Ask For It

by Selena Blake

  HOW’S THE PROMOTION LOOKING?

  Trevor’s name flashed across the top and she hit the speaker phone button.

  “Good morning.”

  “Hey beautiful. Just heading to the gym when I saw your text.” She could tell by the sound of his voice that it was an early morning for him and he was still a little sleepy. It made her miss him. She got the impression he was rarely in one place long enough to get used to the time zone. Luckily Atlanta and New York were both on the east coast.

  “That’s great news, sweetheart. I knew someone would buy it.”

  “They want to meet with me next week. I can’t believe it.”

  “Well, you’re rather famous. They probably want to see how nice you’ll look on the book jacket.”

  That made her smile. “Go get your workout in. I’ve got some articles to finish. And to do lists to write.” Not that she wanted to. She’d much rather stay on the phone with him all day.

  “I miss you,” he said.

  She closed her eyes and imagined him sitting next to her, whispering those words in her ear…massaging her shoulders.

  “Ditto,” she whispered. And if she didn’t hang up right now she was bound to beg him to stop by on his way back to New York and then she’d be even more behind than she already was. “Go run.”

  He laughed. “Later, gorgeous.”

  Deciding to call her dad after work, JJ put on a jogging outfit, grabbed her keys and phone, and then headed out the door. She didn’t enjoy running. Not until the first ten minutes passed and her body stopped complaining. Then she loved it. It was probably the endorphins, but she did get some good ideas while her sneakers were beating the sidewalk. Today she made a mental list of things to do before her trip to New York next week and things she needed to ask Cindy and Jessica. And as soon as she got home she was making an appointment with her hair stylist.

  She just hoped her stylist could fit her in on such late notice.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Newark, NJ

  The following Wednesday JJ arrived at Newark. It was two months to the day since she’d gotten off the plane and caught a cab to the city. This time however there was a brittle chill in the air. Autumn had New Jersey in her clutches.

  JJ pulled her luggage along behind her and headed for the gate. Trevor was supposed to be waiting for her at the curb. The now familiar tendril of desire flooded her system as she walked.

  Outside she scanned the long line of cars. No sign of him. When she’d discussed her trip to New York this week Trevor had offered to pick her up. She’d expected him to offer for her to stay at his place as well. But he hadn’t.

  She frowned at the memory and surveyed the line of cars again. Security probably wasn’t letting anyone stop if their party wasn’t already waiting. The place was packed so she made her way to the far end and reached into her purse for her phone. After turning it back on, she scanned her messages. One from Trevor. He’d sent her a voice mail as well.

  She clicked the play button and held the speaker to her ear.

  “Hey beautiful. I’m caught in traffic. I don’t know if I’ll be there in time to get you to your meeting. Gimme a call when you get this.”

  Sighing, she glanced at the time. She was supposed to meet Jessica at the Barkley offices in less than two hours. Plus she wanted to be early…to have time to get herself together and go over her list of questions again.

  Who knew how long it’d take by cab; no one could predict accidents and every time she came to the city, some construction project was causing a delay. Even if Trevor was on time, there’d be no time to check in to her hotel and drop off her bags.

  She thought about sending him a text but decided it’d be safer to call if he was actually in motion. They had the same Bluetooth earpiece.

  “Hey gorgeous,” he answered a moment later.

  “Hi. I’m here.”

  “Dang, I was hoping I was going to make it.”

  “Where are you?” She glanced at the fleet of taxis.

  “I’m still in the city. I was-ugh-doing some shopping.”

  It wasn’t like him to be late. But the idea of Trevor shopping…the corner of her mouth turned up. What was he shopping for? More condoms? That thought brought on a full-fledged grin. Too bad she had somewhere she needed to be. “Stay there. I’ll just take the subway.”

  “I’m sorry, Julia.”

  “Not a problem. It’ll probably be faster this way. I was just anxious to see you,” she explained.

