“How did he know the rest of them weren’t?”
“He hired his PI friend, Larry something or other, to track down the truth on them.”
“Why didn’t he have me checked out?”
Annie smiled, rubbing Catie’s forearm in a motherly manner. “Why don’t you tell me?”
* * *
Later, Catie continued to fold her clothes and put them away in the guestroom where she had spent her first night as Mrs. Chad McCray. If he wanted her in his bed, he was going to have to love her first. She only intended to share a bed with a husband who loved her. She may not be able to resist his lovemaking, but she sure as hell didn’t have to kowtow to his demands. She’d be friends with Rafe Grayhawk, too, if she wanted, and any of the other hands.
Once she finished filling up the guestroom closet, she dragged her computer in from the car and decided to set it up in Chad’s office. She walked in his nicely decorated den and sat down at his desk.
An instant message came up on his computer. From Lindabelle.
You there?
Lindabelle. Rhine, L. Could it be?
She touched the keyboard.
Yeah.
I talked to your wife earlier.
Wife?
Yeah, wife. There’s some woman in your house answering your phone, claiming to be your wife.
I guess I got married.
Is that something Chad would have said? Catie wasn’t sure. She hardly knew her husband.
You did?
Yeah. What do you want anyway?
Congratulations. She seemed real sweet. Didn’t know where you were though. Seems weird, if you’re newlyweds.
I run a ranch. No one knows where I am all the time.
Good answer, Catie.
Have you told her about our arrangement?
Catie gasped. What arrangement? She started
shuffling papers around on Chad’s desk. Rhine, L. Rhine, L. Chad’s filing cabinet. She’d have to look there.
Ding. Another IM. Well, have you?
Not yet.
Don’t you think Mrs. Chad McCray has a right to know where her husband’s money goes every month?
What?
I’ll tell her when I get to it.