I tuck and roll, then push off the wall, turning into a backstroke.
The small amount of money that Jack is trying to lay claim to is nothing compared to the money I have that Jack knows nothing about. Since our legal separation, I’ve become very successful in my career as an author, but I wasn’t lying when I told Ty that it’s not about the money.
This is my heritage. My family worked hard for this land, for the wealth they amassed, and Jack doesn’t deserve a fucking dime of it. That’s why the divorce took so long. I fought him with everything in me to ensure that he didn’t get his greedy hands on my family’s money.
In the end he won a small settlement that all of the lawyers talked me into.
Jack wasn’t happy.
I push off the edge of the pool and glide underwater until I reach the surface and then move into a front crawl.
After my parents died in a car accident just over two years ago, Jack made it clear that he didn’t love me, had been sleeping around since we were dating, but expected me to keep him in his comfortable lifestyle.
And when I threw a fit and kicked him out, he slammed me against the wall and landed a punch to my stomach, certain to avoid bruising me, before he left.
Thanks to threats from Brad, and Jack knowing how well-known I am in this town, he hadn’t bothered me since.
And now he’s threatening to rape me.
Rape me!
It’s not worth it. Living in constant fear and embarrassment of seeing Jack around town. Seeing the pity in the eyes of people I’ve known my whole life when I see them on the street.
And now coming home to an ambush because he’s feeling desperate.
I’m done.
Exhausted and panting, I pull myself out of the water and resign to go see Cary in the morning to agree to a settlement.
It’s time to move on.
* * *
It’s early when I leave the house and drive to the lawyer’s office. I don’t have an appointment, and I don’t even know for sure if anyone is there yet, but I couldn’t sleep last night. I couldn’t lose myself in work.
I need to get this over with.
When I stride to the front door, I’m surprised to find it unlocked. Sylvia isn’t in yet, but I hear voices back in Cary’s office.
I stride through his door like I belong there, and both Cary’s and Ty’s faces register surprise when they see me in the doorway.
“You know, Lo, we have these things called phones. You use them to call and make what’s known as an appointment.” Ty’s gray eyes are narrowed, but his lips are quirked in a smile. He’s in a power suit today, which makes my mouth water immediately. His shoulders look even broader in the black jacket, and the blue tie makes his eyes shine.
“Ha-ha,” I respond and sit heavily in the seat before Cary’s desk. “I’m sick of this shit.”
“Ty told me you came by yesterday,” Cary informs me as he leans back in his chair.
“I was fucking served papers,” I mutter and push my hands though my hair. “But I think I want to settle.”
Ty raises his eyebrows. “I’ll leave you two alone.”
“You can stay,” I mutter. “I could use both of your opinions. I’ll pay double for the hour.”
“That’s not necessary.” Ty’s voice is clipped and he frowns as he gazes at me. “Why the change of heart?”
I lean back in the chair, tilt my head, and look at the tin tiles on the ceiling.
“Because Jack’s an asshole. Because now he’s decided to threaten me.” I shake my head and look Cary in the eye. “But no payments. It’s going to be in one lump sum and he needs to sign a contract stating that he’ll never ask for another dime.”
“Wait, back up.” Ty pushes away from the desk and glowers down at me. “What do you mean he threatened you?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Lauren,” Cary interrupts, “it does matter. What the hell happened?”
“When I returned home, Jack was at the house.”
“Does he still have a key?” Ty asks.
“No.” I shake my head adamantly. “I changed all the locks and installed a new alarm system the day he left.”
“So he was waiting outside,” Cary clarifies.
“Yes. I told him to leave, that I didn’t want to see him and he isn’t welcome at the house. He said I was making things harder than they need to be.” I laugh humorlessly as Cary’s eyebrows climb toward his blond hairline.
“I reminded him that there’s nothing difficult about this at all. We’re divorced. It’s over, and he can just go away.” I shrug and look away, not wanting to continue.
