I groaned. I hadn’t heard from Alicia in a few days. I’d thought I’d finally gotten through to her. Apparently, that wasn’t the case. I shoved the card into the trash and pushed to my feet. I paced back and forth in the small space behind my desk. Back to Boston? Was she insane?

And she just had to bring my parents into it. She’d learned to use them as a tool early on in our relationship, realizing that their approval and attention meant more to me than it should have. When I’d considered leaving my law firm and taking a job with a non-profit, Alicia had conveniently slipped that information to my father, who had promptly lost his mind at the idea.

I blew out a harsh breath. As pissed as I was, I really should be thanking Alicia. Her cheating had been the wakeup call I hadn’t known I needed. She’d shown me just how much I was living my life on other people’s terms. Now, I had a life that was mine and mine alone. I wouldn’t give that up for anyone.

Just the suggestion that I return to that old way of existence had me yearning to stretch my wings and take advantage of my hard-fought freedom. I glanced at my watch, an idea forming in my mind. Four-thirty.

I snatched the bottle and grabbed my keys from my drawer. I strode out to reception and placed the gift on Penny’s desk. “Ever wanted to try the best scotch you’ll ever taste?”

Her brows rose as she took in my expression. “Not a fan of the sender I take it?”

“Not in the least.”

She tipped the box back to examine the label. “The knitting ladies and I are always up for trying new things. And we can’t let something like this go to waste.”

“That’s the spirit. I’m taking off for the day. Don’t stay past five. That’s an order.”

Penny shook her head. “And what if someone calls for you?”

“Put them through to voicemail and tell them I’ll return on Monday.” It was four-thirty on a Friday, no one should get their panties in a twist that I was gone for the weekend.

“Sure, leave me to piss them off.”

“Come on, Pen, you can handle anything. That’s why I hired you.”

“Sweet-talker.”

“You know it.” I gave her a wave as I headed out the door. I had two stops to make before five o’clock: my house and the local sporting goods store. If I hurried, I could make both.

I might have broken a couple of speeding laws, but I was pulling into Cornerstone CPAs at five to five. Employees were already trickling out of the building and heading to their cars, but Kenna’s silver four-door was still in the lot, of course.