Six hours after leaving the courthouse, I opened the door to my beautiful house and sighed. Thank God the hired security had my place protected like Fort Knox. The last thing I needed was another incident with an overzealous reporter—one break-in to capture the perfect picture was more than enough for this lifetime.

The paparazzi camped out along the front of my property, waiting for any sighting of me, and all I wanted was a large glass of wine and a sexy-as-sin man in my life. Preferably, someone like Devin Camden but without the career ramifications.

The wine I had in hundreds of bottles, the man was another matter.

After the roller coaster of a day I’d had, I might just pass out from exhaustion following a scalding shower and forgo the alcohol.

True to form, Clint and Kimberly had continued their love/hate behavior with long, sad looks and a complete meltdown from Kimberly when Nathan informed her that Karina was now lead for Clint. Nathan could have at least waited until Karina and I had exited the courtroom before sharing the good news.

On the positive side, I was officially on vacation for the next month and a half. Sometimes it was good to be the boss. I still had briefs to review, documents to draft, and planning to conduct, but those were things I could do for the most part from my kitchen island, in my PJs, with a cup of coffee. Besides, I’d more than earned this break by putting in nonstop hundred-hour weeks for over four months.

I planned to savor every moment of this stay-cation. The second it ended, I’d begin a new chapter of my life that would require more energy than I’d expended on the Bassett case. Too bad these new steps would be as a single woman.

I dropped my purse and keys on the front table and then took in the view from the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Sound.

I finally had a home of my own. I’d moved out of the cramped condo in downtown Seattle a week before the trial started and into a place where I could see myself living the rest of my days.

The house was two years of blood, sweat, and tears. Who knew building a house on the Puget Sound would take so long? In the end, it was worth it.

Nine thousand square feet of water views, a chef’s kitchen, and a backyard that rivaled the landscape at a five-star resort. This was my dream home, built because of the success that came after years filled with long hours, little sleep, and limitless drive. And not a dime of it came from my father or my trust fund, something I’m sure annoyed my father to no end.

However, moving in had been bittersweet. I’d hoped it would have been with the man of my dreams, my partner, my husband, the father of my future children, but life had other plans.

I had no one to blame but myself.

I walked through the house to the doors leading to the back patio, and then to the half wall overlooking the beach below the cliffs.

Gripping the iron railing, I closed my eyes and envisioned piercing blue ones gazing at me with love and laughter. Something I hadn’t experienced in so long—over eighteen months, to be exact.

This man would see past the public persona to the woman underneath and still love me. He would accept my need for success as much as I did his. He wouldn’t hide what we were to each other, but be proud of it.

What I wanted could all be a dream, but I refused to give up hope. I’d thought I’d had it once, and it could happen again.

Maybe.

At that moment, I felt a presence behind me. The scent of soap and crisp cologne hit my senses.

Dammit, what did he want? How many times were we going to rehash the same fight, the same pain?

He couldn’t get over what my life had become and would continue to be, and I was tired of trying to make him understand. It wasn’t as if I’d chosen the fame or the notoriety.

His career couldn’t be the only thing that mattered.

“Are you still mad at me?” I asked without turning.

I gripped the railing tight and stared out at the waves rippling behind a passing boat.

“No.”

“If you’re here for another act to our unending fight, I just don’t have the energy or the time for it today.” I couldn’t hide the tremble in my voice.

Dammit, Samina. You’re not supposed to let him see how much it hurts.

His presence was throwing me as it was, and an argument was only going to cause me to say something I’d regret later.

“No, that’s not why I wanted to see you.”

“Then why are you here? Aren’t you afraid one of the paps will photograph you? You might end up on the cover of a tabloid magazine if you’re not careful.”

He stepped closer to me, making me stiffen. I could almost feel his body heat behind me.

“No. I took the private walkway from the neighbor’s property. I’m the one who hired your security, so they let me pass.”

“The closest neighbor is half a mile away.”

“Was that a question?”

Irritation prickled my temper, and I inhaled deep to stay calm. “I guess you are here to pick a fight, and as I said moments ago, I’m not in the mood. You can leave the way you came.”

I continued to gaze at the deep blue depths flowing in front of me. Maybe if I ignored him, he’d go away. Combined with everything that had happened in court today and the constant reminders of my failed relationship, there wasn’t any energy left to deal with my ex.

I was barely coping as it was.

“I’m here for only one purpose.”

“And what is that?” I turned to face him, and my heart skipped a beat as I took in the man standing before me.

He was breathtaking. A light sheen of sweat from his hike covered his dark brows. He’d thrown his suit jacket over his shoulder and his shirtsleeves were rolled up. His normally impeccable sandy-brown hair was windblown, giving me an urge to run my fingers through it as I’d done countless times.

“I’m here for you. It’s been weeks since I touched you. I miss you. I need you.”

He stepped forward, making me press against the railing.

“Go away. What happened at the courthouse today doesn’t change anything.”

His face grew angry. “All I wanted. All I ever wanted was for you to pick me first. To make me the priority and not the media darling you’ve become. You did that today.”

“No.” I shook my head. “I picked you first, years ago. You never saw it. You were so wrapped up in making partner and then the federal magistrate appointment to notice. I told my father to go fuck himself when he made me choose between my inheritance and you. I haven’t spoken to him in over five years. Do you have any idea what it’s like not to have your mother at your wedding? I picked you, but you never saw it.

“When I made my career a priority, you couldn’t take it. I never wanted to hide our relationship, you did. What happened today was for me. I’m making myself a priority for the first time in my life.”

He moved in front of me and whispered, “Sami.”

I grimaced. He was the only one who called me that.

I wanted so badly to touch him, to feel his hands and mouth on me. If I took the step, everything we’d been through over the past year was meaningless. Nothing would change.

Well, sex was the one thing I wouldn’t change. He was the only man whose touch I’d ever known and would always crave. He knew what I wanted and needed before I did. He was the perfect lover.

Too bad the way he was in the bedroom wasn’t anything like the man outside it.

He represented conservative values, albeit with a few modern beliefs. He had no tolerance for sensationalism or excess, everything my clients usually projected.

“Give us another chance, baby.”

He reached out to cup my face, but I moved out of his way, turning toward the water again.

“Don’t. I won’t fall back into our pattern.”

“We’ll do it differently this time.”

“Over the last few years, I’ve believed that too many times, only to see things shatter. I stupidly accepted it when we were in law school, and then I grinned and bore it when we started our careers. I can’t do it anymore.” I shook my head. “It won’t work. I’m going to stay in the limelight. I won’t ever be in the shadows again.”

“Sami, please.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose and then wiped away a stray tear.

“Go home to the condo you got when we separated, Devin James Camden. I’m sure you have a full docket tomorrow. You don’t need me to distract you. Besides, if you stay any longer, I’m sure a photographer will see you, and you’ve made it crystal clear that your privacy and reputation are more important than anything else.”

“I’m not giving up.” His fingers grazed along the back of my neck. “You’re it for me.”

“It’s over, Devin.” My shoulders shook as I dug my nails into my palms. “I’ve accepted it. Now you have to.”

“Not happening.” His voice grew cool. “For it to end, we have to divorce, and I will fight you every step of the way.”

“Dammit.” I whirled around.

He smirked, turning toward the pathway. “I never back down. You should know this. Consider yourself warned.”