Page 40 of First Date: Divorce (Wyoming Marriage Association #1)

“You okay?” Tal Bennett asked K.D. as they left the office of divorce lawyer Gail Bledsoe for the second time.

From the first contact, Bledsoe had hurried this process along with the finesse of a freight train.

Tal was perfect to have along on these appointments.

With his law enforcement background, he knew what to say and what not to.

In his current role as a private investigator, he suited the unofficial nature of the investigation.

He already knew what was going on, and he wasn’t well known in Bardville.

To K.D. the drawback about her supportive “cousin” accompanying her to see the lawyer was that he was too observant.

“I’m fine.”

“She did a number on Eric’s character, morals, and manners.”

“We expected that.” She released her clenched hands.

“Uh-huh.” His drawl didn’t buy it for a second. “Still, not fun to hear about somebody you—” He looked at her over the top of his sunglasses. “—like.”

“Part of the drill.”

He gave a short nod, either accepting that it didn’t bother her or that she wasn’t going to talk about it.

“I take it the accusations were all drawn from counseling sessions?” he asked.

She frowned. “No. And I need to talk to Cully about that right away. There were a couple things she said … About Eric treating me like the little housewife — that wasn’t said in counseling. Neither was the part about him saying Gigi’s name in his sleep.”

“Oh?”

“Nope. I think I know who Ms. Bledsoe is getting her Marriage-Save targets from. If we can get with Cully, we can wrap this up.”

There was nothing she wanted to do more. End this investigation, and take the next step in her life.

*

K.D. and Tal met Cully well off a main road in the Big Horn Mountains, trimming chances they’d be spotted to nearly zero.

“I know who the mole is,” she said without preamble.

“From things Bledsoe said, things I only said to one person. It’s Ms. Smiley — Lily.

She works at the front desk and coordinates activities for guests.

She’s kept in the loop by the counselors because of that.

She knows financials and counseling status. ”

After they filled the sheriff in on details of today’s meeting, Cully made a few calls — figured he’d picked a spot with phone reception — to set the wheels in motion.

“You want to come back and make your statement at my office?” Cully Grainger asked her.

If she went to Bardville, would she see Eric? Could she resist?

“My vehicle’s down in the basin.” She gestured vaguely toward the west. “Where Tal and I met for the drive to Bledsoe’s office. I’ll write my statement and get it to you tonight.”

He nodded. “Okay. But I have another question for you. Do you like this area enough to stick around permanent?”

“Here?” She looked out at the Alpine vegetation and knobby tops of the Big Horn Mountains around them.

Why was he asking if she liked this area?

True, Tal Bennett offered her a job with his PI agency, which Cully knew about.

And she’d said she’d think about it, but Tal was based on the western side of the Big Horns and the job would involve a lot of spur-of-the-moment travel.

Besides, she liked law enforcement. Especially after this taste of investigating.

“Well, not here. Shakespeare County.”

“Shakespeare County.” She sounded like an idiot repeating whatever Cully said, but she needed the delay to process. “But…”

Shakespeare County. Where Eric lived.

Not a commuting relationship. Not long distance.

Long distance? That’s hard enough, but—

Stranger things have worked.

At last, she followed up her long-dangling “but…” with “We’d have to see what happens.”

“What could happen is you join the Shakespeare County Sheriff’s Department. I’ve got the funds to add a deputy. Had in mind starting a couple deputies into training to share my investigative load. One could be you.”

If she showed up working for Shakespeare County would Eric think…?

Would he be right?

Then her brain caught up with another word Cully used, one that previously would have been the first she heard. That repeating habit hit again. “Investigating?”

As if he hadn’t heard her — except crinkles at the corners of his eyes said he had — Cully continued, “Wouldn’t be full-time investigating. We’re not exactly a crime capital, thank heavens. There’d be patrol and traffic and community work and all the regular duties. If you’re interested.”

“I’m interested.”

*

Pauline stood in the doorway of his office again.

Eric intended to continue ignoring her.

It was Saturday and she couldn’t have anything work-related to tell him.

He’d been busy fielding phone calls since yesterday when the success of the investigation became known. Not all the details were public knowledge, but Cully’s news conference made it clear Eric and K.D. played the role of a couple helping expose the scheme.

Cully insisted they go to lunch in town yesterday, along with Jessa and Grif. They’d barely had a chance to eat because of the curious locals stopping by.

He’d been glad to get home afterward. But it turned out home wasn’t much of a sanctuary.

Pauline announced she was taking a half-day off and the phone never quit ringing with more people wanting all the details.

He’d set it to voice mail by three-thirty — it was Friday afternoon and he was entitled to call it quits early.

No reason he should answer on a weekend, either.

If there happened to be a call in there from K.D. … well, she could wait, too.

Now his assistant stood in his doorway and emitted a classic Pauline snort, informing him that ignoring her wouldn’t work.

He looked up from his screen. “What?”

“Back when you said there’d be rejoicing in Bardville about you and K.D. breaking up — you meant for the sake of this investigation, but the reality of your relationship is another—”

“The only reality was a cover story.”

“So you say. The women around here who’re interested in you know better, because they can see how you’re reacting and there’s not one who’s stupid enough to get near that long face of yours.

Nobody wants to be a rebound, especially when your rebound from K.D.

would bounce maybe an inch if it got off the ground at all. ”

“You’re full of—”

She interrupted him without compunction. “It’s time to get ready for the party at Far Hills Ranch.”

“What party—?” He remembered then. Engagement party for Bexley and Kiernan. “I’m not going.”

“You are going. Because you want to wish them well—”

“I’ll call them.”

“—and because if you don’t go, the gossip about you and K.D. will pick up speed like a runaway truck coming down the Rocky Mountains.”