“Yes.” Her answer was instant and without hesitation. “Of course, I do.”
“Okay, then. Trust me to do this for you.” He pulled her against his chest, tucking her head beneath his chin. “For us.”
They were still sitting like that when Mac arrived with the papers.
After triple-checking to make sure she hadn’t missed any of the places she was supposed to sign, Charlie handed them back to the other woman.
“There.” She exhaled. “It’s done.”
Mac smiled back. “Not yet, but it will be. I just wish I could be there to see that asshole’s face when he gets these.”
“Oh, I’m sure we’ll hear from him as soon as he does,” Derek assured her.
Charlie glanced over at him. Arms crossed, he was sitting on the arm of the couch not far from where she and Mac stood.
“How can you be so certain?”
“As soon as Caleb receives those”—he tilted his head toward the papers in Mac’s hand— “Shane’s gonna text me to let me know. When he gets my response he’ll give Caleb a separate envelope with my phone number and instructions to check his email and then call me. Once I make sure Caleb understands what he has to do, Shane will then escort him to wherever he needs to go to get it done. After that, Shane’s gonna fly into Dallas. Grant will be waiting at the airport to get the paperwork from him as soon as he lands.”
“Wow.” Charlie felt her brows go up. “You really have thought of everything, haven’t you?”
Derek held out his hand, and she took it. Making room for her between his strong thighs, he pulled her to him and rested his hands on her hips.
“I have. I know how important this is to you, and I wasn’t about to give Caleb a chance to worm his way out of it.”
“On that note”—Mac waved and headed for the door—“I’ll let you know when these have been sent.”
The other woman bid them both a farewell and left in search of the nearest post office. In her hands were the papers that would change Charlie’s life forever.
Derek really hadn’t missed a step. Per her request, he’d made sure the papers clearly stated she didn’t want anything from Caleb other than enough money to cover living expenses for the next six months. After that, Charlie would be on her own to provide for herself.
At first, she’d argued with Derek over the money, stating she wanted nothing from Caleb. However, after he pointed out she’d more than earned that money after what the jerk had put her through, Charlie finally agreed to request only what she felt she would need to get started.
With what she knew was in their joint account, along with all the other assets she was giving up without protest, what Charlie had asked for was a drop in the bucket.
Caleb won’t see it that way.
She must have made a face because Derek lifted her chin with his thumb and forefinger and said, “Hey. You sure you’re okay with this? ’Cause I don’t want to push you into something you’re not ready for. I can get ahold of Mac right now and call the whole thing off if you want me to.”
Charlie shook her head. “I’ve been ready for this for years. I’ll just be glad when it’s over.”
He exhaled with relief and wrapped his strong arms around her. “It will be soon. I promise.”
With her cheek against his shoulder, she asked, “How certain are you that he’ll agree to everything?”
“If he doesn’t, life as he knows it will be ruined. Both personally and professionally. From what you’ve told me, the only other thing he values more than controlling you is keeping in his father’s good graces. There’s no way he’s going to let everything he’s done to you and those other women become public. That would ruin not only his name but also his family’s.”
She tilted her head back to see his face. “What if a judge doesn’t grant the divorce? Then, what?”
“My instructions to Caleb are clear. He’s to sign the papers and get one of those judges he has in his pocket to push it through. They won’t be able to deny his request any more than he’ll deny mine.”
“How long do you think it’ll take before everything is finalized?”
Derek tucked a few stray strands behind her ear and smiled. “You’ll be a single woman again by nightfall.”
****
It was late afternoon, and Derek was on the back deck sliding freshly-grilled burgers onto a plate when his phone dinged from his pocket. He sat the plate down and quickly read the text from Shane.
