“The bank froze the account, and they’re looking into it. Since he’s still listed as part owner, they need to see the divorce ruling that says he has to sell to me. It’s a big mess right now.”
A look of anger passed over Brody’s face. “He has the right to fucking drain the account and leave you stranded? How in the hell is that okay?”
I pressed my fingers to my temples to ease the instant ache building there. I had managed to not think about the whole Jack drama for most of the day, but all the stress was coming back now. “I don’t know, Brody. My lawyer sent something to the court saying that Jack left me with no means to pay any bills. He’s confident we’ll be able to get the money back. Meanwhile, Jack thinks he has a hold over me.”
“You haven’t heard from him?”
“No,” I said, my voice cracking with emotion. I’d been trying to put up a good front for the last two days, and it was beginning to take its toll.
Brody walked around the desk and reached for me. He pulled me up and drew me into his arms. “It’s okay, Sutton.”
I pushed him away. “It’s not okay, Brody! My crazy ex-husband is back in town. He stole my money, and when my father finds out… I don’t even want to think about what he’ll do. He doesn’t need this type of stress.”
“We’ll get it fixed. We’ve got the marriage certificate. As soon as you say the word, we can get married.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. But what would happen after? Would Brody want to consummate the marriage? How would things work? Where would he live? Oh God—what if he moved in with me? How in the hell would I be able to resist him, living under the same roof?
“Where will you live?” I blurted out.
The corner of his mouth twitched with a hidden smile. “I’m assuming I’ll move in with you. The idea is to make Jack think he no longer stands a chance, right?”
“You want to move in with me? How in the hell am I going to explain that to my parents?”
“We can tell them whatever you want to tell them. The truth, a lie, or a combination of both.”
“And? What do you expect from me?”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Sex-wise. I mean, if we get married, would you expect me to have sex with you? Isn’t that what all guys want?”
Jerking his head back, Brody stared at me for what felt like an eternity. His eyes fell to my mouth, and I could feel the instant pull between us. The sexual tension that had been building for months—and that we’d both been ignoring—seemed to catch fire. The idea of being with Brody again sent heat right to my core. My breathing sped up, and I had to work on making it steady.
He sighed, finally breaking the silence. “If you think I’m going to force you to sleep with me simply because of a marriage certificate, then you don’t know me at all, Sutton. I’m not doing this to fuck you. I’m doing it because I care about you, and I want to help you.”
I raised my brows. “Will you still be sleeping with other women then?”
“What?” he asked in a shocked voice. “Did you seriously fucking ask me that?”
There was a light knock on the door, and we both turned to see Palmer standing in the doorway of my office with a confused look on her face. “Um…I knocked, but it sounded like you were arguing so I don’t think you heard me. Am I interrupting something?”
Brody said, “Yes,” at the same time I answered, “No, not at all.”
He tilted his head, gave me an incredulous look, then stormed around my desk and started to head out of the office.
Palmer watched him with wide eyes. “I don’t know how to say this but…Jack is here.”
Brody stopped and turned around. “He’s here? In the store?”
Palmer nodded. “I told him he has to leave, but he said he has a right to be here.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Brody said.
I stepped forward. “No! Brody, don’t. You’ll only make things worse.”
“Then call the cops, Sutton. You have a restraining order against him.”
“What?” Palmer gasped. “What did he do?”