by Diane Darcy
Trevor leaned down for a kiss and she stopped him with an index finger to his mouth. “We can’t do that anymore. Not until I talk to Christian first, okay?”
Trevor straightened and nodded. “Okay, but hurry, will you?”
She nodded. “I had fun tonight.”
Trevor took her hand and played with her fingers, causing a shiver to run through her body. He smiled. “I did, too. I really love to be around you.”
The look he gave her had her knees weakening. Whatever he saw in her face had him leaning in again and this time she didn’t resist. The kiss was tender, the sensation so incredibly potent that tears burned her eyes.
Trevor groaned softly, then slipped his mouth from hers to kiss her cheek, then the side of her neck, sending more shivers cascading through her.
He kissed her mouth once more, parting her lips, and his tongue slid inside. She eagerly, slowly, rubbed her own against his, the kiss deepening. When he finally pulled back, she clung to him, and buried her face in his chest, and was glad to see his breathing was as uncontrolled as her own.
Down the hallway, the elevator dinged and Trevor pulled away. He lifted his hand to her face, and cupped her cheek. “Goodnight, Honey.”
“Goodnight.” She fumbled for her cardkey, and finally got the door open and went inside. “Goodnight,” she said again. Then shut the door behind her and leaned against it. The temptation to call him back, to ask him to stay was overwhelming.
She really liked Trevor. She huffed out an unamused laugh at that thought. Like didn’t cover it. But the reality was that she’d only known him for two weeks, was still engaged to Christian, and she needed to pull back and gain some perspective.
The first thing she needed to do was talk to Christian.
Honey touched her swollen, tingling lips, and guilt about the kiss--okay, kisses--started her worrying about the kind of person she was. How could she be falling so hard for one man, while still engaged to another?
The decision to break up with Christian did feel like the right thing to do, so why was guilt eating at her? She sighed and pushed away from the door. Oh, yeah, the kissing thing again.
How had her relationship with Christian come to this point? Only hours ago she’d had every intention of spending the rest of her life with him. And now...now she was hoping for the same thing with Trevor.
Had she always been so fickle? She’d never thought so before. Would she still want to break up with Christian when she spoke with him? Or would she suddenly change her mind again?
She sank down on the edge of the bed and stared sightlessly at the blank television across from her. Did she really hope a relationship could develop with Trevor? Or was she using him to get out of the one with Christian?
The ugly thought had her rubbing her forehead. She closed her eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and dug her phone out of her purse. When it immediately rang, before she’d even opened it, she started.
She checked and saw it was her boss, Nick. The last person she wanted to talk to, but since he was her boss, and since she was happy for the distraction, she answered the phone. “Hello?
“What is going on out there? I want details. Why isn’t my paperwork signed?”
Honey was positive her blood pressure instantly rose a notch. “And a good evening to you, too, Nick,” she said cooly. “I’m glad you called. Maybe you can answer a few questions for me, as well.”
“Yeah, okay, sure. What do you want to know?”
“I want to know who the buyer is for the property and why you want it in your name.”
Nick sucked in a breath. “Maybe you don’t always have to know every single detail, missy. Maybe you just need to do your job. And anyway, what makes you think it’s not for me? It is.”
After a pause, Honey asked, “Do you want me to quit? Is that what this is about?”
“What? No! Look, can’t I invest in a piece of property without my employees giving me grief?”
“You do realize the property has a building on it? A business? You’re not the type to want to be a landlord.”
Nick sighed heavily. “Look. I just heard about the piece and I’m hoping it’ll go up in value so I can unload it for a profit later, okay?”
Honey was silent. She didn’t quite believe him, but decided that it probably didn’t matter at this point. Trevor had told her today that they wanted to sell the property. Whatever Nick’s scheme was, she didn’t see how it could affect anyone but himself.
“Look, doll. They have a divorced son. Romance it away from him if you have to, but get a signature on the dotted line. Or do you need me to send Michelle out to help?”
Heat seared her face and Honey was glad Nick wasn’t there to see it. “I’ll deal with it.”
After she hung up, she considered postponing the call to Christian. Why have two confrontations in one night? Right? But she had to get it over with. She wanted to get it over with. She wanted to continue romancing Trevor, and she didn’t want to feel guilty about it.
She dialed his number, it rang, and his voicemail picked up.
She tried to decide if she were infuriated, or relieved.
She considered leaving a breakup message but felt it was too cruel and cowardly on her part, so instead she said, “Hi, it’s Honey. I need you to call me. It’s urgent. Bye,” and hung up.
***
Honey woke the next morning, realized it was Sunday, stretched, smiled, and immediately thought about Trevor. She’d call him. Maybe they could get together today and–-
Christian’s image intruded and her relaxed mood disappeared completely. She threw back the covers, crossed the room and checked her cell phone. No calls.
What was she doing?
She was insane.
Panic tightened her throat and she hurried and jumped in the shower. She and Christian went back a long way. She’d planned to marry him. Have children with him. What was she thinking? That Trevor was cute? That he was a good kisser?
Jeeze! She needed her head examined!
