded sitting area, he fell into step beside her.

“I have a table over here,” Stewart said with a wave of his hand. “You’re welcome to join me. It’s really packed in here.”

Kelsey hesitated a fraction of a second. On the one hand, he was in an apparently heated negotiation with her husband about a matter that was none of her business. On the other hand, she could see nothing in his manner but casual friendliness. Refusing to sit with him seemed rude.

“This place is really popular,” Stewart said as they threaded their way through the dining area. “It wasn’t nearly so crowded when I ate here last.”

“The throngs have discovered it,” she agreed, conscious of a shiver of relief. He’d eaten here before and had just happened to drop in again. Nothing more sinister. Just a chance meeting.

They sat down, barely managing to fit their sandwiches, drinks and napkins on the tiny table.

“So you’re married now,” Stewart said easily as he crunched a pickle spear.

“Yes,” she mumbled, wiping away a smear of mustard at the corner of her mouth.

“I saw the announcement in the newspaper,” he went on, shaking his head. “A very courageous thing to do—marriage. My girlfriend has been suggesting we tie the knot for several months now.”

He looked so comically harried, so much a man hesitant to take the plunge that Kelsey laughed. “It’s a big decision.”

“Yes,” he agreed. “How many marriages last these days? I just think we should be sure.”

“Good thinking.” She took a swig of her diet drink.

“The trouble is,” he leaned forward, “what do you really know about this person? Sure you date, you see them quite a bit, but people can hide things.”

Kelsey looked at him, chewing a bite of her sandwich. His blond hair fell forward in a boyish manner, his blue eyes were crinkled at the corners with a good humored smile.

“I mean, what if I marry her and find out she’s totally different than I’d thought?” he said earnestly. “What if she doesn’t care about people? Maybe she’s mean to little kids.”