“Turn it down, son,” Trey said.
“Do you have any cartoons, Kelly?” Jason asked.
“I don’t know,” she said. “Maybe.”
“Are you sure you want to watch TV?” Trey asked. “I thought you wanted to talk to Kelly.”
“But this is Kelly’s TV,” Jason said in an aggrieved tone indicating such ownership made a huge difference.
Kelly stepped into the room, away from Trey’s pull. She needed to escape the emotions that welled up when he looked at her. When he said he missed her, for God’s sake.
How could he miss her? Trey had denied to the world there was anything between them. He’d only come for a visit because Jason wanted to see her. And she’d been glad to see the little dude. Too glad. She’d had to hide unexpected tears when Jason had reached for her, but now apparently even the kid preferred to watch TV.
She took the remote from Jason and surfed until she found a channel with children’s programming.
“How’s that?” she asked.
“Okay,” Jason said. He clutched her hand and pulled her down close to his mouth. “Go talk to Daddy,” he whispered.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
KELLY STARED AT JASON. “What did you say?”
“Talk to Daddy,” Jason insisted again.
She jerked up. What was the little prince up to? She glanced at Trey. He raised his eyebrows, probably wondering what they were whispering about.
Had Jason insisted Trey bring him for a visit so his pretend mother could talk to his real father? But why? Was this child so spoiled that he thought he could play matchmaker? She’d often noted how intuitive the kid was about the feelings of grown-ups. Especially when his grandfather was around.
No way. Jason was barely four years old. He didn’t know anything about the convoluted emotions of adults. As if she did.
Kelly shrugged and moved toward Trey, who definitely appeared confused.
“Sorry,” he told her. “Jason was so thrilled to come see you, I didn’t expect him to park himself in front of the tube.”
Kelly nodded, immediately suspicious. Had father and son cooked up a scheme so she and Trey could be alone? But why would they? If Trey wanted to be alone with her, the man would have no problem making that happen.
“Maybe he’s exhausted from all the excitement,” she said.
“Maybe,” Trey said.
“Did he get a nap today?”
“No. Now that he’s down, he’ll likely conk out in few minutes.”
Kelly nodded and shut the door, muffling the sound of the manic cartoon characters. “Are you sure you don’t want something to drink?” she asked on the way to the sofa.
“I’m fine,” Trey said. He waited for her to sit first. She did, and he sat beside her. Too close.
“How long have you lived here?” he asked.
“Not quite a year.”
“I didn’t see any sort of alarm system on your front door.”
“Because there isn’t one.”
“The Protection Alliance informed me there are problems with the security on this building.”
“It could definitely be better,” she agreed. “Ballard was furious because the cameras on the parking lot weren’t working the day my car was bombed, which meant he got no video of Adam.”
“Are there any new leads on my son’s kidnapper?”
“I wish,” Kelly said.
Trey placed his arm on the sofa behind her. “That’s all the more reason for you to have an alarm.”
“The feds think he’s left the area.”
“What do you think?”
“I’m not so sure. I visited the rehab center where he and Maria met to try and stir something up, but no luck.”
Trey’s mouth curled into one of his sexy grins. “Congratulations. So you’re back on patrol?”
“No. In fact, I’ve been suspended,” Kelly said. “The visit was made on my own time.”
“Suspended?” Trey’s smile faded. “What happened?”
“Politics. The IA detective disagreed with my lieutenant’s decision to let me go on the FBI op.”
“I’m sorry.” Trey shook his head. “I hoped the press release would help.”
Kelly looked away when he mentioned the press release. So he did know about it. She’d been harboring the faint hope that his father had engineered the statement and had kept Trey in the dark.
But no.
She’d found a copy online and had memorized the important section: “The family is grateful to Officer Kelly Jenkins for her aid in rescuing Jason Wentworth, but rumors of a relationship between the officer and Trey Wentworth are completely unfounded and harmful to the child’s recovery.”
Harmful to the child’s recovery. Did Trey now believe she was hurting his son? If so, why did they come?
“Hey,” Trey said softly. “What’s wrong?”
She sighed. As if her suspension wasn’t enough. “I guess I’m wondering how the press release was supposed to help me.”
“It got rid of the paparazzi, didn’t it?”
She nodded, but doubted the original intention behind the statement had been to help her. It had all been for the benefit of the Wentworth image, denying any connection between Trey and a rookie cop from the seedy side of town. He apparently had no clue how foolish the blunt denial had made her feel.
Because it had never occurred to him that she’d developed feelings for him. She ought to be grateful for that.
“How long will you be suspended?” he asked.
“I don’t know. These things take time.”
“None of this would have happened if you hadn’t helped Jason,” Trey said in a tight voice.
“It’s not your fault,” she said. Time to change the subject. “How are the plans for your tennis clinic coming?”
He hesitated, but said, “Everything is falling into place nicely. You should come to the opening day. It was your idea, after all.”
She shrugged. “Hardly my idea, but send me an invite.”
“If I did, would you come?”
She lifted her gaze to his and found him staring at her intently. She hesitated. “Probably not.”
“Why not?”
“We—we’re different people, Trey. I’m not part of your world.”
After a long moment he said, “What if I wanted you in my world?”
Her heart began to pound. Yes, this was what she wanted him to say, even if it was all wrong for them both.
“You know I don’t fit.”
He picked up her hand and laced their fingers together. “Maybe we could make it work.”
“Could we?”
“I think Jason wants us to.”
“And whatever the little prince wants, the little prince gets?”
Trey’s eyes widened. “The little prince? I haven’t heard that one in a while.”
“Sorry. It’s one of my pet names for Jason.”