She needed to get out, maybe go for a drive. She shut off the water, dried off, and finished getting ready. She reached for her phone, then changed her mind and left it where it was. She needed to think.
***
Trevor lifted the phone to call Honey. He needed to hear her voice, needed to find out if she’d broken off with her fiancé, needed to know she was his.
Just thinking about her had a smile breaking out on his face.
Her phone rang, but she didn’t pick up. He left a quick message inviting Honey to dinner or to anything at all, then picked up a manila folder.
It was time to finish this real estate thing, get it out of the way, and concentrate on courting Honey. Maybe he could even talk her into staying at his place again? Or would that be too pushy? Desperation made him want to latch onto Honey and not let her out of his sight. He wanted to know she’d broken up with the other guy and was committed to him instead. Until that happened, he wouldn’t be able to relax.
Elizabeth came into the kitchen. “Did I hear you right? Did you just ask Honey to do anything at all with you? Isn’t that a little on the suggestive side?”
Trevor smiled and Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Oh, yuck. When you don’t mind my teasing, I know you have it bad.”
Trevor tried to keep busy, tried to keep the worry gnawing in his gut at bay. He cleaned his gun, two of his rifles, caught up on bills and tried to watch a little television. Finally, hours later Honey called him back. He lunged for the phone.
“Hi, it’s Honey.”
He smiled. “I know.”
“Look. I got your message. The thing is, I haven’t been able to get hold of Christian, and I’ve done some thinking. I think I need to tell him in person. I don’t think we should see each other on a personal basis until I have this resolved. All right?”
Trevor’s smile evaporated and he asked, “You haven’t talked to him?”
“No, not yet.” She sighed. “I got his voicemail
and didn’t want to...well, anyway, I haven’t spoken with him yet.”
He walked to the French doors and stared sightlessly through the glass. “You’re not changing your mind, are you?”
“No.” She sighed. “But I am feeling confused.”
Trevor’s grip tightened on the phone. “I really want to see you. We could have dinner tonight. At a restaurant or here at the house, or even at my parents’ place if you don’t want to be alone with me.”
“I’m sorry, Trevor. I’m feeling too guilty. I really don’t feel I should see you until I talk to Christian next weekend.”
He hesitated. “All right. I understand.” He didn’t, though. Last night she’d responded to him and now she didn’t want anything to do with him? “But I’d like to reserve you for dinner after you take your test on Friday, okay?” He had to see her before she left town.
“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”
Trevor looked at the manila folder on his table. “I do. I can give you the paperwork for the land deal. You’ll want that before you go.”
She didn’t say anything.
“Okay?” he prompted.
“Okay. It’s a date.”
He sincerely hoped so.
Chapter Eleven
The next day after school, Trevor showed up at Dylan’s unannounced. He wanted to get the fishing trip over with once and for all. Plus, since Honey wasn’t willing to see him, it gave him something to do besides waiting for Friday like a lovesick fool.
Dylan had managed to ditch Trevor for an entire week, but this time his mother had promised to have him doing chores when Trevor arrived, so the kid was toast. Dylan couldn’t get out of it today, and neither could Trevor.
Trevor knocked on the door and it was immediately answered by Mrs. Eley, who had Dylan by the back of his striped shirt. “Hello,” she said with a big smile. “You’re right on time.”
Trevor nodded and looked at the kid, who jerked out of his mother’s grasp. “Come on,” said Trevor, and turned and walked away. Mrs. Eley followed, dragging Dylan and admonishing him to be good. She handed Trevor a fishing pole and some gear, which he stowed in the back of his truck while the kid watched his possessions disappear with wide eyes.
Mrs. Eley headed for her porch as Trevor rounded the truck and opened the passenger door for the kid. After a glance at his mom, Dylan followed, and his eyes lit with the first sign of excitement at the sight of Charlie in the passenger seat. But he stopped moving forward and his face turned belligerent again as he looked left, then right. “I’m not going.”
The kid was thinking about doing a runner, and Trevor half-hoped he would, but sighed and shook his head. “We might as well get this over with. Then your mom will be happy and leave us both alone.”
Dylan glared. “I’m telling my mom you said that.”
Trevor laughed, shrugged, and Dylan stiffly got inside the truck. Trevor shut the door behind him and leaned forward to talk through the open window. “Save your breath, kid, she’ll never believe you.”
Climbing in, Trevor drove to his favorite fishing hole, half wondering if he should be revealing the spot. He’d hate to have to kick Dylan out the next time he wanted to go fishing.
They got out, climbed down to the river, and Trevor set up his own pole, then started on Dylan’s, hitching on a lure that usually caught a fish or two every time out. The sooner they got started and had some success, the sooner they could go home. “You going to help, or what?” Trevor asked.
“I’m not your slave or anything.” The brat sat petting the dog, but was obviously interested in some of Trevor’s lures, his eyes wandering over everything inside Trevor’s tackle box.
Trevor closed the box and cast his line, and Dylan quickly joined him, taking a close look at the lure before throwing his line out, trying to outdistance Trevor’s and falling short.
