Ruthless Stranger by Maggie Cole

1

Aspen

A Few Days Earlier

"Congratulations. Your divorce is now final."Kora beams and holds her vodka tonic in the air.

I groan. "You shouldn't look so happy."

Her brown eyes widen. She pushes her dark hair off her creamy skin and tucks the lock behind her ears. She sternly reprimands me. "Yes, I should. You're lucky I gave you my bestie treatment. I used every trick in the book to get this done quickly and without a long, drawn-out battle. Trust me on this."

Kora is Chicago's top divorce attorney. Usually, the uber-wealthy women hire her, but she didn't even charge me to end my twenty-year marriage to Peter. Not that I was rolling in money married to Peter, nor am I now. I should be, but most of our marriage, Peter spent using my salary to start one failed business after another. At least, he told me he was using the money for businesses.

I tried to be a supportive wife, always cheering him on and encouraging him to follow his dreams. But I was stupid. My friends often told me to get my head out of la-la land. They warned me to stop allowing him to use all the money I made and make him get a job. I thought they didn't understand and were harshly judging him. I was wrong and should have listened to them.

Peter came from an upper-class family, and when his dad died, he inherited a few million. I couldn't touch it. But the irony of Peter's father leaving it in a trust and out of my control is Peter didn't need me to dwindle it down. He went through it all in two years. Then he went back to spending every penny in our bank account.

But I didn't divorce him because of money. The breaking point came when I found out why he wasn't paying attention to me in our bed. And that reason was a twenty-something-year-old blonde he bought new boobs for...with my salary.

"You're lucky I got him to agree to only a tenth of alimony," Kora reminds me.

I should only be grateful, but it burns me I have to pay him anything. "The law is so screwed up. I worked my butt off for twenty years. He gets to do whatever he wants and live off me. As a reward for my work ethic and his laziness, I get to pay him for the next ten years or until he gets married again. Whoever created alimony sucks."

"Yep. But it's a sliver of what it could have been. Tell me you're happy." She holds her glass out, still waiting for me to clink it.

I cave, hit it, then take a long swallow of my martini. The chilled gin slides down my throat in a smooth burn. "I am grateful it's over and for you. Thank you."

Now, what am I going to do?

I'm thirty-eight, divorced, and have nothing to show for the last twenty years.

At least I still have my job.

Why did I get married at eighteen?

Peter Albright swept me off my feet. I met him shortly after I graduated high school. Within three months, we got married. He was twenty-five and seemed to have it all together. I didn't know he lived off his grandparents' trust fund, or that it would run out within our first year of marriage.

Instead of going away to college in California as planned, he convinced me to get a job with the city. He claimed I didn't need my degree since we were getting married, and it was more important we be together. So I gave up my scholarship and took an assistant position in the zoning department.

My bosses promoted me over the years, but I can't go any higher since I don't have my degree. I run circles around everyone I work with but don't get nearly the pay I should. Since Peter never had a job or brought money in, I never ventured outside of my department or went back to school.

"Is it over?" Hailee's voice quietly asks.

I spin. "Yes. Thanks to Kora."

Hailee hugs me, and her blonde hair falls in my face. She pulls back, and her blue eyes are full of sympathy. Out of all of us, she's the most sensitive. Since kindergarten, we've been joined at the hip.

"I'm okay," I assure her.

She smiles, nods, and sits in the booth next to Kora.

"Is Skylar coming?" Kora asks.

"No. She had to work late. But she said she's in."

"Good. I'll book it, then."

"Book what?" I inquire.

Excitement crosses Hailee's face. "It's a surprise."

My stomach drops. I don't like not knowing what's going to happen. Maybe it's from my marriage to Peter all these years. I always waited for the other shoe to drop. I didn't used to expect bad things to happen. But over the years, calls from debt collectors, overdrawn bank and credit accounts, and canceled plans added up. If I got through a day with nothing unexpected happening, I breathed in relief. Since I separated from Peter, I realized how much anxiety he created in my life.

He is no longer with me, but I carry the residual effects of twenty years. I still hold my breath when I attempt to pay for something even though my finances have been in my sole control for the last few months.

"Please tell me," I demand.

Kora shakes her head and smirks. "Nope. You will receive a list of items to pack via text."

"Pack? I don't have money to go anywhere that requires a suitcase."

"Yep. We know. But that is why you have three awesome friends."

My gut flips. "This isn't necessary. I'm not a charity case for you to all take on. Kora already gave me her services for free. I appreciate everything you all have done, but now we need to resume normalcy."

Kora snorts and does something on her phone. "Please. It's all booked. You're going."

Hailee claps and glows. "I can't wait. It's going to be amazing!"

Heat rises to my cheeks in anger.

They only want what is best for me. Don't get mad at them.

I count to five then say, "Can you please cancel whatever it is you just did? I'm not—"

"No. We can't. It's paid for and not refundable. Smile, say thank you, then drink up," Skylar butts in. "Move over."

I slide across my seat. "I thought you were working?"

"Decided I was finished for the night. Told Bowmen to do his own ordering."

"Wow. It's about time. What happened?" Skylar works for a high-end fashion designer. She always knows how to dress and takes risks the rest of us don't. Like right now, her hair is magenta. I could never pull it off, but she's a work of art. Everything she wears, whether makeup, hair, or clothes, is a statement.

"I don't want to talk about it. I need alcohol." She picks up my glass and takes a long drink.

"Help yourself," I tease.

She sighs and sets it down. "Sorry."

"You're fine."

She motions to the bartender to give us another round and points to my drink. She turns back to us. "Tomorrow can't come soon enough. What time do we need to be at the airport?"

