Not that I need him to take care of me, let’s make that clear right now.

But I do need the hugs.

He rocks me slowly back and forth for a long while, with the wind blowing around us and the birds flying by. It almost feels like we’re the only two people in the world.

“You’re amazing,” he whispers before pulling away far enough to tip my chin up with his finger and lower his mouth to mine.

This kiss is sweet. Slow. Thorough. He’s always thorough when it comes to kissing me, his tongue and mouth exploring me as if he’s never kissed me before.

And when he comes up for air, we’re both panting.

“Stay with me tonight.”

It’s not a request.

“I’ll just have to go home and get a few things,” I reply. “And I will have to spend the day at home tomorrow.”

“I understand.” He leans his forehead against mine. “But I’m not ready for this to end. I want another night with you. Just you and me.”

“I’m on board with that.”

He sighs and brushes the hair from my cheek. He’s always finding ways to touch me, whether it be in the throes of passion, or on a ferry in the middle of the Puget Sound.

And I am soaking it up like a sponge that’s been left in the desert for a month.

“Hi, Pam,” I say the next morning. I’ve been home for an hour, and just got out of the shower and pulled on some shorts and a tank top. It’s hot outside today. I think I’ll work on the patio, next to the pool.

“How are things in Seattle?” she asks.

Too damn good.

“Fine, actually. How are things down there?”

“You haven’t had anyone try to serve you papers?”

“No. Where I’m staying isn’t in my name. It isn’t even in my family’s name. No one would think to look for me here.”

“Excellent,” she says, satisfaction in her voice. “So, the good news is you haven’t been served papers. But the bad news is, neither has he.”

“What? How is that possible?”

“He refuses them. Literally won’t take them.”

“He’s such an ass.” I sit and rub my fingers over my forehead. “Now what?”

“Oh, we’ll get him served. Don’t worry. It’s just taking longer than we thought. So the way it looks right now, you’ll be in Seattle for a while longer.”

“That’s fine, actually. I have a nice place, my family is nearby, and I’m working.”

I’m also fucking my neighbor, and I think I’ve fallen in love.

But she doesn’t need to know that.

“I’m glad you’re comfortable. Let me know if you need anything, and I’ll be in touch.”

“Thanks, Pam.”

I hang up and want to throw my phone across the room. Who the fuck does Vinnie think he is? And why is he doing this?

I would talk to him, just ask him, but frankly, I don’t know what he would do. I don’t trust him not to hurt me.

No, I’m safer here in Seattle, letting Pam handle everything.

Lord knows I’m paying her a pretty penny to take care of it.

The doorbell rings, and for a moment, I’m afraid again. Maybe it’s a process server. Or Vinnie himself.

But that’s just stupid.

I walk to the door and look outside. There are two men. One is a UPS driver with something for me to sign, and the other is my older brother, Archer.

I smile widely and open the door.

“Delivery, ma’am,” Archer says with a sarcastic grin.

I sign for the package, then walk inside, gesturing for Archer to follow. As soon as I set the box down, I turn and launch myself at him, hugging him fiercely.

“You didn’t even call to tell me you were coming over.”

“Surprise,” he says, then sets me down. “You don’t look like shit.”

“Did Mom say that I looked like shit?”

“She said you looked tired,” he says, his Montgomery blue eyes suddenly serious. “And she said you’re hiding something.”

“Mom’s always been a dramatic one,” I reply, rolling my eyes and walking into the kitchen to pour us each something to drink. “Let’s sit out by the pool. It’s too nice outside.”

“How did you score this place?” he asks, looking around. “Wait. This is familiar.”

“It’s Natalie’s house,” I reply as we walk outside and sit in the shade, next to the pool. “She’s letting me use it while I’m in town.”

“Much better than a hotel,” he says with a nod. “So, what are you hiding?”

“Psh.” I shake my head and drink my lemonade. Archer is the one person in this world that I cannot lie to. I’ve always been closest to him. I tell him all of my secrets. “Nothing.”

“Liar.” He sips his drink and then crosses his ankle over his knee, waiting patiently. My brother is a big man. Tall and broad, he looks like he could play ball with Will. But he’s the gentlest man I know.

“So, remember when I got divorced, and you, Stasia, and the ’rents came to L.A. to throw me a small party in celebration?”

He nods, his eyes narrowing.

“And how I am about to sign with a cosmetics company for my makeup brand?”

“Of course.”

“Yeah, so, it turns out that I’m not actually divorced.”

He swallows, looks away, fisting his hands, and every muscle in his body tensing. If Vinnie were standing before him right now, he’d be unconscious.

“What the fuck did he do?”

“Contested.”

I tell Archer all about Pam calling me into her office, coming here, everything, and it feels better than I thought it would.

“So, Jules and Nat know.”

“Yeah.”

He swallows and rubs his hand over his face.

“But we don’t know.”

“Archer, there was no way in hell that I was going to bring you all into this. Not after all of the shit you already went through because of Vinnie. It was over. It is over. This is just a technicality, and my attorney is handling it.”

“You’ve been pushed out of your own home,” he says, anger vibrating off of him. “Don’t get me wrong, I love that you’re home, but Jesus, Lia, this isn’t something that you need to go through alone.”

“I’m not.”

“I’m so damn pissed at you for not telling me. You should have called me as soon as you got here.”

“I’m not nine,” I reply, angry myself. “I’m not a child, Archer. I’m handling this the best way I know how. I know you’re all here if I need you, but this is really just a technicality. I’m divorced. I worked too damn hard to get where I am to let Vinnie fuck this up for me. I’m moving on with my life.”

“Are you? Because you can’t even launch your brand until this is wrapped up. Not to mention, you’re not divorced.”

“Stop it. I am. And this will be over soon, and I’ll go back to L.A. and be out of your hair.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why do you have to move back to L.A.?”

I stare at him. “Because it’s where my work is. My condo. My car. My life.”

“All of that is easy to move here. You don’t have that asshole tying you down there anymore, Lia. You can just as easily live in Seattle.”