5 Highball Exit Read Online Free

everyone was expecting Clay to go back to the minute he came to his senses and dumped me.
    Laura’s clique never set foot in the Sunset so just coming through the door meant Nora Simpson was there for a purpose—and it wasn’t to make my day better.
    “How lovely to see you, Sherri.”
    “Likewise.” My mouth stretched in an imitation of a smile every bit as sincere as hers.
    She jutted a hip and looked me up and down. “I must say you’re taking it well.”
    Having no idea what she was talking about, I gave a slight lift of my shoulder and said, “No problem.”
    “Really?” It was a long-drawn-out mocking sound. “I thought Laura being in Cedar Key with Clay would be a big problem for you.”
    I picked up three menus. “A table for three, is it?”
    Nora glanced into the restaurant. “And that’s not a problem either, I see.” She gave me another faux smile. “I’m so happy you’ve managed to stay in business. I’m sure this is a terrible time for you, but then breakups aren’t good at anytime, are they?”
    I bit back, “You should know, bitch.” No way was I going to drive away customers. She could dump on me all she wanted as long as she paid the bill, so I refrained from telling her that her own husband was having an affair with one of the ladies she was lunching with.
    I tried another smile and said, “This way.” I led them to a spot by the windows and set the menus down on a table with a pillar blocking the view. “Enjoy your lunch, ladies.”
    I walked away with my head high, telling myself if Laura was in Cedar Key there was a perfectly reasonable explanation. Trouble was, I couldn’t think of it.
    My experience with men wasn’t encouraging. Jimmy Travis, my no-good dead husband, hadn’t kept his marriage vows long enough for the wedding bouquet to wilt. For Jimmy, cheating was just a game and one he played with great delight. But Clay wasn’t like that. At least that’s what I told myself over and over. Repetition didn’t seem to make it truer.
    Nora wasn’t done wielding the knife. I had just hung up from taking a cancellation when she came out to the foyer on her way to the ladies room. She stopped in front of me and said, “Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll land on your feet, or in your case, your back.”
    “Thank you for your confidence in me.” I turned away from her to greet two people getting off the elevator.
    After I seated the new arrivals, I went into my office to make a call, intending to ask some pointed questions, like why is Laura Kemp in Cedar Key and is she the reason you can’t make it home?
    Clay and I are equal partners in the Sunset. If he wanted out of our relationship and our partnership—well, there was no use considering that situation. I sucked in some deep breaths, telling myself, “Don’t start screaming before you know there’s a fire.”
    When Clay finally picked up I gave him the good news, telling him Aunt Kay was making our late mortgage payments. “This will keep us alive until Thanksgiving.”
    “But I don’t understand what she wants from you.”
    “She just wants me to drive her around a bit.”
    “It isn’t dangerous, is it?”
    “Naw. I’m going to drive her around and wait while she talks to people. I can carry on almost as if I was at the Sunset. Talking of dangerous, what is Laura Kemp doing in Cedar Key?”
    The silence was so loud it was deafening. Clay said, “Don’t go jumping to the wrong conclusions.”
    “I haven’t jumped anything. I hope you can say the same.” There was a choking sound but before he could yell I kept going. “And I haven’t concluded anything except that the fact Laura Kemp is in Cedar Key hasn’t gone unnoticed. People are starting to talk about us in the past tense.”
    His voice rose in protest, or maybe outrage. “She’s decorating the model suite for me.”
    “Just make sure that’s all she does for you.”
    “Are you jealous?”
    “Why didn’t you tell me she was going up