Jared went quiet again. He glanced around the kitchen, jealousy all over his face. “When I saw you and Nathan cooking in here just now, I felt really bad.”

I looked at him like he was a freak. “We’re divorced. Why would you care who I’m with?”

Jared crossed his arms. “I was jealous.”

I laughed in disbelief. “Jared, you have no right to be jealous anymore. Forget cooking. Even if you saw me kissing someone, you should keep your cool.”

“I can’t.” He bit his lip. “I want to be blind and numb and just let myself move on, but I tried.” There was pain in his voice. “I still can’t handle seeing you with another man.”

“So what now?” I turned to him. “From here on out, you’re gonna see me with someone else. Aren’t you just setting yourself up to be miserable?”

Jared stared at me for a long moment and then closed his eyes. “You’re not the kind of woman who sleeps around, Victoria. Even after the divorce, I hope you won’t hook up with guys just to get back at me.”

I had to admit that Jared’s ego was unbelievable. Even now, he was convinced that whatever was going on between Nathan and me was just to get revenge for his cheating.

“Today, Nathan and I played tennis. I’ve never felt so relaxed.” I changed the subject. “Remember when I invited you a few times? You always said you didn’t have time and told me to go find a coach.”

Jared looked at me, surprised. I kept going. “The coach played with me a few times. He kept pointing out what I was doing wrong, like I was some student. But Nathan wasn’t like that.”

When I mentioned Nathan, I stopped washing dishes, turned to Jared, and smiled. “He went easy on me. He’s really good, but he adjusted to my level.

“If I hit the ball wrong, he encouraged me. Even if I hit it right at him, he’d come over and ask if my hand hurt.”

Jared’s face kept getting darker and darker, I laughed softly. “Now I get it. When someone cares about you, even if you screw up, they’ll keep forgiving you. It’s addictive. Oh, and I’m sure you know the feeling. Tracy gave you way more emotional support than I ever did.”

Jared didn’t say anything, but I could see the irritation in his eyes. “Do you know why Nathan does all this?” Jared gave a short, cold laugh and tried to keep his voice even.

“I do,” I said calmly. “When a man and a woman spend time together, in the end, there’s usually only one goal, right?”

“You know that and still think he cares? Don’t be so naive.” Jared tried to cut me down.

I shrugged. “You’re the naive one. Did it ever cross your mind that maybe I want a man’s touch, too? Who’s taking advantage? Who can say for sure?”

“Victoria!” Jared’s voice shot up.

Out on the balcony, Yvonne had been playing with her toy cars. She startled and ran in. “Daddy, are you yelling at Mommy again?”

Jared’s face was red now, his chest rising and falling with anger. “Can’t you have a little shame?”

Yvonne blinked at me. “Mommy, did you make Daddy mad again?”

I motioned for her to go. “Go play. This is between me and him.”

Yvonne immediately turned to Jared. “Daddy, don’t be mad. You said if you get mad again, Mommy will leave.”

Jared didn’t say a word. I narrowed my eyes at him. I could tell he was trying to plant this idea in our daughter’s head that I might come back anytime.

Then it clicked. The reason Yvonne didn’t care about our divorce was that she believed I’d return to the Holcomb family sooner or later.

The two had been sticking close to me every day just to reel me back in. This shameless man knew exactly how to work people.