Chapter 1 : Part 4

Your Bed or Mine?
by Candy Halliday

(Page 4 of 6)

She'd often wondered what she'd been thinking going from a whirlwind romance straight into a marriage. Other than the fact that Rick excited her like no man ever had, or ever would again. Unfortunately, if any two people had ever been total opposites, it was definitely the two of them.

Opposites attract, sure. But that didn't mean they could live together. She and Rick had sure proved that point, in more ways than one.

Rick liked the house kept military-standard neat and tidy. Her idea of daily cleaning was a sweeping glance around the room.

Health-food-nut Rick prayed to the tofu gods who kept him in tip-top physical shape. She was on a first name basis with Ronald McDonald.

Early-to-bed-early-to-rise Rick ran five miles before breakfast every morning. Burning the midnight writing oil meant she rarely got up for breakfast - and her idea of exercise was jogging over to the fridge for another Dove ice-cream bar.

Living together had been a total disaster.

The fact that they were both type A personalities with limited skills when it came to the art of compromise, didn't help matters, either. Zada was surprised their marriage had lasted even a year. In fact, it was a miracle they hadn't killed each other that first week after the honeymoon.

She reached for the water pitcher sitting on the table in front of her, poured a glass of water, and took a cool, calming drink. Only then did she chance her first real look directly at Rick.

Dammit!

He was staring right at her.

She still loved him, truly she did. But there was more to marriage than just great sex.

Damn you, Rick Clark!

Why did you have to walk out on me like that?

"All rise," the bailiff announced.

Angie grabbed Zada's arm, pulling her to her feet.

Zada didn't dare look at Rick again.

But when a sinking feeling hit the pit of her stomach like a wrecking ball, Zada decided slumping wasn't going to be any problem for her at all.

Rick was only half listening as his attorney, Bob Thompson, argued back and forth with Zada's attorney over the property settlement. Bob had already assured him there was no way the judge would rule in Zada's favor. Especially with Rick's generous offer to purchase a condo or any other residence of Zada's choice - gratis, of course.

Against Bob's advice, he'd insisted on making the offer to purchase Zada another residence himself. He still loved her. Hell, he'd always love her. They just couldn't live together. The least he could do was make sure Zada was settled and happy on her own.

What he wouldn't do - and the reason he'd held firm on his desire to keep the house - was uproot Simon again. He owed the dog his life. Simon had learned to maneuver freely with the aid of the high frequency sensors he'd had installed in the house he'd bought shortly after he and Zada were married. Simon could maneuver so well in his new environment, in fact, no one would even suspect the dog was blind.

The state-of-the-art equipment had cost a fortune and was well worth every penny as far as Rick was concerned. But going through that expense again, only because Zada was trying to punish him by keeping the house, was ridiculous.

Almost as ridiculous as her expecting to keep Simon.

Which wasn't going to happen.

Not without a fight.

Simon was his dog.

He'd never prevent Zada from seeing Simon.

But dammit, Simon was his dog!

His dog, dammit!

Rick glanced back at the judge again.

Judge Parkins was the epitome of what a judge should look like. Somewhere in his mid-to-late seventies. Gray hair, slightly thinning on top. Regal-looking in his black robe. A wise expression on his slightly wrinkled face.

When Parkins ruled in his favor this afternoon, he'd be able to take immediate possession of Simon and the house in Woodberry Park - all thanks to the stipulation Bob had been smart enough to include in the property settlement. Zada had been given full notice she would be expected to vacate the premises immediately should he be awarded the house. That meant by the end of the weekend, he'd be completely settled and moved back into his own home.

And not a moment too soon, Rick thought.

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.