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His cologne wafted over me, and I almost sighed.

How would my soul survive close days, even weeks, of proximity to him?

To distract myself from him as he chatted with the driver about our location, I pulled my phone from my pocket and dialed Max’s number again.

The line rang out, and I ended the call with a grimace, sliding the device away before Deacon spotted it.

He sensed my movement and shifted toward me regardless.

‘You OK, mama?’ he said, his eyes flicking over my face as scorching embarrassment burned my cheeks at my husband’s radio silence.

I shrugged.

‘Just tired.’

The truth was, Max’s absence was infuriating.

Damn the man.

I wanted to take his twelve-thousand-dollar diamond ring from my hand and fling it into the passing traffic.

Fuck him.

It’d take the earth, moon, and stars to forgive him for abandoning me, not returning my calls, and ghosting when I needed him the most.

As we cruised along the coastal highway toward the mountain ridges, I leaned my temple against the window, wallowing in anger and regret.

The fact that Max wasn’t there for me during one of the worst crises of my life jarred me.

As was the truth that Deacon had been the one to bail me out.

Which only added to the evidence that I might have made a mistake leaving my first husband.

Now, in Deacon’s care, forced to lean on him until I got well, I’d be surrounded by even more reasons why I should never have packed my bags and given up on us.

When I turned my head from the view, we locked eyes.

My heart jolted.

What was I thinking? Allowing Deacon to take me into his home?

Still, what choice did I have?

My sorry ass husband was MIA, and I couldn’t look after myself.

Damn.

‘Hey,’ Deacon rumbled, breaking into my thoughts, arching a brow, a sure sign he suspected what was on my mind. ‘Don’t overthink it, malkia; let go, let flow.’

‘If he shows up begging for my forgiveness, will you hand me a shot gun and step aside while I blast him to hell?’

He huffed. ‘Always.’

We chuckled as my mood lifted.

‘I can’t wait to see Raff.’

Deacon nodded.