“These are the girls you have lunch with every day, aren’t they?”
A small smile formed on his lips as he looked over his shoulder at Sabrina. “How’d you guess?”
“It’s obvious when you look at things through the lens of logic instead of emotion. I owe you an apology for what I said on Saturday.”
He turned around to face her. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve given you plenty of reasons to believe the worst of me.”
“But no recent ones.” She came a few feet closer and stopped again. “I can see that you’ve changed; I just didn’t want to admit it. When you’ve thought one way for so long, it’s hard to see things clearly.”
“Especially when it concerns someone who hurt you.”
Sabrina looked past him, a wry grin forming on her lips. “Don’t make excuses for me. I haven’t handled what happened between us very well. It was wrong to refuse to listen to you then, and it’s wrong to continue to hold something against you that happened six years ago. I hope it’s not too late to tell you that I forgive you.”
Trent could hardly believe what he was hearing. “It’s not too late, but you’re not equating your actions with mine, are you? The situations are in no way similar. You did nothing to deserve being treated so badly. I, on the other hand, deserved everything I got and probably a lot more.”
“There’s enough blame to go around. It’s time to bury our past once and for all.”
This is what he’d hoped for, but never thought would actually happen. “That means a lot to me, Sabrina. Thank you.” He held out his hand, and after a slight hesitation, she put hers into it. His heart jolted in his chest as if she’d reached inside him and touched it instead. “This is much better. The last handshake I got from you kept me up half the night for all the wrong reasons.”
“I don’t think I got any sleep that night, either.”
“I thought for sure you’d refuse to work with me.”
“I wanted to, but I’d been out of work for months. I didn’t have much choice.” She tugged on her hand. “I’m going to need this back.”
“Sorry. I forgot how much I like holding your hand,” he said as he let her go. “Like the rest of you, it’s soft to the touch and smells like heaven.”
Tinges of pink entered her cheeks. “Your fan club is getting restless. You better finish feeding them. I need to get back to the office. I’m already late. Jared’s going to think I’m taking the rest of the day off.”
“Thanks again, Sabrina. I know this hasn’t been easy for you.”
“I’ve made it harder than it needed to be. I’ll see you later.”
Trent stared unseeingly at the calm surface of the lake, his emotions trying to catch up with what just happened. Not only had Sabrina forgiven him, but her comments indicated that she was starting to see him in a different light. Where did this leave them? Had he finally broken through the walls she’d erected around herself?
By the time he reached his office, Trent had curbed some of the anticipation building inside him. He couldn’t afford to get too excited. This development could mean everything and nothing. It would take more than a conversation to get her to trust him with her heart a second time.
* * * * *
As Sabrina made her way along the narrow path, she realized that those few minutes were the most at ease she’d been in Trent’s company yet. She hadn’t felt the usual undercurrents of tension bubbling underneath the surface. For the first time, she’d been able to talk to him without getting caught up in the drama of what he’d done. It was as if that single act of forgiving him had allowed her to draw a curtain between the past and the present. She knew what was behind the curtain, but it no longer had the power to hurt her. Maybe now the layers of anger and resentment around her heart could start to peel away.
Back at her desk, she resumed her reconciliation of the bank statements Jared had given her earlier. She’d been surprised at how much money their business generated in a month’s time. Financial consulting was more lucrative than she realized. Now she understood how Trent could afford his BMW.
At half past six Jared stuck his head through the half-closed door of her office. “Why are you still here?”
Sabrina twirled the pencil in her hand. “I’m three dollars and ten cents off. I can’t find it anywhere, and it’s driving me crazy.”
“You remind me of my wife. She’ll sit at the kitchen table for hours looking for five cents.”
“Oh, me, too. I can’t stand it when my check register doesn’t match the bank.”
“Try to forget about it for now and go home. Those statements will still be here tomorrow.”
Trent appeared behind Jared. “I thought you left already.”
“I did,” Jared said. “I had to come back for something. I’m trying to get Sabrina to go home. You seem to have infected her with your unhealthy workaholic tendencies.”
Trent looked at Sabrina and smiled. “You can’t blame me for that. She’s been that way since I’ve known her. She was the first to arrive for class and the last one to leave.”
“I’m glad I’m not the dedicated type. You two can stay here all night if you want. I’m going home.” With a wave of his hand, Jared left the room.
Sabrina thought Trent would leave, too, but he didn’t. Instead, he sat down in the chair in front of her desk and crossed his legs as if he anticipated a long stay. An unaccustomed shyness settled over her. Their conversation by the lake had changed the dynamic between them, but it would take time to sort out the implications.
“Mason’s game is tomorrow,” he said after a few seconds of silence. “Are you still planning to come?”
She realized she was nervously twisting the pencil in her hands and forced herself to put it down. “Of course. I told him I would.”
“He’ll be so relieved. He’s texted me at least ten times today asking me to remind you. I believe he’s got a crush on you.”
Sabrina smiled. “Does he? That’s sweet.”
“And totally understandable. Do you want to ride together?”