  “I’m anxious to see you too.” His voice didn’t disguise that fact and she felt a little better. Truth was she’d been counting down the hours until she saw him again.

  “I’m not sure when my meeting will be over,” she said, already heading for the subway.

  “Doesn’t matter. I’ll head over there now and camp out in the fire lane if I have to.”

  She loved it when his voice got all deep and possessive. And knowing him like she did, she would wager he would indeed camp out in the fire lane, legalities be damned.

  “All right. I’ll call you on my way out.”

  “Julia?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I talked to my mom earlier. She wants you to come over for dinner tonight. I didn’t know what your plans were, you know in case your editor wanted to take you out or something. Or maybe you’d want to have drinks with your agent or—”

  She cut him off. “I’d love to meet your momma.”

  There was a pause and she thought she heard him sigh, but couldn’t be sure. The airport was noisy.

  “Excellent. See you later.”

  “Drive safe.”

  New York City

  Trevor’s phone buzzed in his pocket and he retrieved it quickly. He was alive with nerves today, anxious to see Julia’s smile. Hear her voice. Hold her hand.

  As the guys would say, he was whooped.

  Thing was, he didn’t mind a bit.

  WAITING FOR THE ELEVATOR NOW.

  He headed out of the coffee shop and jogged across the street.

  DOWNSTAIRS.

  Damn, he couldn’t wait to see her. He glanced around to make sure no one was paying him any extra attention and then he checked his email just to keep himself busy as he waited. His agent was still hounding him to do that dancing show. That was way too much spotlight for him. Though the idea of dancing with one southern belle in particular sounded nice. Maybe he should take her out on the town after they stopped by his mom’s for dinner.

  With nothing new to attend to he pocketed the phone and watched the revolving door beneath the large silver sign proclaiming Barkley Books. He did a double take as a pretty blonde pushed her way through the door. His body reacted swiftly. He knew that face. Those legs.

  But she had been brunette the last time he’d seen her. And she hadn’t mentioned getting it changed back. The fact that he wasn’t there, by her side, sharing the same space each day, drinking from the same coffee pot each morning was starting to grate on him. He was missing all sorts of important details and moments of her life.

  She tugged along a suitcase behind her and suddenly it was five years ago and he was seeing her for the first time. The shiny golden blonde hair, those bewitchingly unusual colored eyes, the pretty smile…those legs! Shaking his head, he strode forward.

  Another woman followed her onto the sidewalk. Julia was listening carefully to whatever the other woman was saying. Judging by the sharp haircut and standard New York black wardrobe, this was her agent.

  He’d never been particularly shy or self-conscious, but this was Julia’s career and he didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize that. As if sensing his gaze, she looked up and a slow smile stretched her lips. She waved him over.

  When he was an arm’s length away she reached for his hand. “Hey you. Trevor, this is my agent Jessica Ross. Jessica, Trevor Wyatt my—”

  “Boyfriend,” he inserted easily.

  Her grin kicked up until her beautiful blue-gray eyes sparkled.


  “A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Ross,” he said and extracted his hand from Julia’s just long enough to shake her agent’s.

  “Likewise. You’ll have to come with us to dinner. I was just telling JJ about this great little place I know where all the agents and editors hangout.”

  “Oh…” Julia said, glancing between them. “I’m sorry, Jessica. Trevor had already invited me to meet his mom tonight. Can I take a rain check?”

  “Sure. Sure. Take care of our girl,” Jessica Ross said and gave him a quick eyebrow quirk to punctuate the order. “Great to finally meet you JJ. It’s gonna be big!”

  Something about the way she said it told Trevor she was already seeing dollar signs. And with that, the woman with the short black hair turned on her heel and faded into the crowd. Trevor couldn’t resist pulling Julia closer, even in such a public location.

  She turned those amazing eyes up at him. “Hello, boyfriend.”

  “Like how I staked my claim?” He wasn’t sure what had possessed him to spit out that proclamation without consulting her first, but it had felt natural.

