I watched the brilliant beams of colorful light bounce around the car as sunlight hit my engagement ring and wedding band while my hand dangled loosely on the top of the steering wheel.

Ten days.

I was married for ten days before it had fallen apart. More like exploded in my face. Even though my relationship with Mason had lasted for ten years before we got married, one elopement in Vegas and a small honeymoon period of two weeks, proved to be too much. And the person that was supposed to love me forever, my husband, had asked for a divorce.

Husband.

That was a fucking joke. Mason was supposed to be my ex-husband, but the bastard never filed the paperwork. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that he wouldn’t file the documents. Mason Davis was so thorough in everything he did—always crossing his T’s and dotting his I’s, a real type A personality. It never occurred to me, a year after I left for New York, I would still be married.

I’d watched him sign the papers that night. Mason was a lawyer; this was his job for God’s sake, so how did he screw this up so badly?

I slammed my hand down on the steering wheel again. My hand was going to ache by the time I got to my parents house. I thought I was over him—I was over him. But now all these emotions and memories were coming back to me in Technicolor. I could taste the sense of bitterness I’d had when he’d told me it was over, see the scowl on his face when I begged him to think it over, and feel the sadness when I had moved into Lexi’s apartment in New York alone.

God, I was a sap.

With each mile I came closer to my hometown, the memories came faster, each more vivid than the last. I couldn’t tell if they were a good omen or a bad one. How did one get in the position of coming back to your hometown, over 2500 miles away from where I lived my life now, to ask my husband I hadn’t talked to in over a year, why he never finalized our divorce? My life was a hot ass mess. After an entire year of living out some of my most ambitious dreams, it was time to go back home to Savannah and time to ask Mason some of the most humiliating questions ever uttered by a human.

I was being dramatic, but really my life was like a soap opera. I guess it could always be worse, but after everything I’d been through with Mason, I thought he would have treated me better than a one night stand.

I could still hear the disdain in his voice when he told me he was done with being married and that he wished we had never gone through with it. All because I was offered an amazing job in New York. When I asked him to come with me—hell, I practically begged him—it ended in one of the worst fights we had ever had. Mason could be a successful lawyer there instead of our hometown just outside of Savannah. In the end, I agreed to sign the divorce papers and leave without him. To say I was bitter was a bit of an understatement. It had taken me months to finally pick myself up and start living my life again.

What I didn’t understand was why he never filed for the divorce, especially since he was the one so determined to get it in the first place. Now, I was seconds away from committing adultery because I had actually moved on with my life, or at least I was trying to. There were so many torturous ways to make his life miserable, and believe me, I’d considered plenty. I just couldn’t pick the best one.

I pulled over to the side of the highway and laid my head down on the steering wheel and let the tears come. I didn’t try to stop them or brush them away. I was a fool for believing that a relationship I started back in high school would be the real thing and last forever.

It wasn’t entirely Mason’s fault that things had gone south. I’d caused just as many issues in our relationship as he did, maybe even more. Mason might have asked for the divorce, but I knew if he hadn’t relented and agreed to come with me to New York, I would have eventually either asked him for one or filed myself. We didn’t communicate the way a couple should. We honestly never had. Maybe it was the lawyer in both of us, preferring to argue the point to the death instead of acquiescing and coming to a reasonable agreement. Either way, it didn’t matter now.

With big heaping sobs, I pulled out my phone and dialed. I didn’t even get a word out before Alexis Davenport proved why she was one my best friends in the entire world.

“You drove the long way home from the airport didn’t you? And now you’re thinking about all the shit you’ve been putting off trying to work through.” She sighed. “Do you want me to come out there and kick his ass for not filing the papers, then walk his sorry ass down to the courthouse myself?”

Her southern accent rang through loud and clear, signaling her anger. She always sounded more southern when she was upset. It made me miss her even more.

Choking out a watery laugh, I answered, “No, but that’s exactly why I love you. I know you would do it in a heartbeat if I asked.” I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself. “Everything just hit me hard. I’m like ten minutes out and I had to stop before I passed by the house. I know I’ll fall apart again as soon as I see it.”

“I still vote we burn the bitch to the ground, preferably with Mason in it, but you were the one that vetoed that idea.”

“One, that’s still not justifiable homicide as you keep insisting. It was premeditated as soon as it came out of your mouth. Two, as a doctor, didn’t you swear an oath to do no harm?”

