Chapter 21

This is it.

She was a crazy person.

Marley, tail wagging, went to push his head against Hez's hand. As his long fingers ruffed up the dog's ears, she had a stab of longing that he would cup her face in those hands.

He held up a white box. "I brought a peace offering of beignets." A manila envelope was tucked under his arm.

"And I made coffee." Savannah clamped her lips against the nervous words that wanted to spill out. "Come on in."

"Thanks." He inhaled the coffee's aroma and took a sip. "You've always made the best coffee."

She settled on the sofa beside him with one leg tucked under her. The scent of his spicy cologne made her want to move closer. She opened the Petit Charms box and took a beignet. It was a perfect snack to celebrate what was about to happen. Her defensive walls had tumbled the minute she opened the door.

Hez set down his mug beside the envelope he'd brought. "I have so much to apologize for."

Her smile faltered. "You've apologized, Hez. It's not necessary."

"I—I didn't think it was presumptuous. I'm glad you're clean, Hez. Really."

"I have the power to give you want you want. So I'm going to do just that, Savannah." He picked up the envelope he'd placed on the table and handed it to her. "I'm giving you your freedom with these divorce papers. You can move on with Beckett, and I'll stay out of the way. I'll work on the investigation and keep it strictly business. All I want is for you to be happy, and I've realized that's out of my power now. I blew my chance. Once the semester ends, I'll be out of your hair. The pro bono case has been wrapped up, and there won't be a reason for me to stay. In the meantime I'll try my best not to run into you."

"B-but..." She barely got the word out before he stood and strode to the door.

***

Savannah practically fell into her friend's arms, where she sobbed while Nora made soothing noises and patted her back. "He's divorcing me," she managed to choke out before she got her tears in check.

"Come inside." Nora led her into the living room where a diffuser wafted lavender oil into the room.

"Here." Nora thrust a mug of tea into her hand. "It's passionflower. It will calm you down."

Nora sat beside her on the sofa. "Tell me."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing. I was too shocked to say anything, and he was out the door before I could stop him."

Nora took a sip of her tea. "Hmm," was all she said.

"What's that mean?"

"Just that your attitude took a major shift. Last time we talked you didn't want to still love him."

"I know, right?" Tea sloshed in the mug when Savannah set it down on the table. "I'm such an idiot. Everything I thought I wanted was a smoke screen to cover my feelings. I should have paid attention when he showed up that first day. I've always had such a visceral reaction to him. Even the day we met, I just knew. It's probably why it took me so long to file for divorce. I thought it was what I should do, but I didn't really want to."

"So what comes next?"

She was already second-guessing her reaction to seeing him standing in the door to her house. The attraction between them had always been so powerful, and that much hadn't changed. But was it enough to overcome Ella's death? Him blindsiding her like this left the bad taste of distrust. He'd said she should have talked to him before she filed, so shouldn't he have done the same thing? She'd had no idea he was thinking about this. Every time they'd been together, hope shone through his eyes.

Nora eyed her. "I think I'd better fix coffee while you figure out what you want before it's too late."

Too late.

Savannah nodded and hurried toward her car. She couldn't think about it tonight. Hez had been so final. And maybe he was right.