Heartbeats by Kellie Coates Gilbert

Author:Kellie Coates Gilbert [Gilbert, Kellie Coates]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780960067749
Publisher: Amnos Media Group

18

When driving north on Interstate 84, there’s a point where you go around a bend and in the distance, the dry vistas dotted with sagebrush turn to a vast landscape of trees nestled up against rolling foothills, the capitol building dome visible in the center—a scene that used to send a little thrill running through Joie. But today, as the city of Boise came into view, a wave of nausea rolled across her gut that couldn’t simply be attributed to her pregnancy. Dread had every nerve ending tightly tuned to what lay ahead.

Clint looked across the seat. “You okay?”

She took a deep breath, swiped her palms across the top of her pants as she stared out the window, “I will be—when this is over.”

She couldn’t help but wonder if she’d made a severe miscalculation on the benefit of simply showing up without forewarning. Perhaps she should have texted Andrew, given him some sort of heads up.

Of course, any unexpected communication would have met with more questions. She’d have tried to be evasive. He would have continued to hound her, trying to learn the truth of her visit, which was comical given Andrew had already proven he was the one who had a loose hold on the truth.

He hated the words lies and truth. In the courtroom, there was only the story. Winning was more than facts and law, it was all about persuasion. A great litigator knew the practice of law was never simply black and white.

Neither could her current situation be painted so starkly.

One thing Joie was sure of—she did not want her looming pregnancy to be viewed as an invitation back into her life. No guilt trip, no amount of persuasion would change her mind.

Clint beat his thumb against the steering wheel. “You know, you’re not the first person who tried to get rid of a hole in her soul, and filled it with the wrong thing.”

Joie rolled her eyes. “Please, I don’t need any advice.”

“I’m not offering any,” he told her. “But you might lighten up, give yourself a break.”

“Meaning?”

“The fact this Andrew guy turned out not worthy of your trust is more a reflection of him, not you.”

Joie rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I know. I’m a good person. I mean, it’s been ages since I stole a Christmas goose from a crippled child.”

That made Clint laugh.

She smiled too. “Glad to entertain you.”

Andrew lived in a gorgeous historic home located on Warm Springs Avenue, an area synonymous with local wealth and elegant architecture. Joie had only been inside his home one time at a Christmas party he and his wife had hosted for the firm’s attorneys.

By then, they’d been seeing each other for several months. She was crushed to learn he was married, of course, and filled with guilt—emotions she’d tried to push to the recesses of her mind by telling herself all the lies people need to justify their affairs. The problem was, she just couldn’t do it. Deep inside, she knew what they were doing was wrong, and she ended it.

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