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H arlow slept a few more hours after Grayson left. When she did drag herself out of bed, she padded to the kitchen for a much-needed cup of coffee. As soon as he realized where she was going, Einstein spoke to her in his I’m-dying-of-hunger-here-so-feed-me-right-now voice.

“Patience, buddy.” She felt off this morning. Tired from being up half the night making love with Grayson, yes, but that wasn’t it. She kept hearing Tyler say “Mama” in her mind. It was the only word she’d heard him speak since she moved out of Anthony’s house, and her heart was breaking. “I miss him so much,” she told Einstein.

Tears burned her eyes. No, she wasn’t going to fall apart. She had work to do, and she had to get ready for Lena’s visit. She didn’t want to spoil her time with Lena by being depressed, so she needed to find her cheer.

Although she did have work she needed to accomplish today, she decided to plan the meals for when Lena was here. Meal planning and cooking was something she enjoyed. Anthony had a chef, so she’d never been allowed in the kitchen, and now, she only cooked for herself. Not much fun in that.

Since Lena and she had been friends forever, Harlow knew what she liked and didn’t like. It didn’t take long to plan a menu, and after dressing, she grabbed her purse and car keys. Her mood was improving, thankfully. As she reached to open the door, she stilled. What if Anthony was out there? She stuck her eye to the peephole. He wasn’t in the hallway. Okay, it was safe. But what if he was in the parking lot? She fished in her purse for her phone and set it ready to record.

She wouldn’t at all have been surprised to see Anthony waiting to accost her, but she was surprised when she reached the sidewalk to see his father walking toward her. She almost turned around and raced back to the safety of her apartment. Arthur had always intimidated her, and he was the last person in the world she wanted to see. But no, she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of cowering. Keeping her gaze on her car, she hit Record on the phone.

When she attempted to walk past him, he stepped in front of her, forcing her to stop. There had been a time when he had as much control over her as Anthony, but that time was no more.

“I have nothing to say to you, Arthur. Good day.” She moved to her left to walk around him.

He blocked her again. “Well, I have much to say to you. Why don’t we go up to your apartment so we can talk?”

“No.” Like hell she’d invite him into her home.

“Fine, we’ll just have our chat here for the world to see.”

She laughed, which by the thinning of his lips he didn’t appreciate. “The world is not watching you and I, so get over yourself. Again, good day.” And again, he kept her from walking around him.

“It’s time for you to do your duty as a wife and mother, Harlow. You need to return home. Anthony needs you.”

“Wow, one would think you and your son are living in the Middle Ages where men wrongfully had the power to tell women what to do.” She leaned her face close to his. “Well, screw you. I’m never returning to your son and that house of misery. And I’m not ever going to stand by Anthony’s side and smile and talk about what a great mayor he’ll make. Like I could even say that with a straight face.”

“You will if you ever want to see that kid again.” He smirked. “I can make your life miserable, dear, but I’d prefer to see you back where you belong. You know I don’t have much patience, so don’t take too long to decide.” He marched back to his car.

That kid? That kid was his grandson, but like Anthony, Arthur had no use for Tyler…at least until he was old enough to be useful. Arthur’s threat had the opposite effect than what he’d intended. All he’d done was fuel her determination to get the Pressley men out of her and Tyler’s life.

She dropped the phone into her purse, and refusing to let Arthur spoil her day, she headed to the grocery store where she’d have fun buying the meals she’d planned. She hadn’t entertained since she’d moved into her apartment, and she was excited. Yes, she was.

* * *

The rest of her day was productive, and later that night, as she mindlessly flipped through TV channels from the comfort of her bed, her thoughts turned to Grayson. She wanted to tell him about Arthur showing up, and she should probably tell him Lena was coming for a visit. Something she’d forgotten to do last night. He’d said he wouldn’t have his personal phone with him. She could leave a message, though.

She called on the burner, and as expected, the call went to his voice mail. After leaving a message, asking him to call if he got a chance, she returned to channel surfing. A while later, she startled when the burner phone chimed.

“Hello,” she said, expecting it to be Cooper or Liam.

“Sorry I missed your call. I was in the shower.”

Oh, it was Grayson. And he was in the shower? Her mind visualized his hair damp, drops of water lazily making their way down his chest and him wearing nothing but a towel around his waist. Wow! That was a pretty picture.

“Harlow?”

“Hmm?”

“I asked if you’re okay.”

“You did? I mean, I’m fine. Well, except for Arthur showing up. That’s why I called. I thought you should know about that.”

“What did he want?”

Boy, his voice had just gone hard and cold. “To tell me I needed go back to Anthony or else. I’ll send you the recording.”

“Do that now.”

“Hold on a sec.” She managed to send it to him without disconnecting their call. “On the way to you.”

“Your turn to hold on while I listen to it.”

“Okay.” While she waited, she imagined him using that commanding voice on her in the bedroom, and she fanned her face. He wasn’t even in the same room with her, and he was heating things up.

“He definitely threatened you,” he said, coming back on the line. “I want you to be very careful. If that happens again, you can’t call me after tonight, but do call Liam or Cooper.”

“I didn’t mean to bother you. I just thought you’d want to know about Arthur.”

“Definitely, and you’re never a bother. I didn’t tell you this morning, but last night was special. I want you to know that.”

“It was special for me, too.”

“As soon as this is over, I’d like to take you out on a date.”

“We’ll see.” It hurt to think about never seeing him again, but it had to be. Tyler had to be her sole focus.

“Oh, we’ll definitely see. Be careful and aware of your surroundings, okay?”

“I will. Oh, and before you go, I also wanted to tell you that a girlfriend is coming for a visit.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea right now?”

“Yes, I haven’t seen her for a long time because Anthony isolated me from all my friends. I’m excited to finally be able to see her again, Grayson, and she knows what’s going on. She’s only going to be here for two days, and we’re not leaving the apartment.”

“Just be careful, okay?”

“I will. I promise. That goes for you, too.”

He’d sounded confident that their date would happen, and she wished he was right. He wasn’t, though, and sadness washed over her. Was she going to walk away from the best man she’d ever met?

Tyler needed her, but what about her own happiness?