The Best Mistake of Her Life by Aimee Carson Page B

her?”
    “For starters it would have gotten her to shut up and leave you alone,” he said as they entered the elevator. The door closed behind them, and he cocked his head, almost as if he was disappointed in her behavior. “And where was the spunky new Kate Anderson tonight?” he went on. “You know, the one with the backbone?”
    Kate inhaled slowly, struggling to hold her temper. “Someone had to remain calm and rational. And as the former wife of a state representative, I’m accustomed to—”
    “Is that all you’ve been doing these past few years?” He folded his arms across his chest. “Training to be nothing more than the well-behaved wife?”
    “Dalton and I were a team, a team I
chose
to belong to.”
    His brow crinkled with impatience as he drawled, “You have a lot more to offer the world than simply being the senator’s compliant daughter and the dutiful spouse of a state representative.”
    Irritation crept higher. “I played a part that I loved,” she said. “Dalton might be one of the youngest representatives ever elected, but he isa brilliant politician, and I happen to know for a fact that he is committed to serving the people. His policies are ones that I care about, that I support. Which was why I volunteered to be in charge of his fundraising events.”
    “But all you accomplished was to further your
husband’s
career.”
    Irritation gave way to anger, complete and absolute. “It might not mean much to you, Memphis,” she snapped, stepping closer. “But I enjoyed what I did and I excelled at my job. Even with all of his faults, Dalton has
always
been more than generous in acknowledging my role in getting him elected.”
    Two seconds ticked by before he responded. “Of course he did,” he said with a frustratingly calm tone. “Because you were supplying what he needed.”
    Kate pressed her lips together, staring Memphis down as the elevator door slid open, and then she turned and exited.
    Still fuming, she didn’t speak as the valet brought the car around, and she continued to stew on the drive home, furious at his words. And partially annoyed with herself. She knew most of the town thought the same thing, that there was little to Kate Anderson other than being Dalton’s ex-wife.
    And a tiny part of her wondered if it was true.
    Good God, wasn’t that a depressing thought? She closed her eyes, rubbing her forehead with her fingers.
    “You okay?” Memphis said quietly, downshifting as he turned into Kate’s neighborhood.
    She stared out the passenger window and gave a small nod, dropping her hand to her lap as the streetlights streaked by in the night. As trial dates went, this one had been a disaster. And while she realized the circumstances were unusual, and Memphis was pure trouble, a part of her doubted that time and a different man would have made any difference. She was normally confident, more than able to hold her own during a lively debate with a room full of political powerhouses. But put her alone with a guy with romantic intentions and she suddenly was as uncomfortable as an awkward teen.
    “You know,” Memphis said, pulling her out of her thoughts. “You don’t have to go to this reunion. I don’t think anyone would fault you for skipping out.”
    She turned to look at him, studying the masculine profile of his face. “I want to go,” she said firmly. Because it was the truth. “Organizing this event was the only pleasure I had these past months. And I’m not going to miss out on the fruits of my efforts just because of the Tabitha Reeds of the world.”
    Memphis looked at her, his voice rumbling with approval. “Good for you.”
    Her smile took on a self-deprecating touch. “I don’t know if it’s
good
for me, but I suppose it does make me out to be less of a coward,” she said.
    Guilt trickled across his face, and he returned his attention to the road that glowed in the light of the headlights. “You’re not a coward.”
    “That’s not what you