  “Very much.” She got that faraway look in her eyes like she was imagining them together, naked.

  That could certainly be arranged.

  “Hey, aren’t you Trevor Wyatt?” a feminine voice asked from his left side.

  Slowly, he turned toward the voice. A plump middle aged woman and a somewhat taller but just as plump man stood before him, their jaws practically on the sidewalk.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  The woman smacked her husband in the stomach.

  “I told him you were still living in New York, but George never listens to me, do you George? We’re huge fans of yours, huge.” She was talking with her hands. “I’m so sorry to interrupt.” She sent an apologetic look to Julia. “Could we trouble you for a picture? No one back home will believe we bumped into you.”

  “Sure thing,” Trevor said. He sent Julia an apologetic look of his own but she just smiled and shrugged. Such a trooper. Where had she been all his adult life? A woman like her would keep a man grounded while stroking his ego.

  He stepped in between the man and woman as they handed Julia a camera. “Do you mind, dear?” the woman asked.

  “Not at all.” Julia took the camera, found the shutter button and lifted it to her eye. “Say cheeseburgers!”

  The couple at his sides laughed and he smirked.

  “Great picture,” Julia declared, handing the camera back. A brisk wind bore down on them, whipping her hair around her face.

  And just like that, Trevor fell the last little bit head-over-heels for one Miss Julia Fairchild.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  “So tell me everything,” Trevor said as soon as he had her bundled into his Land Rover. Despite the traffic of the city, he preferred traveling by car so he could maintain his personal space. Ten years ago he'd thought nothing of hopping on the subway. How times had changed.

  He took a right out of the parking deck and immediately stepped on the brakes, but that just gave him the opportunity to steal a glance at the woman at his side. Her lips were curved up in a pleased smile.

  “They seem really enthusiastic about the book.” She seemed surprised by that. “I didn't expect that. My editor, Scott, seems a little young, but as grandma Fairchild used to say 'he's as sharp as a tack.' And after seeing their plan for launching the book, Jessica is trying to get me a bigger advance.”

  Once again Trevor bit back the irrational surge of jealousy. Just because her editor was young and male meant nothing. Nothing. She didn’t sound the least bit interested in the guy. “That's good.”

  “I know it's her job but their first offer was...way bigger than I'd expected.” He wasn’t surprised that they wanted the book and were willing to pay for it. It had all the elements of a bestseller. He should know. He’d had plenty of time to catch up on his reading this past year. Still, she sounded a little stunned. But then, he knew she had some money quirks…who didn’t?

  From the corner of his eye he saw her press her palms against her cheeks. Damn, she was cute.

  “You're worth it. It's an incredible story, sweetheart.” It'd taken him a few hours before he'd been able to tame the anxiety monster and dive into her book. But she'd blown him away with the characters and intimate details of the sport he'd loved for so long.

  “That's what Jessica said.” She turned the air vents toward her face and took advantage of the dual climate control to lower the temperature on her side.

  “You alright?”

  “Yeah. I think it's just nerves. Should we drop my stuff off at my hotel?”

  “Nah, lets worry about that later.”

  A half hour later Trevor pulled into his mother’s driveway. He wasn’t sure what to expect since he’d never brought a woman home, not since high school anyway. And the few times Momma’d met the women he’d dated over the years, she hadn’t approved.

  Neither had he, when it came down to it.

  He cut the engine and kissed the back of Julia’s hand. She looked a little nervous. But then she’d had plenty of firsts today. First meeting with her agent, editor, publisher and her boyfriend’s mother. That was bound to have anyone tight as a spring.

  “She’s gonna love you,” he murmured as he helped her out of the truck.

  “How can you be sure?” she asked, eyebrow quirked up in that adorable way that challenged and charmed him.

  “You’re southern. You have that going for you,” he teased, reminding her of her comment about her mother liking him despite the fact that he grew up in New York.

  “What is it with you northerners? It’s like you hear a twang and fall all over yourselves.”

