A Steel Town (A Gateway to Love #3)

by Chloe Barlow

  “I imagine a bedroom is part of that resolution.”

  “Eww, that’s my brother,” she chastised, slapping him in the arm as they walked away. She was touched that Jason had shown the class to wait for her while she had it out with her brother, even though it couldn’t have been a comfortable situation to endure.

  As they made their way across the room, and put some space between themselves and the latest round of drama pinballing around the evening, Claudia lamented, “It looks like my brother hasn’t really changed a bit. He still displays type A obsessive behavior when it comes to looking after the people he cares about.”

  “My understanding is he’s type triple A when it comes to looking after Jenna,” Jason added.

  Claudia burst out laughing, relieved to finally talk to someone who understood her brother and all the craziness that came with him, including his huge heart.

  Jason handed her the drink she’d ordered from the bartender and continued speaking, “I can’t blame Wyatt for wanting to protect Jenna from the dangers and pain, which can come with how overexposed the world of pro football can get. It doesn’t mean I would use his same methods, but his heart’s in the right place.”

  “I guess so…”

  “And he’s smart to keep her close. Jenna’s great. If you’re lucky enough to find someone special like that, it’s your job to do all you can to keep them safe, no matter what it takes.”

  Claudia turned to Jason and said, “Sounds like you and my brother have at least one thing in common besides football.”

  “We’ve been friends for a long time, and know each other very well — the good and bad of it.”

  “It’s hard to imagine you doing anything bad, Jason,” Claudia teased, waving her free hand to refer generally to his overall aura of respectability.

  “I wouldn’t bet on that if I were you, Claudia. Though your brother does have a pretty positive view of me. I’m sure it’s why he wanted us meeting like this.”

  “About that…I’m so sorry for what Wyatt and Jenna did just now — trying to fix us up, I mean. You must have been so uncomfortable. My brother has always been in my business, but now Jenna is in on the act, too. I am starting to feel pretty outnumbered.”

  “Don’t be too mad at them… In fact, I should probably confess something.”

  “What?”

  “I saw your picture when I came down a few months ago for Jenna and Wyatt’s housewarming party. You were in Quantico in training at the time. Wait, am I not supposed to know that?”

  “It’s okay,” Claudia responded with a chuckle. “I’m not that kind of federal agent. You’re allowed to know I’m in the FBI. I have a badge and everything,” she teased.

  “Good to know. Well, thing is, I’ve been pushing for a chance to meet you ever since.”

  Claudia almost dropped both her jaw and the low carb vodka martini she’d been holding. Her pump was full of insulin, but the spike of olives jostled in the clear liquid for a different reason — quivering right along with her own shocked nerves.

  “Wow, Jason, how…flattering,” she stammered out.

  “It’s just the truth. What man would be stupid enough to see someone as beautiful as you, who also happens to be a kick-ass FBI agent, and not move heaven and earth to get a chance to talk to you?”

  Claudia glanced across the room and caught sight of Trey talking to Jenna. Despite their previous heated glance, now she could barely catch his eye when she looked his way.

  Apparently Jenna had decided to take a break from her dust-up with Wyatt, because Trey and Jenna were chatting comfortably. It was as though he was a totally different person from the intensely confusing man who’d invaded her life. The ease of his relationship with Jenna drove the knife of his recent indifference toward her even more deeply into Claudia’s heart. As far as Claudia could tell, nothing ever seemed to be easy between her and Trey.

  In defeat, she looked back to Jason and sighed. “I can think of a few guys who are immune to it.”

  Jason leaned toward her, whispering so his warm breath washed over her ear, “Whoever they are, they’re idiots.”

  She turned her head back to look into Jason’s remarkably light blue eyes, giving up on catching Trey’s eye. Jason was tall, blonde, sexy, and clearly very interested in her.

  Claudia couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to stop fighting a never-ending series of fruitless and exhausting battles for all the things she would probably never get to have in life, and instead enjoy what was actually right in front of her.