They stood in silence. Trevor just wasn’t sure what to say to the kid, so they both listened to the sound of the dog panting, and the river flowing, until Dylan finally challenged, “Aren’t you supposed to give me a talking to? Isn’t everyone supposed to be so scared of you or something?” He sneered.
Trevor sighed. “My dad used to bring me fishing here when I was a kid.”
“You’re not my dad!”
“And thank God for that!”
They stood glaring at each other for a moment, then Trevor continued. “You know that some of the fish in this river are endangered, right? And that netting, keeping undersized fish, and snagging are illegal?”
Dylan flushed, which was very telling as far as Trevor was concerned. The kid knew good and well he’d been breaking the law. “It’s not very cool to be doing any of these things.”
Dylan glared.
“It’s important to follow the rules so the fish will always be here.”
“I’m not stupid. My dad took me fishing, you know. I know stuff. Maybe I just don’t have the money to get the right lures all the time, okay? I have to use the stuff I have.”
Trevor knew, but he asked anyway. “Where’s your dad?”
“In Iraq. Being a hero.”
“So what’s the deal with you acting up all the time? How would your dad feel about that?”
“I don’t!”
Trevor didn’t say anything else and when the kid looked like he was fighting tears, he turned his attention back to the river, feeling like a jerk.
“It’s just...it’s just...”
“What?”
“I’m trying to be brave like my dad! Okay?” Dylan swiped at his eyes, then hung his head and hunched a shoulder. “‘Cause if I’m brave, well,” he sniffed and rubbed his nose against the back of his wrist. “Then my dad will be safe, you know?”
Trevor’s breath stilled. Ouch. The poor kid. Trevor jerked his line a few times and tried to find the right words to console the little guy. Trevor searched his mind, but the only thing that came up was a story about his ex-wife. So he searched his mind again and still couldn’t come up with anything else.
Trevor sighed. “When I’d been married for about three years, my wife left me.” The kid didn’t need to know it was for another man. “Anyway, you’ve got to know you can’t always control things, especially where other people are concerned. Ultimately you’re only responsible for what you do.”
The kid still had hold of his pole, but was kneeling now, his face pushed into Charlie’s fur.
Trevor groped for the right words. “You need to be able to look at a situation and evaluate it and then do the honorable thing.” Trevor hoped like hell he wasn’t encroaching on Dylan’s dad’s right’s here. But the guy wasn’t here, and the kids mom had wanted him to say something. “You do your best to be a good person all the time.”
Dylan lifted his head to glare. “You should butt out. You have a new girlfriend now. A pretty one. I saw her. So you don’t have to act all sad and lonely.”
Act all sad and lonely? Double ouch.
Trevor sighed. The kid was a brat, and Trevor had no idea how to get through to him. “All right. You saw right through me, kid. The real reason I brought you out here is that I do need some slave labor. I need wood cut, the dog fed, things like that. I’m hoping you can help me out.”
“With pay?”
“Of course. If you do a good job.” Trevor couldn’t resist adding, “Then maybe you can buy yourself the right kind of fishing lures.” He looked at the kid pointedly. “Right?”
The kid looked at the dog. He obviously wanted the job. Trevor kept his smile to himself. He wasn’t above using
bribery, and the kid needed a friend.
Dylan’s face softened a bit. “Maybe I could help you.” His lips quickly twisted in a sneer. “You want to leave now, I bet? Now that I’ve agreed and everything.”
“No. We might as well stay, and catch some fish. If you’ll keep quiet.”
“Like I want to talk to you, anyway.”
“I’m glad we understand each other,” said Trevor.
***
A couple of days later, Honey said goodbye to her classmates outside the restaurant, and headed to her car. She was going to go back to the hotel to relax, maybe even take a bath, and then study until bedtime. She only had two more days until the big test.
She strapped her seatbelt on, then dug into her purse and checked the phone which she’d left on silent in the restaurant.
Christian had left message on voicemail.
Of course he had.
She hit the steering wheel and couldn’t believe she’d missed the call. She quickly dialed her mailbox and listened to the message. “Hi babe, you’ve been trying to get hold of me. I’ll be waiting for you to call tonight.”
She almost called Christian right then, but stopped herself. She’d been cramming information into her brain for almost three weeks now. She was too worn out to end their relationship at this precise moment. Especially while sitting in her car in front of a place called Buz’s crab seafood restaurant. And she wanted to do this face to face. She wanted to do it right.
But if she broke up with Christian tonight, she could see Trevor again, an insidious voice whispered. She’d missed him, and purposely kept herself from calling because she’d be tempted to spend time with him.
She started the car and headed to her hotel. Her class ended in two more days. As planned, she’d go home this weekend and break up with Christian face to face. It was the right thing to do. After that she’d be free to see where a relationship with Trevor might go. With no regrets to remember later.
But in the meantime, she did have Friday night to look forward to. It wasn’t a date, but a legitimate business meeting to sign and exchange paperwork. But legitimate or not, it didn’t stop the excitement that hummed through her at the thought of seeing Trevor again.
***
The next night, Honey steered her car back toward her hotel. She’d once again had dinner with fellow students, followed by a grueling few hours of study group at the library. She was done for the night, exhausted, and going straight to bed.