“What did he threaten you with?” Ty asks softly.
I raise my eyes to his and suddenly my stomach rolls.
“I’m going to be sick.” I bolt from the room and run to the restroom in the hallway, barely making it in time to lose the half-gallon of coffee I consumed this morning. When the dry-heaving stops, I rinse my mouth and open the door to find Ty on the other side.
“Are you okay?” he asks quietly.
I nod, embarrassed. He reaches up and gently tucks a stray piece of my hair behind my ear.
“What did he threaten you with?” He asks as he leads me back to Cary’s office.
I swallow and cross my arms over my chest. I don’t want to say it aloud. “He just threatened to be a dick.”
“Bullshit,” Cary responds, leaning forward in his chair. “Lo, the man wasn’t afraid to put his hands on you when you told him to leave . . .”
“What?” Ty exclaims, but Cary continues.
“So you need to tell me what he threatened to do to you if you don’t give him what he wants.”
I shake my head and close my eyes, remembering the feel of Jack’s nose pressed to my neck and the crazy look in his eyes when he wasn’t getting what he wanted.
“Excuse us for a minute, Cary.”
Ty takes my hand in his and leads me toward the door.
“Uh, my client, Ty, remember?”
“We’ll be right back,” Ty assures him and leads me into his office and shuts the door behind us.
“What did the asshole threaten to do to you, Lauren?”
“You said no yesterday, Ty. This isn’t your case.”
He shrugs, as if what I just said is of no consequence.
“Answer me.”
I simply shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. Cary and I will figure it out. You don’t have to stay in there with us.”
I try to walk past him but he catches my hand in his, keeping me in place.
“Lauren . . .”
“Stop, Ty. You don’t want me—I get it.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” he asks, his voice deceptively calm. “Do you know why I turned you down yesterday, Lauren?”
I shake my head, my eyes wide and pinned to his.
“Because it would be a conflict of interest. I can’t be your lawyer because I’m your friend, and I want to be a whole lot more than that.”
If I thought I was stunned before, it’s nothing compared to this. My jaw drops as he closes the gap between us. He doesn’t touch me, but his face is mere inches from mine. His eyes are on my lips as I bite them and watch him. I’m completely thrown by this turn of events.
“You have the most beautiful lips, Lo.”
“What?” I whisper.
He takes a deep breath as he lays his thumb gently on my lower lip and pulls it from my teeth. “I want to taste these lips.”
It’s whispered so softly, I can barely hear the words. I can’t tear my gaze away from his mouth and I take a deep breath, inhaling the musky scent of him.
I’ve forgotten Jack and his threats, the lawsuit.
Everything.
Ty clears his throat and backs away, watching me carefully. “Cary will remain your lawyer, but I want to know what the hell is going on, Lo. I can help.”
I blink and continue to stare at him, completely dumbstruck.
He
wants me?
“And another thing, Lauren. You’re not settling. Fuck Jack and his lawyer.”
AUTHOR PHOTOGRAPH BY MOLLY M. CLARIDGE
KRISTEN PROBY is the USA Today bestselling author of the popular With Me In Seattle series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong characters who love humor and have a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type—fiercely protective and a bit bossy—and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves. Kristen spends her days with her muse in the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys coffee, chocolate, and sunshine. And naps. Visit her at KristenProby.com.
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ALSO BY KRISTEN PROBY
The With Me In Seattle Series
Come Away With Me
Fight With Me
Play With Me
Rock With Me
Safe With Me
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Pocket Books
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2014 by Kristen Proby
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Pocket Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
First Pocket Books paperback edition February 2014
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Interior design by Kyle Kabel
Cover illustration by Alan Ayers
ISBN 978-1-4767-5900-5
ISBN 978-1-4767-5899-2 (ebook)
Contents
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Seducing Lauren Excerpt
About Kristen Proby
Kristen Proby, Loving Cara
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