His question had followed so quickly on his comment that she wasn’t sure she heard him right. “That’s not really necessary. North Park isn’t that far from my house.”
“I know, but I told him I’d ask you. You know how it is when you’re young; everything seems so vitally important.”
It was like that when you’re older, too. “In that case, I’ll ride with you. What time do we need to leave?”
“Around six. I have to pick him up at six-thirty.”
“Oh, good; I’ll have time to change out of my work clothes.”
“I was going to suggest you do that. The bleachers aren’t the cleanest seats to sit on.” He rose to his feet. “Now I can go put Mason out of his misery.”
“And I can keep looking for my missing three dollars.”
“You better find it in the next half hour because when I leave, you leave.”
“Why? Because you have to be the last man standing at work?
Trent laughed. “I do have a reputation to uphold, but that’s not it. I don’t like you walking to your car alone in the dark.”
After he left, the numbers on the sheets of paper danced in front of her eyes. It was no use; her ability to concentrate had evaporated. Some women might have disliked the implication that they needed a man, but Sabrina knew that’s not what Trent meant. He’d been brought up in the South where manners and courtesy are deeply ingrained. Growing up in a household of females had made taking care of herself a necessity, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t often wondered what it would be like to experience the caring protection of a father or brother.
Every encounter with Trent disturbed her on some level. This one was no different. The boyish charm that had so attracted her before was still very much in evidence, but it was his humility and understanding that drew her now. The immature playboy had transformed into a sensitive, considerate man who was disturbingly appealing and impossible to ignore.<
br />
* * * * *
As he waited for Sabrina to change clothes, Trent tried to stem the tide of nervousness gathering in his stomach. Why was he so uptight? This wasn’t a date or anything close to it. All he was doing was giving an employee a ride to a game. He couldn’t make the mistake of reading more into it than that. He and Sabrina might have come to terms with their past, but the path to friendship or anything else was still uncertain.
His eyes left the dim hallway into which she’d disappeared after telling him to make himself comfortable and focused on an obviously old grandfather clock standing in the corner. When she reappeared in faded jeans and a Young Harris sweatshirt, the years fell away as his mind filled in the details of an evening he’d never been able to forget.
Trent pushed away from the wall, his heart jumping around in his chest with enough force to make drawing in air nearly impossible. “You look like you did the first time I saw you. It was in the library. I turned my head and there you were, big blue eyes peeking at me from behind a curtain of long hair and a candy bar in your mouth.”
She laughed as she walked by him, the scent of strawberries lingering in her wake.
“I’m surprised you noticed me at all. You were so busy nibbling on Talia Pullman’s fingers.”
“I don’t remember that part, but it sounds like something I would have done.”
Sabrina turned through an archway into the kitchen. “Would you like a granola bar?”
“No, thanks,” he said, coming to lean against the doorframe. “There’s a concession stand at the game.”
“This is healthier.”
“But not as good,” he countered.
She grabbed two bars from a box on the counter. “Is this the same guy who was never without one of those disgusting protein shakes and wouldn’t eat anything unless it came from the health food store?”
“I still drink the shakes, but I’m not as strict about the junk food. I happen to like nachos and cotton candy, both of which will be available tonight. Where’s Madeline?”
“She’s at James’s house practicing a new recipe for a practical exam on Friday.”
“Why didn’t I think of dating a girl in culinary school? I could have gourmet meals every night.”
“I’m sure Madeline could suggest someone.”
The one he wanted to date was standing in front of him. “I’ll keep that in mind. Can we swing by my place on the way to the park? Since you’re coming to the game, I thought we could bring Butterscotch. Between the two of us, we should be able to keep him out of trouble.”
“That’s a great idea. He’ll love getting to see all the people.”
Less than ten minutes later, they were stepping through the front door of his condo. Sabrina walked into the darkened foyer and waited while he flipped on the lights and closed the door.
“I love the cathedral ceiling and the tall windows,” she said, following him down the hall. “Do you remember how low the ceilings were in our dorms? I had to dip my head to walk into the bathroom.”
“How could I forget? I was on the top bunk my freshman year. I lost count of the number of times I hit my head trying to get up on that thing. Butterscotch is in the laundry room if you want to let him out. It’s through that door across the hall. My neighbor couldn’t watch him today; she had a doctor’s appointment. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Trent could hear Sabrina’s voice talking to the puppy as he walked away.
“Poor baby, you’ve been by yourself all day. We can’t have that. If Trent’s neighbor can’t watch you, he’ll just have to bring you to work and that’s that.”
He smiled to himself as he unbuttoned his shirt and belatedly remembered to close the bedroom door, not for his sake so much as for hers. While she wasn’t as easily embarrassed now as she used to be, he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. Between Butterscotch and Mason, Trent wasn’t going to get much of Sabrina’s attention tonight, but he didn’t mind. This wasn’t about him; it was about getting her used to being around him again.
When he rejoined her, she was looking at the pictures on his refrigerator.
