“No. No one’s mad. I swear.”
“What about Declan?”
“I don’t know,” Baz sighed. “Hard to say. I’m still in charge, but ... it’s complicated.”
Complicated the situation might be, but once they got to the courthouse, the divorce was simple. This was a no-fault divorce state, and they had already filed the intent paperwork. Arden had signed everything she needed to sign. The only thing remaining was a final decree of dissolution in front of a judge—the thing she hadn’t realized she needed.
“You’ll have nothing,” Grant spat venomously as they waited to be seen, although he kept his voice low. Baz had placed himself between Arden and her ex, with his arm around Arden’s shoulders. “You’ll be destitute.”
“I was, once,” Arden retorted. “I’m not anymore. You don’t have any hold over me.” She dropped her voice, too. “Remember, Grant, destroy those pictures you have, and I won’t go public with anything I know aboutyou.”
Their names were called before Grant could answer.
The judge was brisk and no-nonsense. If she recognized Grant from his TV appearances, by either face or name, she gave no sign. They both agreed to the established terms, which gave Grant everything.
“You can contest and request a more equitable settlement, if you like,” the judge told Arden.
Arden shook her head. “No. I want a clean break. It was all Grant’s to begin with, and now it’s his again.” She glanced at Baz. “I have everything I want.”
After all of that, it felt oddly anticlimactic. The divorce decree, signed by the judge and filed with the court, was effective immediately. Afterward, Arden disappeared immediately into one of the restrooms. Baz waited for her in the hall. She looked a little surprised to find him still there when she got out.
“You okay?” Baz asked her quietly as they headed back out to the parking lot.
“I guess so. The thing is, I thought this had already been done, so nothing has really changed—not in any major way.”
Grant was waiting by the SUV with Sloan. Baz slowed, anticipating another possibility for a fight, but the senator and bodyguard were talking quietly. Grant approached Arden with a fake smile.
“Friends?” he said, thrusting out a hand.
Arden shoved her hands into her pockets, and Baz pulled her close to him. “Not anymore,” she told him.
Grant’s hand dropped; his face twisted in a scowl. “Remember that I gave you every chance.”
“You just remember the terms of our deal. I want you out of my life, Grant, and I want you to leave my friends alone. That’s it, that’s all I want. If you make trouble for me, I’ll make trouble for you, but as far as I’m concerned, we can go our separate ways.”
Grant said nothing, just got into the passenger side of the SUV in silence. The bodyguard raised his eyebrows at both of them, with a look Baz interpreted as respect, and then got in after him.
As they drove away, Baz turned to Arden. “You were great.”
“I felt like a giant bitch,” Arden admitted with a half-laugh.
“Don’t say that. He had all of that coming and more.” Baz frowned down at her. “You sure you’re okay with not getting any of Grant’s money?”
“I don’t want it. I feel like it’s all tainted. Given the kind of life he lives, he’s going to be hit with an ethics investigation sooner or later, and I’d rather not have a lawyer serving me a summons. I just want all the strings severed so I can move on with my life.”
“In that case, I think there’s only one thing left to say.”
“What’s that?” she asked, looking up at him uncertainly.
Baz swept her into his arms and kissed her, right there in the courthouse parking lot. A couple of people passing by cautiously applauded, perhaps thinking they were witnessing a newly married couple. Baz grinned down at her, and her eyes sparkled up at him like stars.
“Congratulations, formerly Mrs. Grant Hamilton. I now pronounce you an unmarried woman. You’re free.”
ARDEN
“Is thereany reason why we have to head back to Windrock today?” Arden asked as they got into Baz’s truck.
Baz glanced over at her and stilled his hand on the ignition key. “What are you thinking?”