  “Trey? Did you hear me?” Jenna demanded, and he wracked his brain to figure out what she’d been saying to him.

  “Yes, I know. It’s bullshit. You did the right thing,” he blathered out, fixated on the sight of the big, blonde all-American asshole leaning over Claudia like he had something worthwhile to say.

  “Thanks for the support, Trey,” Jenna retorted with a cranky bite to her tone. She grabbed his shoulder and twisted him to look at her. Before he could look back to check up on Claudia, Jenna added, “I asked if you’d been to Tea and Griffen’s new house before tonight.”

  “You did? I mean, of course you did… That’s what I said, um…”

  “Save it, Trey. I know you weren’t paying attention,” Jenna responded with a stiff laugh.

  Trey used all his strength to pretend to focus on Jenna’s angry face, but he could feel his own eyes straying away again.

  “Man, you’re in a shitty mood all of a sudden, Jenna.”

  “I have some stuff on my mind, but you’re changing the subject,” she answered. Trey glanced quickly over to Claudia, concerned he couldn’t see her face anymore behind the guy she’d been glued to for longer than what seemed appropriate. “Cut it out, Trey. Could you stop pretending not to stare at Claudia for a second and talk to me?”

  “What? Who is that guy with her anyway? She keeps leaning over, is she choking?”

  “She’s laughing and enjoying herself. Jason is very funny. I think they look great together, don’t you?”

  “Yeah, fucking wonderful,” Trey grumbled. They did look like they were made for each other — both clean-cut and gorgeous. Jason seemed to be just the kind of guy Wyatt and Jenna would choose for her. He likely had no tattoos or piercings, and probably possessed an innate ability to follow the rules, without any history of destroying sweet, innocent young women.

  Jason also was clearly capable of talking to Claudia without losing his mind — another stark and irritating contrast to Trey. For the last week, Trey had been trying his damnedest to do the right thing with Claudia. He couldn’t believe he let himself touch her — taste her — even if only for a moment.

  He’d told himself it would help him manage her willfulness, but all it had done was make him all the more out of control himself. She possessed his brain on the inside, while each day he’d been working hard to be professional on the outside. All his good behavior only seemed to upset her though. Leaving her to someone else — an apparent choirboy like this Jason guy, was probably just what she needed and deserved — and the last thing in the world Trey wanted for her to have.

  The battle with Baxter had gotten his blood pumping, throwing off his restraint. As soon as he saw Claudia again, looking so stunning and concerned for him, it took all his strength not to grab her right in front of everyone.

  “Trey? Are you still with me?”

  “Yeah. I’m right here.” Trey turned back to Jenna. He knew he should change the subject, but he couldn’t. “His name’s Jason, huh? Glad to hear he’s funny. How do you know that?”

  “Wyatt and I are trying to fix Claudia up with him. He plays for the Canadian Football League and is really awesome. He’d be good for her. Why are you all worked up?”

  “I just need to make sure Claudia’s okay… Like you asked.”

  “I call bullshit, Trey. I thought you were dreading doing me this favor. Is something going on with you two? I saw her mooning over you like a girl with her first
crush. Are you already sleeping with her? Christ, Trey. You promised me.”

  “Easy. I haven’t slept with her, Jenna. I’ve been keeping my distance.”

  “The way you two keep looking at each other all night doesn’t look very distant. Jesus, you two are practically eye-fucking each other.”

  “Shit. Nice language lady. Claudia is part of my team on the Taylor case now. I need to keep an eye on her.”

  “Humph. Then why are you glaring at poor Jason like he just cooked a puppy in Tea’s newly renovated kitchen?”

  “Poor Jason? You’re kidding, right? What do we even know about this guy?”

  “I went to high school with him and my dad coached him, so I know a fair amount.”

  “You could say the exact same thing about Chase, and you had no idea just how bad he was. No offense, but from what little you’ve told me, you don’t really have the best judgment with men all the time.”

  “Hell, Trey. Yes, offense. Offense definitely taken.”

