I can’t believe it’s finally happening. I’m finally going to be free.

One day of freedom without Leonard is better than fifty with him in my life.

He really pulled the wool over my father’s eyes. Despite the horrible thing my father made me do, I truly believe he thought he was securing my future. Not that I’m so naïve to think it wasn’t about him too.

His business and legacy always took precedence, but I think he was still just trying to look out for me.

He barely knew Leonard. But he knew he was the son of a wealthy casino owner from Las Vegas. Leonard and his father were buying up and consolidating the ranches nearby, and they would’ve eventually taken over ours too. This way, Dad got our family name on everything as partners. Dad got to run our ranch as long as he wanted.

Once Dad passed away, Leonard drove the business into the ground. Sold off a lot of the land. He wasn’t a brilliant businessman. I think Leonard’s dad sent him to Texas to get him out of his hair, so he wouldn’t screw up the casinos. That’s where their real money came from. Since Dad died, Leonard has practically liquidated and lost every asset we own.

When Jaxson asks for financial statements I want to laugh. It’s not funny, but at the same time it is in some morbid way. I have nothing. The girl who always had it all is left with nothing but my family name. I have some land and the family home that’s fallen into disrepair. I’ll be lucky to sell it for half of what it’s worth. If I even get to keep it.

Leonard has no idea I’m even filing. He’s in Vegas with his newest whore, I’m sure. The only good thing I’ve done in my life is not giving that man a child. That would’ve required us sleeping together.

I’d rather be celibate for life than to touch Leonard. I think that’s one of the things that made him beat me up so much, but I didn’t care. I never slept with him, not once. Jax is the only man I’ve ever been with. Leonard makes me sick. The thought of even hugging him is repulsive.

He’s an alcoholic who’d rather smack me around than show me any affection. He wants the last remaining bit of my father’s estate. He won’t get the family home. I’ll kill him before he touches the house I grew up in. If Jaxson won’t help me I’ll find someone who will.

Jaxson is even more handsome than I remembered. Dark brown hair and the deepest gray eyes that look like raging thunderstorms. Eyes I used to love getting lost in. He was my first everything. The farmhand’s son who helped out on our ranch. They lived in one of the tenant houses. We sold it off a few years ago, when my father suffered his first stroke. It nearly killed me when we let it go. It was all I had left of Jax.

And now, Jax hates me. Of course he does. Why wouldn’t he? I’m surprised he’s taking the case at all. It was a hail mary coming here.

“I’ll go over it and get papers drawn up.”

I hand Jax the drive with everything on it. The feel of his hand is the exact way I remember it. I’m not sure why I’m so surprised that he’s being so cold. He never got an explanation of why I left him there.

I guess I always thought if he knew the truth, he’d overreact. He would’ve fought for me, and he would’ve gotten hurt. The Reyes family is not a family anyone should mess with. And we were just kids. Jax would’ve gotten himself killed trying to defend me.

“Did you try marriage counseling?”

“What?” His question catches me off guard.

“You never gave me a reason for divorce. When it goes to court they’ll want to know why.”

“No, we didn’t do the whole counseling thing. He’s in Las Vegas with his latest mistress. Leonard keeps an apartment there. We were never in love.”

“Children?”

“No.”

“Good, that should speed things up a little. When was the last time your property was assessed?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know, a few years ago, maybe.”

“With the amount of property you have, an expert may be required. That could take time.”

“How much time?”

“Months. Years. It all depends.” He shrugs.

“I need this over. Is there a way to expedite the process?”

The corners of his mouth turn up into a grin. “I might know someone who could do a favor. If I felt like calling it in.”

“Jaxson, please. You don’t understand. I can’t spend another day married to that bastard.”

I’m ready to go down on my knees and beg him to put an end to my suffering. “I’ll do anything. Seriously, please.”

“You know?” Jaxson stands and walks over to a window, refusing to look at me. “I used to imagine this day. All the time.”

“Jax…”

“Let me finish.” He whips around, his eyes cold and dark.

I’ve never seen that look before. I can’t help but think I’m responsible for the man he’s become.

“I don’t like seeing you like this, Jenna. I thought I would. But it’s just humiliating. You all—desperate.” He takes a few steps and stops right in front of me, his eyes glaring down at me. “You chose this. Do you know how long I waited for you?”

Tears stream down my face at the thought of him standing there, wondering where I was. He had to have felt so alone. He must’ve been so hurt.

He snickers to himself and looks back out the window, but his hands ball into fists at his sides. “Kept telling myself you’d show. Told myself you were running late. That you were waiting for the right time to sneak out. That there was no way you’d backed out.”

He has no idea how I wished every single day since then that I’d ran far away with him and never looked back. I just didn’t really have a choice.

“Jaxson, I…” How do I tell him the truth? That I was a pawn in a sick and twisted game. I was a business transaction. I’m so ashamed. I don’t know what I expected coming here. I had this weird idea that maybe he’d found some way to forgive me.

“It’s okay. We were kids. You don’t owe me an explanation. I’ll go over this and call you if I have any questions.”

“I want to tell you what happened—”

He cuts me off. “I have an appointment.”

I stand up.

Jaxson follows me to the door. I forgot how tall he is. His hand touches my hair, tugging one of the curls.

I stare up at him, trying to hide the fact that I’m still in love with him. I never stopped loving him. “It was nice to see you. You’ve changed.” I offer him a faint smile, touching my fingers to his cheek, wishing things could’ve gone differently all those years ago.

Leaning into my palm, he presses his cheek against my warm skin. So many feelings and memories come rushing back to the surface.

“I want to hate you. I don’t know if it’s possible.”

He has no idea how much guilt and shame I live with daily.

I stare up at him feeling a lifetime of regret. His eyes meet mine and I see the boy I fell in love with. His chin dips down. Then those lips I’ve dreamed of so many times come down on mine. Pure. Soft. True.

My mouth moves against his as though we haven’t spent thirteen years apart.

His large fingers bite into my hips and I run my hands through his hair just like old times. His tongue presses against the seam of my lips and I open to him completely. His kiss still makes me weak in the knees. I’ve missed the touch and taste of him, but this is wrong. I’m still married to that bastard. Maybe I’m a horrible person but wedding ring on my hand or not, I’m only married on paper, not in my heart. My heart has always been with Jaxson.

He pulls away much too soon with a dark look in his eyes. “This won’t happen again.”

“You still feel something for me.” I challenge him to tell me differently.

“You’re a client. Nothing else.” He adjusts himself and steps away, my body instantly missing his touch.

I can’t do anything but stare at him wishing I knew what he was thinking. God, he looks good in his suit. It fits him perfectly.

I don’t know what to expect now.

But Jesus, that kiss. I miss him so much.