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He gives the window a quick glance, then pulls me toward him.

“Blake!” I squeal.

Anyone could walk by and see us.

But not only does he not pull away, he slides his hand under my skirt.

“We can’t finish here,” I whisper.

He moves his fingers against my core, making me regret my words.

“No,” he agrees.

But he grabs the back of my neck with his other hand and kisses me.

It’s greedy and needy but quick. But before letting me go, he whispers in my ear, “Stand up for yourself in there. Remember that I was here.” He pushes his fingers against me, making it clear what here means. “And Ethan doesn’t own you anymore.”

There’s a possessive look in his eyes, but I don’t want to read too much into it. We’re both obviously still very horny, so I just nod, and he lets me go.

Chapter Seventeen

Amelia

I change out of my rumpled skirt and button-down shirt and into a knee-length dress, boots and a raincoat, and walk to Stewart’s office in the old town, a block from the Den.

My body is still wired from my time with Blake, and my core feels achy and needy from not getting release. It’s not comfortable, but it also makes me feel brave, mysterious, confident.

Stewart’s office is not much bigger than the agency, though he does have two employees working for him. I greet the receptionist, and he leads me directly to Stewart’s private office.

Stewart stands as I enter. He’s a large man, almost as tall as Garrett but with broad shoulders. Not the look of a stereotypical accountant.

He smiles as he greets me—and he’s handsome too.

“Amelia, sit. I’m glad that you wanted to meet earlier. How are you?”

I sit on the plush chair in front of his desk. “I’m better.”

I feel better.

The thought of giving the house to Ethan no longer makes me break down in tears, and I can think and wonder about my new future without having a panic attack. I’m still angry, and I still dread seeing Ethan. Maybe that will never fully go away. Maybe it’s healthy to keep your distance from the people who betray your trust at the deepest level. Maybe what I have to look forward to is not being comfortable with Ethan but just being comfortable with the idea that I will never forgive him.

“You look good,” Stewart says.

And I blush from the way he inclines his head and smiles with appreciation.

“Thanks.”

“Believe me, I know you’re going through a difficult time.”

Stewart is also divorced, though I don’t know the exact details, I know he has a daughter a few years older than Chase.

“I wanted to talk to you before Ethan got here,” he says.

“Me too actually. I wanted to ask you about my personal finances. I’d like to start looking for a house. And maybe hiring someone at the agency.”

“I can definitely look into that,” he says. “But I wanted to first make sure that you don’t want to go to court. Once you sign these papers, they’re binding. You’ll have to honor the contract. But if you sued Ethan, a judge or mediator might be able to get you more than you asked for.”

A warmth spreads in my chest. It’s nice to know that people care. It’s this kind of kindness that reminds me that Dogwood Grove is my town too. It’s home. And I know that nothing could make me leave.