A Bridge to Love Read Online Free Page B

Kate
felt anger rip through her. Because of her husband's betrayal, she was even
questioning Oliver's integrity.
    “I
have plenty of money, Kate. You can have as much as you want.”
    Kate's
tears spilled over again. First Oliver and now Georgia offered her their help.
She had no right to feel so miserably alone when she had such good friends. She
reached for Georgia's hand and gave it a quick squeeze. “You don't know how
much I appreciate your offer.”
    “But
you're not going to take me up on it.”
    Kate
shook her head. “I have to come up with a long-term solution.”
    “You're
so damned independent.”
    “And
you're such a clinging vine,” Kate laughed. She raised her glass in a mock
salute. “Here's to independent women!”
    “And
to hell with lying, cheating men!” Georgia said, raising her glass in return.

    She
woke up angry the next morning. It was better than the awful despair of the
night before. However, she found herself snapping at Clay and Patrick over
nothing. When Gretchen upset her water bowl, Kate swatted her instead of just
cleaning it up as she normally would have done. All three recipients of her
wrath looked stunned. Kate realized Georgia was right: she had to do something
to vent this rolling boil of anger before it scalded everyone around her. But
how exactly was she supposed to hit back at David when he was no longer there?
    As
she was putting the wine bottle in the recycling bin after the boys left for
school, the image of Randall Johnson's large hand wrapped around a bottle of
beer flashed across her mind. Was that what David had felt when he saw Sylvia,
that shock of attraction? But she had said no to Randall Johnson. David had said yes .
    So
why the hell had she rejected Randall Johnson's invitation? That was easy; she
still thought of herself as David's wife. Even though he obviously hadn't felt
hindered by the fact that he was her husband. Well, the next man who asked her
out was going to get an enthusiastic acceptance.
    “And
when exactly do I expect to get asked on a date again?” Kate said to Gretchen,
who lifted her head and looked quizzical. “Randall Johnson was my one and only
chance.”
    Looking
at Gretchen's sympathetic face, Kate had a moment of clarity, her first since
discovering the letter. She knew exactly how she would hit back. Since David
had slept with another woman, she was going to sleep with another man. It
wouldn't be quite “an eye for an eye,” since she was no longer married, but the
symmetry pleased her engineer's mind. She figured she could only do it once;
she couldn't imagine facing a man she had gone to bed with on a first date with
any self-respect the morning after.
    Randall
Johnson would be the perfect candidate; he was a stranger and a womanizer. And
he was very, very attractive.

    She
picked up and put down the telephone half a dozen times. Finally, she called
information for the number of RJ Enterprises in New York City.
    “The
worst that can happen is that he'll say no. And he'll think that I'm incredibly
pushy. Not to mention indecisive,” she said aloud to Gretchen, as she held the
receiver in her hand for the umpteenth time. “But since I'll never see him
again, what difference does it make?” The last thought gave her the courage she
needed to dial the number. She asked for Randall Johnson and was amazed to be
put through to his assistant immediately.
    “Hello,
my name is Kate Chilton. I wondered if I might speak with Mr. Johnson,” Kate
mustered after a moment's hesitation.
    “He's
in a meeting right now. May I take a message?”
    Did
she want to leave a message? If she didn't, she would never have the nerve to
call again. “Um, yes, please. Would you tell him that I called and this is my
number.” Kate rattled off her telephone number.
    “And
what company are you with?”
    “I'm
not. I mean, it's a personal call.”
    “Thank
you, Ms. Chilton. I'll give him the message as soon as he's out of the
meeting.”
    “It's
not