title: The Ex
author: Turcol, Deborah Barcus
description: It's 1980 in La Jolla, California. Natalie Bartlett has devoted her life to her career, becoming an accomplished architect in a world dominated by men. Since the collapse of her emotionally abusive marriage, she has been involved in a 'no-strings-attached' relationship for the past three years. It serves its purpose just fine, no strings means no heartbreak, until the day she runs into a man she merely crossed paths with ten years ago. Despite all her misgivings and fears, this man slowly pulls her into the safety of his heart, giving her the missing piece of the puzzle, making her soul complete. But a turn of events shoves her out of her newfound comfort zone. Now she realizes the man she loves comes with a piece of baggage packed so full of evil it's beyond her comprehension. She can either turn and run, or stay and fight to the end. If she runs...she loses him. If she stays...he loses her.