“Technically yes, but for Mase I would make an exception. Fuck him.” I heard Lexi’s muffled voice as she spoke to someone else. Belatedly, I realized Lexi had probably stopped some meeting at the hospital to cheer me up and badmouth Mason.

“Lexi, go. I know you’re busy and have big important doctor things to do. If I need you to come use some experimental drug on Mason I’ll let you know.”

“It’s just Adam; we’re having lunch between rounds. He was just telling me to tell you hi and that he misses you. He wants you to call him later.” I could hear the teasing lilt in her voice. “You guys are sickening you know that? Seriously, I think I might throw up on one of my patients later when I remember how sweet you two are together.”

“Alexis Davenport, you shut your damn mouth about my...relationship. Tell Adam hi for me, and that I’ll call him tonight.” I sighed again. “I’m sure I’ll call you breaking down again after I confront the bastard, but right now, I really need to get into town and get some sleep. I’ve been awake for over twenty hours. People are going to start wondering who the crazy lady crying on the side of the road is if I stay here much longer.”

Lexi laughed, told me goodbye, and disconnected the call. I gave myself a few more minutes to cry before taking a deep calming breath and slowly pulled back onto the road that would lead me to my own personal hell. Refusing to give in to the memories any longer, I focused on what needed to get done for work as soon as I got back to the city.

I did pretty well keeping the memories at bay, until my house with the beautiful plantation style wraparound porch came into view. It was everything that I had wanted and loved, but because I was leaving Georgia, I left it to Mason in the divorce. The house brought everything back in a blinding rush. My indecision of loving or hating Mason Davis weighed heavy on my heart, and suddenly I was afraid that I would never be able to guard myself against him again if he had a good reason for not filing for the divorce.

I didn’t know if I could make it home before I emotionally broke down, but I had to. That was another issue I was going to have to figure out and soon. The house we’d shared was Mason’s in the divorce decree, but because he never filed I assumed that I still had rights to live there. Technically. It had been way too long since I had studied real estate law. Well, any kind of law at all really. I graduated from law school the same year as Mason, but I’d never wanted to actually practice. The only reason I went was to make my Daddy happy.

Mason might not like it if I came in and kicked him out of the master bedroom, but at this point I really didn’t care what he thought. After six hours on a plane, an hour and a half delay due to a storm, three additional hours of driving and dealing with Atlanta Hartsfield Airport because I couldn’t get a flight into Savannah, I was ready to crash anywhere I could find a bed. Even the backseat of the rented Audi SUV was looking pretty good right about now.

First sleep. Then I would make the bastard pay.

***

It’s amazing what a few hours of sleep can do for someone. I couldn’t stomach staying with my parents. Hell, I didn’t even want them to know I was in town if I could help it and I knew I couldn’t stay at the house. I would show my hand too early if I showed up there. Luckily, Vi’s apartment was empty and she told me I could stay there. As I showered and got ready for the evening, I was slowly formulating a plan that would rival the Trojan horse. Armed with my best pair of skinny jeans, a low cut black top, four inch red stilettos, and my sister’s-in-law promise to meet me in an hour, I was ready for battle. I’d even spent the extra time to curl my long caramel colored hair and do a full smokey eye. My hazel eyes stood out against the deep plum colors I’d used. If I looked amazing, maybe I could convince everyone that I was doing better than I was.

The plan was to confront Mason at his brother’s bar. Kaleb might not appreciate the drama, but who cared. It wasn't my problem anymore. Mason brought this to his brother’s doorstep, so he could incur the wrath of a pissed off Kaleb. I cringed a little thinking of what my ex-marine brother-in-law might say to him. It worried me, but not enough to change the plan. I honestly had no idea if anyone knew Mason never filed the divorce papers, and I wasn’t brave enough to ask. But I sure as hell planned on letting everyone know by the end of the night if they weren’t privy to that information already. He should have thought about that before making the idiotic decision not to file in the first place.

December in Georgia wasn’t normally cold, but it seemed to be unseasonably chilly this year. It was cold enough that I decided to wear a bright red pea coat that matched my killer heels. I was thankful it would give me a distraction as soon as I walked in the small bar. I turned to take off my jacket, hanging it up on one of the pegs by the door. With my back to the bar, I could almost feel the eyes on me. In a town this small, someone new, or someone returning home in my case, always caught the attention of the locals. If Mason was here, he would be looking. My cover would be blown as soon as I turned around because at least three people I graduated with would be sitting at one of the tables surrounding the bar. Mason’s sister, Aubrey, would be waiting for me too.