  Trey regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth. Chase was a bastard who had tormented Jenna since high school. That bully was gratefully out of the picture now, but the wound was probably still raw.

  “Shit, I’m sorry, Jenna. I shouldn’t have said that. I don’t know what’s wrong with me tonight.” Though he did know what was wrong, or more accurately, who.

  “It’s okay. I know you didn’t mean it. If you really aren’t involved with her, then what’s the problem if Jason talks to Claudia? Wyatt is trying to loosen up on her and I think him agreeing to set them up is a good sign.”

  It didn’t sound good to Trey at all. In fact, it made him feel like punching in the pretty dude’s teeth.

  “He looks awfully shady to me, and all that Canadian Football League crap sounds pretty fucked up. Let me see if it’s a cover.”

  “What the hell is going on with you, Trey? I trusted you to look after Claude because you don’t give a damn about anything, but now you’re here acting like a total lunatic. Oh hell, Wyatt is going to lose his shit. Look, maybe I should call all this off. She already looks better…”

  “Because of what? Christ, Jenna, don’t you get it? Claudia is better because I am taking care of her. And who the hell do you think you are telling me what to do? You don’t fucking know everything about me.”

  “Jeez, Trey, calm down.”

  “No. I won’t. I’m tired of being told what to do…by you…all of you. Everything is on your terms and I’m pretty fucking sick of all of it.”

  “Trey, you’re being an ass right now.”

  “Am I? Well, then it’s probably good I go home. I’d hate to mess up your and Wyatt’s plans, or fail to comply with all your orders. I made my appearance. I smiled at Griffen’s speech about getting his fucking dream life. I didn’t interfere with Claudia’s cute little fix-up… I guess I should go before I say or do something to upset your perfect evening.”

  Trey turned quickly, making it out of the beautiful home, its surreal, flawless life pressing down on his shoulders like a collapsing ceiling. His shoulder knocked into one happy, normal partygoer after another on his way out.

  “Trey, wait…” Jenna pleaded quietly from behind him, always so afraid of making a scene. She didn’t really know him, no one did — and because of that, they couldn’t truly care for him.

  Trey caught Griffen eyeing him with worry, but he quickened his pace before Griffen could leave his nice, jovial, bullshit conversation to follow him.

  He knew his friend would try to convince him to stay and celebrate the happy bubble he’d created. Yet, Trey didn’t want to be around when all this magic disappeared, because that’s how happiness works — it is always doomed to be tragically inconstant.

  Griffen had unexpectedly gotten everything one could want in life — a girl who loved him, a family. The poor bastard wasn’t prepared for any of this to end — but it always did, because nothing good ever lasts. Griffen was likely due for the rug to be pulled out from under him soon enough. Trey may not be able to stop it for his friend, but he could try to avoid his own fall, before it was too late.

  He was almost at his car when a hand grabbed his jacket sleeve.

  “Back off, Griffen, I’ve had a seriously fucked-up night,” he growled, turning to make sure Griffen saw the face to go with his angry words, but all his fury fizzled when he looked down instead to see Claudia’s huge, confused brown eyes staring up at him.

  “Trey, what happened? Are you okay?” Claudia asked sweetly.

  Trey couldn’t speak. That same suffocating force was still bearing down on his shoulders — crushing his muscles, bones, and will in the same prolonged press. He tried to force his face into a stern expression, like he’d done so many times with Claudia, but he was too happy to see her in front of him. The jarring jolt of pleasure at the sight of her face made him even more irritated — but this time it was with himself.

  “I just needed a break.”

  “I know, all those gorgeous, happy people being so nice was starting to wear me out a little, too,” she teased. “Seriously, did they all have to be so friendly?” she asked, with the most deliciously sarcastic look on her face.

  Trey rubbed his thumb in the space between his eyebrows, as his mouth worked over the loop in his lip.

  “Yeah. Jason seemed really nice. You two would make a great couple — like a commercial for Sandals Resorts, or something. Just…fucking perfect.”