"Airport?" I blurt out, my panic rising.

"Chill out. You're going to thank us," Kora insists.

Before I can argue any further, Skylar's hazel eyes harden. "Tell me you didn't end up paying that loser." She removes her eyeglasses and cleans them on her shirt.

"Sorry, can't." I take another sip.

"I got it down to a tenth," Kora says in an insulted tone and crosses her arms.

Skylar grunts. "Still too much."

Hailee rushes to Kora's defense. "It's not her fault. She did the best she could."

"Yes, she did," I agree.

"Chill. I'm not judging your skills. It just burns me he gets anything after all the years he mooched off Aspen."

"Can we discuss something else? I don't want to think about Peter anymore," I voice.

The server comes over with our drinks. I finish the last of my martini and hand her the empty glass. "Thanks."

"You need anything else, ladies?" she asks. Her smile is big, displaying her perfectly straight white teeth. Her pink T-shirt stretches over her pert breasts perfectly. She's only in her twenties and blonde, and everything about her reminds me of the boobs I bought for Peter's new girlfriend, who also wears a diamond ring courtesy of my salary. But I'm sure he'll never marry her since he'll lose my alimony.

Don't be a disgruntled woman. It's not the waitress's fault.

I force myself to smile. "We're good. Thank you."

She leaves, and I drink a few more mouthfuls of my martini.

"So, what time do we meet at the airport?" Skylar repeats.

"Six. Flight's at eight. Gives us time to get through security and have a mimosa breakfast," Kora replies.

My chest tightens. "Can we go back to me not being a charity case?"

"Can we stop this conversation now since we aren't changing our surprise for you?" Hailee responds with a hopeful smile.

"Ugh. You're all—"

"Amazing friends who you love to pieces?" She bats her eyelashes at me.

I snicker and give up. "There's no point in fighting this, is there?"

Skylar holds her glass out. "Nope. Cheers to your new life. To sunshine and new beginnings."

"Don't forget new men," Kora adds.

"Nope. A man is what got me into this mess. I'm staying away. The chastity belt is on forever."

Kora dramatically gasps. "Oh, please. Don't be a boring divorcée."

"I'm not joking."

Skylar tilts her head and stares at me.

"What?"

"You know, at some point you need to get back on the horse, right?"

"No, I don't."

"Mmmm, yeah, you do," she insists.

"I don't need it in my life. I'm enjoying my independence."

"So don't get serious. Saddle up and leave the stallion in the barn when you're done."

Hailee spits out her drink, and a drop of alcohol hits my cheek.

She covers her mouth, laughing. "Oh, jeez. Sorry! Skylar!"

"What?"

Kora bites her smile. "Skylar's right. It's time for service. You're past your mileage date."

I put my burning face in my hands. "You guys!"

"We need to find you a grade-A stud. Someone who won't get emotionally attached and will show you what real sex is like," Skylar says.

I nudge her with my elbow and pick my head up. "Stop. And I'm not a virgin. Peter wasn't bad in bed."

My three friends all gaze at me with eyebrows raised.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"When wasn't he bad in bed? When you were in your twenties, and he paid attention to you?" Kora asks.

"Gee, thanks for reminding me that I wasn't attractive to him anymore once I hit thirty."

"He's an ass," Kora quickly replies.

The others agree.

"Whatever. Peter is no longer my problem. Well, minus the alimony."

Kora groans. "Seriously, it's an unheard of deal I negotiated for you."

I pat her hand. "Sorry. I know it is. And I'm so grateful to you. But I'm done with him and all men. They are nothing but a drag on my finances and independence. There is nothing they can offer me I can't do myself."

Hailee smirks. "Nothing but sweaty muscular flesh and O's all night."

"I can get all the O's I need on my own, thank you very much."

"Not the same," Skylar chirps and drinks her martini.

Kora leans in. "Don't turn around now, but Mr. Bad Boy just walked in."

Skylar and I both twist in our seats.

A tall, rugged-looking guy with a five o'clock shadow, expensive black leather jacket, and cocky grin catches us checking him out. He wiggles his eyebrows at us, removes his jacket, and displays his perfectly fitted T-shirt over his sculpted chest. His left arm is covered in tattoos.

"I said not to look right now!" Kora reprimands us.

I turn back. "Too young. He's barely thirty."

"Does that matter?" Skylar asks.

"I wouldn't turn him down," Hailee claims.

"I'd drop to my knees and play cougar," Kora follows.

We all laugh. When we quiet, Hailee locks eyes with me.

"What?"

"So, you want a silver fox, then?"

My stomach flutters. "No. I don't want anyone."

She taps her fingers on her glass. "But if you had to choose between younger or older, you're picking a new daddy?"

I choke on my drink.

Skylar's eyes light up. "Ahh...now we're getting somewhere."

I shake my head. "Nope. I'm done with men."

I say it confidently, but a twinge of disappointment flares when it comes out of my mouth. But I know I need to stay as far away from men as possible. My experience is they are nothing but trouble.

I trusted Peter. For twenty years, I gave my heart to him. The risk of love isn't worth the pain of betrayal. And the ink on my divorce papers isn't even dry yet. The last thing I need is any man touching me.

"Being lonely is better than recreating what I just went through. If it's just me, all I have to do is fend for myself. Nothing can go wrong. But if it does, it's my fault and no one else's. So, while I appreciate your concern for my relationship status, there is nothing I need or want from a man." It comes out strong and sure, but my friends don't appear as if they believe me.

So I ignore their looks and change the subject. One thing I refuse to do is bend on my promise to myself. It's time to find out what makes me happy and discover my purpose in life. As Peter proved, a man isn't going to help me do either of those things.