Bracing myself, I slowly turned on my heels and walked towards the bar. The clicking of my heels gave me the boost I needed to look in his direction. Almost instinctively, my eyes met Mason’s from across the room. He looked good. The plaid shirt he wore stretched across his broad chest, and the beard that he’d grown made him look sexier than ever. I saw him mouth shit. It was almost enough to make me smile. His face was locked in a look of panic and another indistinguishable emotion. Joy maybe, but why in the hell would he be happy to see me?

I squared my shoulders and walked over to him, trying to think of the best opening line. Oh god, why hadn’t I thought this far ahead in my plan?

From behind the bar Kaleb looked up at me in surprise. I could tell he was about to come around the bar to hug me hello, but I wanted to fire my opening line first.

"Hey Kaleb. I’ll take a scotch, and you can put it on my husband’s tab.” I looked pointedly at Mason. He winced almost imperceptibly.

After a stunned beat of silence, Kaleb deftly poured two fingers of scotch and took it. He poured another one and passed it over to me without a word. Then I watched as he poured another two for himself. I downed mine and motioned for another.

“Em, I know you can hold your liquor, but do you want to slow down, sugar? You know I’m serving you the good stuff."

“You’re always looking out for me. I’ve missed you Kaleb." I said, walking around the side of the bar to hug him. "And just so you know, my tolerance for liquor hasn’t changed. Plus, now I can afford the good stuff.” I winked at him. “You always tried to get me to open up my pallet and I finally took your advice.”

Kaleb wrapped his arms around me in a bear hug, pulling me tight against his chest. I could make out Mason’s profile from the corner of my eye. He looked confused at the exchange that I was having with his brother. It almost made me laugh to think I finally had the upper hand with him. This was what I needed to throw him under the bus, both his brother and his sister on my side. I pulled away from Kale and looked at Mason, making my face void of all emotion.

“You look a little surprised to see me, but you shouldn’t, Mase. I’d think you would be expecting me to come back, since you forgot to do something really important a little over a year ago.” I glared at him and put my hands on my hips. “Or did you just decide we should stay married without consulting me first? Just like you decided that we should get divorced without talking it over.” My voice took on a sharp edge. “Don’t you think those are decisions we should probably make together?”

Without another word, I took the second scotch that Kaleb had poured and walked over to my wonderful sister-in-law. She knew I would need refuge after confronting Mason, bless her for getting here early to claim this table. I could feel Mason's gaze on my back as I hugged Aubrey. After Mason and I had started dating, we had got really close. We’d been a team, and it killed me that I wasn't able to see her every day now that I was in New York.

I sat down in the chair quickly, trying not to show my nerves. My hands shook as I held the glass up to take a drink.

“Oh god, I feel like I’m about to pass out.” I whispered. “Is he still staring at me?"

She looked at me incredulously over the small pub table.

“What the hell is going on, Em?”

"Did you know we were still married?” I asked suddenly.

Aubrey looked over at me with an amused expression, but I also noted that she looked a little shell shocked.

“Yes, he is still looking at you, and no, I didn’t know you guys were still married. I’m not surprised that he didn’t file the paperwork though. He asked you for the divorce when he was mad, not because he stopped loving you. Mason hates change, you know that.”

I scoffed. “Aubrey, you should have seen him when he signed the divorce papers. I’ve never seen a more determined man. It was like he couldn’t wait to get rid of the shackle he accidentally put on himself. When we were arguing about everything, it was like he totally forgot it was his idea to get married in the first place."

Lowering her voice and moving in closer, Aubrey said, “Em, I saw him the day after you left for the city. It was bad. He looked so lost. Even after dad died and he was taking over the practice, he never looked as broken as he did that day. I think he had some major regrets about how he handled everything.” She paused and bit down on her lip. “I need to ask you something, but I don’t want to upset you.”

I nodded and took another drink. “I’m not going to get upset.”

“Did you guys ever talk about having a baby before you left?” I jerked my hand back and she rushed to continue. “He’s been acting so weird around Jacob. I know Mase loves Jake, but I can’t even ask him to come over because every time he sees the baby he looks like he’s going to cry or lose his temper. I don’t know why he’s lost his cool. It’s kind of scary because he used to love kids.’’

