Corrie looked as if she wasn’t sure she believed me. “Okay. Drive safe. I’ll call you as soon as I have a space for you to look at.”

I nodded, and Corrie took off back towards her office, a woman on a mission. I appreciated her care and determination, but right now, I had the strongest urge to give up. All I wanted to do was curl up into a ball. And I wanted to do that in Crosby’s arms.

The backs of my eyes burned as I stared down the street. Crosby’s truck gleamed in the afternoon light. I inhaled deeply. I was a big girl. If I wanted something, I needed to ask for it. I started towards The General Store and Crosby’s bungalow office that sat just behind it.

My hands began to tremble as I walked. The idea of exposing my need for Crosby sent waves of fear through me, but I pressed on. By the time I reached his office, I felt as if I were going to come out of my skin. I pulled open the door, and the bell jingled.

Penny looked up from her desk, her smile faltering as she took me in. “Oh, honey, what’s wrong?”

“Is Crosby here?” My voice shook slightly as I spoke.

“Of course, go right in.”

I crossed to his office door, and by the time I reached it, Crosby had stood from his desk. His expression hardened as he took me in. “What happened?”

“Grant.” I didn’t know what else to say.

Crosby opened his arms, and I walked right into them. The strength and warmth of his hold was everything that I needed. Just to know I wasn’t alone. I didn’t want Crosby to fix my problems, but I wanted to know that he was with me while I went on the journey. He rubbed a hand up and down my back. “Tell me what happened.”

I turned my head to the side so my cheek rested on his pec. “They got to the landlord I was going to rent an office space from. I found the perfect little place just off Main. Corrie and I negotiated the lease yesterday, but today, it was suddenly unavailable. When I asked if it was because of Grant, all of the blood drained out of the landlord’s face.”

Crosby muttered a curse. “I’m so sorry.”

“When is this going to end?”

“Soon.” He pulled back but took hold of my shoulders. “I promise. We have closing arguments in a few days, and I think we’re going to win. Grant and Hotchkiss know it, so they’re pulling out all the stops.”

“But will they stop after they lose?” I was beginning to wonder if I’d ever be free of that twisted family. Grant seemed hellbent on making sure my life was as miserable as he could make it.