Marriage for Keeps by Cynthia Thomason

Author:Cynthia Thomason
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

JAMIE WALKED to the end of the block and turned off the Boulevard onto the shady street where his apartment was located. He took a deep breath, savoring the blended aromas of flowering shrubs, specialty restaurants and sea air. The shoreline of the Atlantic was less than a mile away.

“Balmy,” he said aloud, and looked down at Beasley, trotting at his heels, for the moment giving in to the constraints of his leash. “This is what the word means, boy. Warm breezes, clear skies, palm leaves whispering over our heads like the hum of cicadas. I know what you’re thinking, though. The stars don’t have quite the twinkle of a Pintail Point evening, but they do have a certain charm.”

Jamie was feeling pretty good. Vicki hadn’t exactly been glad to see them tonight. But she hadn’t thrown them out, either. “We still have a chance with her,” he informed the dog.

Maybe sensing they were approaching their temporary living quarters, Beasley lunged forward with surprising alacrity.

“Whoa, hold on, Beas,” Jamie said, quickening his own pace. He chuckled at the way the dog fought the constraints of collar and leash. “I don’t think you’ll ever get the hang of this ‘heel’ and ‘go’ thing.”

The pair turned into the parking area of the yellow, one-story stucco building of six one-bedroom apartments. They walked past Jamie’s pickup and were approaching the front door when Jamie’s phone rang. He reached into his pocket and looked at the phone, immediately recognizing the number on the display as Bobbi Lee’s. Jamie flexed his shoulders, an attempt to relax tightening muscles and pressed the connect button. “Hello.”

The voice that responded was angry and impatient. “It’s about time you answered,” Bobbi Lee said. “I’ve left four messages. What are you doing going to Florida, as if I didn’t know. And don’t even think about lying to me, Jamie Malone!”

“I don’t have any reason to lie to you, Bobbi Lee,” he said.

“Oh, no? Then why didn’t you let me know you were going? Or at least call me when you got there?”

“I did call you. I left a message a few hours ago with my local phone number here. You obviously got the message since you know I’m in Florida.”

“You should have phoned before you left. It would have been the decent thing to do.”

Jamie shook his head, looked down at Beasley with the hope of at least getting a sympathetic nod. The dog yawned, angled his large head toward the apartment—no sympathy there. “Bobbi Lee, I don’t have to report my whereabouts to you. We’re not married…or even seeing each other anymore.”

She responded with a squawk. “That was mean, Jamie.”

“Sorry, but it’s the truth.”

“You could have called the boys,” she said. “They depend on you.”

“No, they don’t. They get along just fine whenever I’m out of town. And besides, Bobbi Lee, it’s your job to tell them what they need to know. You’re their mother.”

Her voice changed, lowered, assumed a plaintive tone. “They love you, Jamie. You have responsibilities here.

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