  He laughed and reached for her hand. “Mom’s from rural Maryland…she’ll feel right at home with your accent.”

  “Really? I never knew that.”

  “Yes ma’am,” he said, doing his best to inflect a bit of her accent into his voice. He failed miserably and she giggled, squeezing his hand.

  “Are you two just gonna stand around all evenin’ or you gonna come in and have dinner?” his mother called from the back deck.

  “Coming, Momma,” he called and then tugged Julia along.

  “Momma, this is Julia Fairchild. Julia, my mom, Patricia Wyatt.”

  He wondered what Julia was thinking as she took in his mom’s salt and pepper hair and beautiful ebony skin. It’d taken him years to realize that all families weren’t mixed race. And that there weren’t many other white kids on his street, but his parents and brothers had never made him feel adopted.

  “It’s so nice to meet you, Mrs. Wyatt. You have a lovely home. I love the color palette,” Julia said.

  Trust her to admire the decor. But Momma ate it up.

  “Thank you. It's all your fella’s doin’,” she said, her lips stretched in a wide smile that showed off her teeth.

  As soon as he’d cashed his first big check he’d hired painters to spruce up his childhood home. His parents had refused to let him buy them a new place so he’d had to settle with fixing all the issues that his father was too busy to tend to. Trevor never blamed him for failing to keep a fresh coat of paint on the house; as a doctor, his work was more important than fresh flowers or crisp trim work.

  And after his father had died, she’d wanted to stay here so Trevor’d had to be satisfied with making sure her house was the prettiest on the block. She, of course, didn’t mind that one bit. Half the time he came over for a visit, she was holding court on the small front porch, gossiping with the neighbors and watching the world go by.

  He didn't miss the way Momma regarded Julia.

  “It’s nice to finally meet the woman who gave my son his nickname,” Momma said. Julia must have passed some sort of inspection because Momma pulled her in for a hug.

  Trevor was surprised that she knew where his nickname, T-man, had come from. That first article Julia had written documented some ‘out of his world plays’ as she’d put it and sinc
e He-man was taken, she’d called him T-man. The moniker had stuck like gum to a shoe and that’s what the majority of his teammates, coaches, and media called him.

  “Come on in. Yer brothers'll be here in a few minutes,” she said as soon as she’d released Julia.

  Trevor gave a faux shudder. “Aww, why’d you have to invite them?”

  She made a tsking sound and ushered them through the back door into the eat-in kitchen. “You’re just scared they’ll try to steal yer girl.”

  Julia covered a smile with her hand and Trevor raised an eyebrow. Just the thought of someone trying to steal her from him sent his pulse racing. They may not be in the same city most of the time but he knew they were monogamous and he wanted things to stay that way. The idea that she’d be interested in anyone else or that some man, even one of his brothers, might try to turn her head—

  He must have started to let the fierce emotions inside him show because Momma snapped her fingers in front of his face. “You know they’d never do that, Trevor.”

  “I know, Momma.”

  “What can we do to help?” Julia asked, easing the tension in the room. She always did that. Turned the upside down right side up again.

  “Not a thing. Table’s already set and as soon as—” She stopped short as Marcus’ booming laugh filled the front hall. Sometimes it was eerie how much he sounded like Dad. “Speak of the devils,” she said, grinning from ear to ear.

  JJ watched Trevor embrace his brothers. There were a few moments of rough housing, some playful jabs, a bit of trash talk. The usual. Seemed brothers were brothers no matter where they grew up.

  She stepped into the small, cheerily painted foyer. The three men filled the space to overflowing, so they moved to the living room. JJ had a quick impression of dinged up hardwoods, fresh neutral furniture, and a patterned rug. But mostly, her eyes were drawn to the three tall, handsome men.

  “Marcus, Kyle, I’d like you to meet Julia.” Trevor’s hand slid across her lower back. She loved how he called her that almost as much as she loved it when he called her— “My girlfriend.”