  “He is very sweet. But maybe I don’t want sweet or perfect. Maybe I want you…”

  “What? You can’t know what you’re saying. You don’t want me,” he stammered, though the words filled his stupid heart with something like joy.

  “I sure do. I want you to stop jerking me around…”

  “I’m not jerking you around,” he countered, feeling a touch of defensiveness prickling along his spine.

  “Trey, you know that’s a lie. I don’t know which way is up or down with you. Right when I thought we were making some progress, you cut me off again. And now you’re leaving without even saying hello or goodbye to me?”

  “Would you believe me if I told you it’s for your own good?”

  “I have faith you’re telling yourself that. But I refuse to believe you ignoring me, or treating me, at best, like some coworker you barely know, could ever be good for me.”

  Trey tried to swallow, but something was clogging his throat. He wanted so much to hold her, he had to clench his hands in fists at his sides to stop himself.

  “I’ve had a lifetime’s worth of people telling me what’s for my own good. I’d like to have a chance to do something, which may be stupid, or great, but it’ll at least be my choice. No matter what you think is right for me, you will deal with me…right now. Otherwise, I’ll just stop even trying to make sense of you and hang out with Jason all night…”

  “You know I don’t fucking want you talking to him…day or night. Stop being like that,” he ordered.

  “You’re giving me credit for psychic powers I don’t have, because I never know what the hell you’re thinking.”

  “Trust me, I don’t like seeing you with that fucking guy.”

  “Then stop this hot and cold crap. I may be young and I figure I’m not the most experienced person in the world… Hell, I’m not even the most experienced person in this driveway, but I know I don’t like how you’ve been ignoring me lately. I thought you were becoming my friend, or at the very least — we’re a team.”

  “I could never ignore you, Claudia, and whether or not I’m your friend, has nothing to do with why being around you is making me act this way.”

  “Then why?”

  “I like you, a lot…more than is safe for me. It messes with my head… I thought if I was all business with you it would fix things…”

  “But it hasn’t?” she pleaded.

  “No. I guess I’m fucked,” he stated with a chuckle, then adding, “but I promise I’ll try to be different with you.”

  His hands
were itching again with the urge to touch her, and he didn’t try to stop them this time. They were on her cool cheeks before he could control them. The way her pretty, red lips parted in response made his chest hurt.

  He’d spent the last week keeping his hands off her, but it was too much to deny now — if he was going to spend his life crushed under the pressure of a world he couldn’t control, why couldn’t he have a few moments of pure bliss? Trey had done the purely sex thing already and it hadn’t worked. Perhaps enjoying the sheer rightness of this lovely, guileless young, woman could bring him some peace.

  “Trey?”

  Her sweet breath flickered across his lips and he realized how close her mouth was to his.

  “Yes?” he whispered.

  “If you don’t kiss me, I may have to kick your ass.”

  “That’s scary, because I know you can do it,” he answered, letting his thumbs run gentle circles on her smooth cheeks, before sliding his fingers into her thick, soft hair.

  “Trey? Are you out here?”

  “Fuck, that’s Griffen,” Trey grunted.

  “Ignore him,” Claudia answered, gripping the fabric at his waist, with the same sexy stubbornness, which had been keeping him up at night. Her small hands then reached up and slid into his hair, until he felt like there was no one in the world but the two of them. He leaned down, her nose brushing against his like warm, soft velvet. He shouldn’t do it. He should let her go, but she was so close — almost his.

  Trey was close to experiencing the beautiful mouth he’d denied from himself for what seemed like an eternity when a cacophony of additional voices broke in.

  “Wyatt, get in here. Leave her be. Claudia probably just went home.”

  “Busted…that’s Jenna,” Claudia whispered, a giggle breaking into her voice.

  “I’m not a crazy person, Doc. I just want to make sure she’s okay. Her car is still here.”

  “And that would be your brother. Mood killer, for sure,” Trey whispered back, his hands leaving the thick length of her hair.

  “Maybe Trey took her home. Both their cars are here, though. It doesn’t look good. Dammit.”