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H arlow’s time with Lena went by too fast. “I don’t want you to go.” She hugged her friend.

“Promise you’re not going to disappear on me again.”

“Never. I promise. Text me when you get home so I know you arrived safely.”

“I will.” Lena hugged her again.

“Tell J.D. I said hi.”

“You should come tell him yourself. He’d love to see you.”

“I’d love a trip to Atlanta. As soon as I have Tyler back, okay?”

“That will be soon, Harlow. I just know your man’s going to come through for you.”

Harlow chuckled. “He’s not my man.”

“So you say. I better get on the road. Love you, girl.”

“Love you, too.”

Harlow closed the door, locked it, then leaned back against it. Alone again. The apartment was too quiet. Even Einstein was silent. Probably because he’d worn out his voice the past two days nonstop chattering to Lena, telling her his life story.

She walked to where he was curled up on the sofa napping. “Well, boyo, it’s just you and me again.” He twitched his tail, but otherwise ignored her.

There was work to do, but she just didn’t feel like it. Having Lena here for two days had been what she’d needed, but now, the emptiness of the apartment was unbearable. The walls were closing in on her, and she needed to get out for a while. Grabbing her keys, she headed out the door and down the stairs.

Without thinking of where she was going, she ended up at the dog park a few blocks from home. She came here on her walks sometimes, always thinking how much Tyler would enjoy watching the dogs play with each other. A tiny Yorkie was busy bossing around a German shepherd and a beagle. She smiled as she watched them.

Soon, she would be able to bring Tyler here. She’d be able to watch his face as he laughed at the dogs’ antics. She’d be a mother again. “Soon, baby,” she whispered.

A warm summer breeze brushed across her cheeks, and she closed her eyes, lifting her face to the sun. The short walk, the fresh air and the sunshine had been the medicine she’d needed. Work she’d ignored during Lena’s visit was waiting for her, and she was ready to get to it.

As she pushed away from the fence, movement behind her caught her eye, and she grinned at seeing her downstairs neighbor jogging up to her. “Hi, Ronnie.” Ronnie was a nurse practitioner at a pediatrician’s office by day and a drummer in an alternative rock band by night. Quite a juxtaposition was Ronnie. For his day job, he wore his hair in a man bun, and when he drummed, he let it fall loose. She’d seen him leaving for a gig wearing black eyeliner and his fingernails painted black.

He slung his arm around her. “Hey, neighbor. Haven’t seen you in a while.”

“That’s because you’re never home.”

“When are you going to go out with me?”

She laughed. He asked her that every time he saw her. “And try to compete with all your groupies? Besides, I’d feel like a cougar if I dated you.” He was only three years younger than her, but her life and his were so far apart that it felt more like a decade.

He growled like a big cat. “I like cougars.”

They both knew they’d never date, but she liked him. He made her laugh. “You going or coming?”

“Coming. I don’t have a gig tonight. Want to order a pizza?”

“Sure.” He was a sometime friend, and occasionally, they’d order pizza and watch a movie.

As they approached their building, she groaned at seeing the black Mercedes parked behind her car. “You better head on to your apartment.”

“Is that the ex?”

“Yep.” Although Ronnie didn’t know the full story, he knew she had an ex that showed up sometimes. “It would be best if you walked away from me.”

“I don’t think so.” He kept his arm around her shoulders. “What kind of man would I be if I didn’t make sure a lady was safe?”

“You don’t underst—” Her breath caught in her throat when Grayson stepped out of the car. His gaze locked on her before shifting to Ronnie and the arm he had around her. “He’s…” She’d almost explained that Ronnie was just a friend, but she wasn’t supposed to know Grayson. It was a good thing she’d seen his new appearance, otherwise she might have given them away with her reaction.

Grayson opened the back door for Anthony to step out, and she recognized that expression on his face. It was the same look of possessiveness and anger that she had seen far too many times before.

Tension bristled between the three men. Why was this her life? “What do you want, Anthony?”

“I want to know who the hell he is.”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but he’s a friend.” She darted a glance at Grayson. He stood straight with his hands behind his back, his expression blank. She’d never seen him look so cold and remote before.