I took a huge sip of my whiskey, savoring the burn as it went down. "No. We didn’t talk about that, not for a long time before we got married. We’d always said if I got pregnant we would get married, or if we decided that we wanted to start trying.” She nodded and to my relief didn’t ask anymore questions. “How is my nephew? He’s like, what, five months old now right?"

Aubrey nodded and a small smile tugged at her lips. "Jake is absolutely wonderful. Having him helps with the pain of losing John.” She closed her eyes. “God, after the funeral, I wanted to die. Losing John was the worst thing I’ve ever gone through. It still hurts every day, but when Jacob was born, he helped me heal. You should stop by and see him before you leave."

I gave her a sad smile. "I'll try to."

I took another drink of my scotch and risked a glance at Mason. His eyes were burning holes into me, but I couldn’t tell if he was mad or in utter disbelief that I was there. Our gazes met from across the bar, and even though I wanted to look away, I couldn’t. The pull I felt towards him made my chest ache.

“Earth to Emerald,” Aubrey said, waving a hand in my direction.

I reluctantly turned away from Mason and looked at Aubrey.

“Sorry, honey. This is harder than I thought it would be.”

She reached over and patted my hand. “You guys were together a long time. It’s understandable that you still feel some of the same things. He was a hot mess when you left.”

“He was?” I asked, doubt evident in my voice. “I still can’t wrap my head around that.”

“Yeah. I don’t think he left the house for two weeks. When I went to go check on him, he hadn’t showered and he wouldn’t even let me in the door. He looked like hell.”

I pursed my lips. “Hmm.”

“From what Lexi said, you weren’t any better off once the anger faded.”

I groaned. “Damn Lexi.”

“I had to check up on you somehow.” She grinned. “Don’t blame her, I was worried.”

I was quiet for a minute. This was all wrong. Aubrey wasn’t supposed to be telling me that Mason had taken our divorce so badly. Suddenly everything about this plan and this place was too much.

Air. I needed air.

Or something.

“I’ll be back.”

She nodded in understanding and didn’t try to follow as I got up from the table.  

Thank goodness for small miracles.

As I walked down the small hallway leading to the back of the bar, Mason stood across the bathrooms, arms crossed in front of his broad chest. I tried to brush past him, but my feet wouldn’t move. It killed me to fight back every stupid instinct that made me want to ask him what the hell he was thinking when he decided not to file. Mason had always been my rock, but now he was this stranger who I wanted to know, but didn’t.

He pulled me against his chest and for a split second I melted against him. My fingers dug into his back and his hands wandered over my body, grabbing my ass, grazing my breasts, all as his lips trailed over my heated skin. It felt so right. I’d missed him so damned much. I all but melted into him when his lips finally met mine. It took me longer than it should have to shove him away.

I glared at him while he stared at me in confusion. “Mason, you’ve passed the bar exam, right?”

His confusion turned to a stubborn, mulish expression.

“You run a law firm, correct? You passed the bar?” I pressed.

Still no answer.

“Answer me this, why after asking me for a divorce—which I gave you, because you told me our relationship was over if I left—did you not file the fucking papers?”

If looks could kill, he would be dead on the ground from the one I was giving him, but he still didn’t answer. Maybe he couldn’t. I didn’t know.

“You single handedly fucked up our relationship, Mason,” I hissed.

He smirked and showed off the dimple in his right cheek that had always been one of my weaknesses when it came to him. “You’re mad.”

“Yes Mason, I’m a little fucking pissed at you right now.”

“So kissing you hello was a bad idea?”

My fingers itched to slap him across his smug ass face. “I should have bit your tongue when you shoved it into my mouth.”

“Come on Emmy, admit it, you missed me. Just a little bit.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and stared him down. He had the decency to blush a little and look away.

“We’ve been married the entire time I’ve been in New York. What would have happened if I started dating? Or hell, sleeping around?”

“Did you?” he asked, suddenly alarmed.

Now he reacts. Maybe I should have lead with that.

“No, you idiot, but I could have."

"Can we talk about this at the house tomorrow?" He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Please?”

I stared at him for a few seconds before finally nodding. He kissed my forehead and walked down the hall like we hadn’t been having a conversation about anything important and definitely not like he hadn’t just been kissing me like he missed me as much as I missed him.