“That’s my niece Olivia,” he said from behind her. He saw her jump slightly and then she swung around to face him. She evidently hadn’t heard him come back into the room.
“She’s adorable.”
Olivia wasn’t the only one. “She’s Landris’s daughter from his first marriage. He recently got married again.” He stopped for a minute, putting his hands on his hips. “You know, I just realized something. Landris has already been married twice, and I haven’t even been married once yet.”
“It’s not a competition,” she said dryly.
“Try telling my family that. Are you ready to go?”
“Sure am. We just need a leash.”
“And some treats,” he added, stepping past her into the laundry room to get them. He returned carrying a small backpack.
“That’s a lot of treats,” she observed as she bent down to pick up Butterscotch.
“It’s not just treats. I’ve got bottled water, a bowl, his leash, and a few toys.”
“It’s almost like taking a baby somewhere, isn’t it?”
He smiled. “I wouldn’t know, but I suppose it is. Anyway, I like to be prepared. If you don’t mind carrying the baby, I’ll lock up.”
* * * * *
Sabrina settled into the front seat of Trent’s car and watched as he walked around to his side. It was something she’d done countless times during those few months they were together. Back then he would have leaned in and kissed her before closing the door. Those warm kisses had lingered on her lips for hours afterward.
“Mason’s a good kid. I’m fortunate to have been able to get to know him.”
Trent’s words ended her daydream. “It’s a great thing you’re doing. Young boys need a good role model especially when their father isn’t around.”
“His father won’t be around for another twenty years. He’s in prison in Kansas for armed robbery.”
“That’s terrible.”
“And tragic. The sad thing is he’s just one of many. I can’t imagine what that must be like. Little boys need fathers; that’s how they learn what it means to be a man.”
“That makes your presence in his life even more important.”
Trent pulled into the parking lot of an apartment building that had seen better days. Sabrina eyed the peeling paint and broken windows with concern.
“My next priority is finding him a better place to live. There are condos for rent in my complex, but Veronica - that’s Mason’s mother - won’t let me help her with the rent. She doesn’t mind me buying things for Mason, but she won’t take anything for herself. Right now, she’s working two jobs. It doesn’t leave her a lot of time for anything else.”
“It’s admirable that she wants to stand on her own two feet.”
“I can appreciate that, but she’s got more than herself to consider. Mason is alone from the time he gets off the school bus until she comes home at eight or nine. If they were living closer to me, I could do more to help them and there would be people who could look out for him.”
Before Trent had time to put the car in park, Mason erupted from behind a faded brown door and sprinted in their direction, the bag on his shoulder bobbing up and down as he ran.
“Should I switch to the back seat?” Sabrina asked. “He’ll want to sit up front with you, won’t he?”
“He’d probably rather sit in the back with you, but that’s too bad. I found you first, and I’m only willing to share you to a certain point.”
Before Sabrina could refute the absurdity that she was his to share the back door of the car opened, and Mason jumped inside.
“Hey, Miss Sabrina,” he said in a rush as he reached for the seatbelt. “You brought Butterscotch.”
“Hi, Mason. Mr. Trent thought Butterscotch might like to see you play.”
“Tonight we’re playing the Lions. They beat us last time,
so we really want to win this time. Coach Paul says that if we win, he’ll buy us ice cream after the game.”
“I might have to sneak on the field and play,” Trent said. “I love ice cream.”
Sabrina turned to look at him. “Did you play football, too?”
“I played in high school.”
“Mr. Trent, I forgot to tell you that I got an ‘A’ on my math test.”
“That’s great! You studied hard and it paid off.”
Once they arrived at the park, Trent helped Mason into his uniform and then sent him off to warm up with his team.
“He’s one of the smallest ones out there,” Sabrina said after a few minutes. “I hope he doesn’t get hurt when they tackle him.”
Trent laughed. “It’s more like ‘if’ they tackle him. They have to catch him first. You’ll see what I mean when the game starts. Let’s take the baby for a walk. If we wear him out now, he might sleep through the game.”
“I just need the leash. We don’t want to lose him in this crowd of people.”
Trent delved into the backpack. “Here you go.”
Sabrina attached the hook to the puppy’s collar and put him on the ground. Butterscotch took off as fast as his little legs would go. “It may take a while to wear him out.”
“We’ve got time. The game doesn’t start for thirty minutes. The concession stand is open. Do you want anything?”
“No, thanks. I’ve got my granola bars.”
“I’m gonna get my nachos before it gets crowded.”
“Butterscotch and I will wait for you here.”
She watched him take his place in line behind two teenage boys and a young mother holding the hand of a little girl with a huge purple bow in her hair. Sabrina smiled when she noticed the little girl peeping over her shoulder at Trent. He must have said something to her because she started to laugh and nod her head vigorously. This got the attention of her mother. The woman’s expression changed from polite interest to stunned appreciation in the space of two seconds. Sabrina had seen this happen all the time when they’d been in college, and she had the sinking suspicion that she’d been guilty of it herself.
Dare to Love: A Sweet Contemporary Romance (Finding Love Book 4) Page 11