“A friend?” Anthony took an aggressive step toward Ronnie. “I don’t tolerate men sniffing around my wife.”

“Then it’s a good thing I’m not your wife, isn’t it? Why are you here?” She really wished Ronnie would leave and not put himself in Anthony’s sights. No good could come of it. There would be no talking sense into Anthony, and she needed to remove Ronnie from the situation before it got ugly. “Let’s go inside,” she said to Ronnie.

“Good idea.”

It would have been a great idea if Anthony hadn’t grabbed her arm as they tried to walk around him. She attempted to pull it free, but he tightened his grip. “Let go of me.”

Grayson made a sound, a low growl, and panic welled inside her. He was about to step in, and she had to do something. If he outed himself trying to protect her, she’d lose her chance of getting Tyler back.

The trick with Anthony was to let him think he’d won, and although she’d promised herself when she left that she’d never cower before him again, it was the only thing she could think of doing. He was glaring at Ronnie, and she chanced the moment when his gaze wasn’t on her to try to send a message to Grayson. She gave a slight shake of her head and prayed that he got the message and that he understood the plea in her eyes not to interfere. His lips thinned in frustration, but he dipped his chin.

She folded in on herself, letting her arm go limp. “I’m sorry, Anthony,” she said in the spineless voice she’d hoped never to hear again. A voice and words she hated because they brought back memories she’d tried so hard to put behind her.

His grip on her arm loosened ever so slightly. “Get in the car.” When she hesitated, he tightened his fingers around her arm again. “Just to talk privately, Harlow.”

“Okay, but just to talk.” God, she hated that meek voice. The last thing she wanted was to be closed up in a vehicle with him. If it wasn’t for Grayson, Anthony would have to physically put her in the car. But Grayson was here, and he wouldn’t let Anthony hurt her or take her away, so she obeyed.

“Hey now,” Ronnie said as she was sliding onto the back seat. “You don’t have to listen to him.”

“I’m all right. Please, go home.”

When he moved toward her, Grayson stepped in front of him. “Do as the lady says.”

“This isn’t right.” Ronnie’s gaze sought hers. “Do you want me to call the police?”

“No. Really, everything’s okay. I promise.” Just please leave.

Grayson used his bigger body to herd Ronnie away. “This isn’t your problem,” she heard him quietly say to Ronnie. “Go home before you make it worse.”

She startled when Anthony got into the car and closed the door. She scooted to the other side until she was hugging the door. Her gaze was drawn back to Grayson and Ronnie. Grayson was walking him toward the building, and she wondered what he was saying to Ronnie.

“Who is he?” Anthony said.

She needed to be careful and not let him see her pay Grayson any attention. “Just a kid, a neighbor. He’s no one and nothing to me, all right?”

“He had his hand on you.”

“Why do I have to keep reminding you that we’re divorced? That you have no right to tell me what I can do and not do.”

“Divorce be damned. You’re my wife. It’s time to stop this foolishness and come home.”

“You don’t love me, so why do you care?”

“What’s love got to do with it?”

She burst into laughter. “You didn’t just say that, Tina .” He grinned and for a second, she saw the man she’d fallen in love with. Then that man was gone, replaced by the one she’d grown to hate.

His eyes turned hard and cold. “Your week is almost up. You now have three days to pack up your things and close up your apartment.”

“Or?”

“Or I do it for you. Actually, don’t bother packing anything. Everything you need is at home where you belong. I’m announcing my candidacy for mayor at a dinner two weeks from Saturday, and you will be by my side.”

“Screw you.” She opened the door, got out and slammed it behind her. When she rounded the front of the car, he was standing outside.

“Three days, Harlow,” he called after her.

Why couldn’t he leave her alone? Why couldn’t they co-parent their beautiful boy, do what was best for him? Tears burned her eyes, and she forced herself to walk past Grayson, but couldn’t resist looking at him when he took a step toward her. His eyes held hers for a brief moment. In them, she saw understanding and a promise. She wanted to believe, but Anthony had put doubts in her head. He always won, and she was so very afraid he would again.