Chapter 1 : Part 3

Your Bed or Mine?
by Candy Halliday

(Page 3 of 6)

Zada's father had walked out on her mother when Zada had only been six, and her younger sister had just turned four. They'd been in their teens when her mother took her father back - something Zada had never fully forgiven her for doing.

Unfortunately, younger sister Sally served as proof that history does have a way of repeating itself. Sally had allowed her own husband to come and go at will, begging Zada to understand that she had two young sons to consider; another huge sore spot with Zada.

In Zada's mind, walking out was the ultimate taboo.

Rick had known that.

And he'd cursed himself every day since he walked out; for allowing his pride to get in the way when Zada gave him that damned you-walk-out-now-and-it's-over-between-us-for-good ultimatum.

Except Zada knew ultimatums were his pet peeve, which was the exact reason she'd hit him with an ultimatum.

Rick sighed inwardly.

Some days you were the dog.

Some days, the hydrant.

He'd expected her to be angry, sure. Only angry didn't cover Zada's reaction. Furious was more like it.

Zada had changed the locks on the house the same day and filed for separation papers two weeks later.

Any chance for a reconciliation had walked right out the door with him. Zada had told him so - in those exact words - during the one and only verbal conversation he'd had with her since the day he left.

After that conversation, she'd refused to speak to him at all. Their only direct communication over the last six months - except through their attorneys - had been via brief one-line e-mails. Him confirming every Wednesday he would stop by to see Simon. Zada confirming she would make arrangements to be gone for the hour he would be at the house.

They'd lived apart for the required six months now.

The legal separation period before a divorce.

Zada had no intention of backing down.

He had no intention of backing down.

They were two strong-willed, hard-headed people - each determined to bend the other to their own way of thinking.

And where had their stubbornness gotten them?

Straight to divorce court.

Now, Rick found himself sitting in a courtroom, ready to face a judge who would put an end to their marriage. Yet, all he could think about was how great Zada looked in that red dress, and what a damn fool he'd be if he let her go through with the divorce.

Rick was still looking at her, Zada could feel it.

It should have given her immense satisfaction knowing she'd definitely gotten his attention. But as good as she knew she looked in her new red dress, Rick looked ten times better.

I never should have glanced in his direction.

His cream-colored summer sports coat really showed off his tan. And his a-little-longer-than-fashionable Matthew McConaughey-style hair was still damp and sexy-looking from the shower he'd obviously taken before he left the dog training center to appear in court.

If she dared look directly at him, Zada knew his eyes would be a deep, brooding blue. Rick's eyes always turned darker when he was angry or under pressure.

Funny, but she'd never been attracted to blond men before she met Rick. Funny also that the second she did meet him, her tall, dark, and handsome preference switched to tall, blond, and handsome in about two seconds flat.

His ex-marine fine-honed body hadn't deterred her from switching to the blond side of gotta-have-him, either. If any man had a fine-honed body, it was Rick.

Supposedly thanks to his stupid health food.

Zada's lips pursed in a pouty frown.

Proper nutrition was an obsession with Rick.

Her idea of a balanced diet was a cookie in each hand.

She hoped Rick felt stupid when he died of nothing.

That's all health was anyway - the slowest possible rate at which a person died.

As for her, she wanted to slide through the Pearly Gates - a doughnut in one hand, a chocolate éclair in the other - yelling, "Show me the bakery!"

Copyright © 2006 by Candy Viers

About the Author

Candy Halliday is a renegade Baby Boomer who is also a part-time dental hygienist. She's been married to her Mr. Right for 17 years, has one daughter and two fabulous grandchildren.