“No, you won’t.”

He sighed. “Then what can we do?”

“He wants to come over tonight. Zeke and Watts are going to do boy things. I’ll set some ground rules, but it’s going to limit us at work. We might all get fired anyway.”

“Then we all get paid by his daddy to keep quiet when you file a sexual harassment lawsuit, and we follow that up with unjustified termination. It’s a fair trade.”

I nodded, jumping down off the FJ. Trex hugged me quickly, then I followed his truck down the mountain into town. The street lights twinkled like the stars, and the different responses Peter might have to what I had to say played over in my mind. It would be a fine line, telling him we were over and still making sure he walked away a friend. Peter loved me. I just hoped it was the kind of love that made him think twice before doing something to hurt me and my team.

When I pulled into the drive, Zeke’s truck was absent, replaced by Peter’s car. He was waiting on the porch in a white button-down and navy-blue slacks, missing his usual tie and suit jacket. Even his top button was undone.

“You look … casual,” I said.

“It’s been a rough week and have another one coming up.”

“Work or divorce?”

“Both.” He stood, following me inside. “Where’s Zeke?” he asked, looking around. “Doesn’t he live here now?”

“Pretty much. I’d offer you a drink, but I don’t keep any here anymore. Water?”

Peter made a face. “Why not?”

I shifted my weight. “Zeke has a heart condition. Alcohol makes it worse.”

“What kind of heart condition? Is it serious?”

I glared at him. “He’s not going to die, if that’s what you’re asking. Even though he might feel like it since the Forestry Department didn’t approve his contract this year. Peter…”

“What?”

“You didn’t have anything to do with that, did you?”

Peter frowned. “I didn’t know about the heart condition.”

“Did you pull him?”

“I have zero authority there, Naomi, please.”

“You have favors.”

He grinned. “Which I used to get you this job. I only have one favor out at the moment.”

I crossed my arms. “I remember.”

He walked into the kitchen. “Sounds like you’ve been waiting hand and foot on someone else. How about you let me do it for you for once?” He poured two glasses of ice water and handed me one.

We sat on the couch, sipping our water in silence for a few minutes while I gathered my thoughts.

“I was hoping we could talk about things between us,” Peter said.

I nodded. “Okay.”