Now wearing a sad smile, Trey squeezed her hand. “Funny thing. I was once a little prince.”
“You?”
Trey nodded, seemingly fascinated by the connection of their fingers.
“I’ve met your father,” Kelly said. “I find it hard to believe the man spoiled you when you were Jason’s age,”
“Not my father.” Trey shook his head, obviously thinking back. “My mother. I was her little prince.”
Kelly held her breath as Trey continued to speak. He seldom mentioned his mother.
“I’ve often wondered if that’s one reason Darlene turned to drugs,” he said. “Two different women, two different ways of reacting to the pressure of being a Wentworth. Hell, I was happy to back away from that life myself.”
“An
d you’re about to be sucked back in.”
“I knew my absence was temporary, but things will be different when I take over. I’m nothing like my father.”
“No,” Kelly said. “You’re not.”
“Thank you for that,” Trey said.
He fell silent, and so did she. Canned laughter from the television was the only sound as she remembered what he’d said on Drop Shot about some scars being less visible.
Her family history might be sad, but so was his. No matter how much money anyone had, everyone had to do the best they could with the hand they were dealt. Sometimes the cards sucked.
Jason was getting better. That was the important thing. He didn’t need her anymore. Perhaps she was even a reminder of a confusing and scary period in his young life. With a sharp stab of regret, she wondered if she needed to step away. She should cut off all ties with the little dude, which meant any connection with his father would also be lost.
A connection that didn’t really exist anyway. Or only in her imagination.
“Kelly—” Trey broke off, shaking his head.
“What?”
“I’m sorry if the press release hurt your feelings,” he said. “That wasn’t my intention, but I should have warned you.”
“I understand,” she said.
“Do you really?”
“You explained the reasoning,” she said. “And after all, the statement was the truth.” She raised her gaze to Trey’s and got caught by the raw emotion glittering in his dark eyes. She swallowed.
“Wasn’t it, Trey?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
TREY RAISED A hand and caressed Kelly’s soft cheek. She was so lovely, so good for him in so many ways, and he was desperately in love with her. And this time his feelings were the real deal. Not the crazed infatuation he’d had for Darlene. He knew the difference now.
Jason loved Kelly, too. No doubt she was the perfect woman to nurture his son. Her influence would turn him into a fine man.
He wanted to make Kelly his wife and build a life with her, have another child, if she was willing.
Yes, it was possible the dangerous job she loved could end her life too soon, but he’d become willing to take that chance. He better than anyone knew there were no guarantees.
Except one.
Marriage into the Wentworth family destroyed women. Ground them down until there was nothing left but a shell of their original vibrant spirit. His grandmother had died too young and under mysterious circumstances that his father refused to discuss. His mother was rotting in a sanitarium. His wife had drunk herself into a horrifying and violent death, nearly killing her own child.
He couldn’t—wouldn’t allow that tragic story to shape Kelly’s life. To prevent it, all he had to do was walk away from her. If he let her go, she would at least have a chance to live a normal life, a happy existence.
But could he do it? Could he say goodbye to this woman who had become so important to him? To Jason?
He’d lived a life of privilege and had always taken whatever he wanted. Who was going to stop him? He was self-aware enough to know the arrangement with his father had been as much for him as for his mother.
Confusion clouded Kelly’s clear blue eyes as he remained silent, stroking her cheek with his thumb. She’d asked him if the press release was the truth. He owed her an answer.
“You’re safer if it is the truth,” he said softly.
She blinked. “I’m safer? What does that mean?”
He dropped his hand and stood, interrupting her questions. If he stayed here any longer he’d give in to his own need and tell her how he felt. He suspected she was half in love with him already. And with him, surprisingly, not his money, which was perhaps the quality he admired the most about her.
Or was it his own raging arrogance that made him think he could make Kelly his? He’d never met a woman like her, a woman with an unwavering internal compass about right and wrong. She’d made him a better person, given him the courage to take Wentworth Industries in a new direction.
If she fell in love with him—and maybe it was arrogance, but he knew he could make that happen—life with him would devastate her. That was a tragedy he had to prevent because the world was a better place with a healthy and happy Kelly Jenkins living in it. She’d already saved one little boy. Maybe others would need her help someday. She’d chosen the right career to help people, a job that she loved.
And her contact with him had put that career in jeopardy.
He shouldn’t have come.
“Trey?” she asked in a quiet voice. “What’s wrong?”
He turned back to her. “I need to focus on Jason’s recovery,” he said.
“Of course you do.” She closed her eyes.
“He’s been so confused about you, his mother, losing Maria, the change in therapists. Jase doesn’t need any more turmoil in his life right now.”
She opened eyes glittering with unshed tears. He longed to move to her, comfort her, tell her everything would be all right. That he loved her. But he couldn’t do that to her.
“And being around me is harmful to his recovery,” she said, her voice catching. “Just like the press release said.”
No, he wanted to scream. But Trey nodded, unsure what he’d say if he tried to speak. It was better this way. Easier.
At least easier for him. This way he didn’t have to pretend he didn’t care about her.
“I understand,” she said. Moving slowly, she used her arms to push herself to her feet.
“I’m sorry,” he managed, knowing his apology meant little to Kelly, that he’d hurt her. Worse, he could see the pain it had caused her to think she was damaging his son.
He moved to the front door and opened it. Scott focused on him immediately, alert and attentive. Trey informed him they were leaving.
“I’ll wake up Jason,” Trey said, stepping toward the bedroom.
Arms folded across her chest, Kelly offered him a brave smile. He wondered how much that had cost her.
He shouldn’t have come. No matter how much Jason begged, he couldn’t bring his son to see her again. They should fly back to New York tonight. He needed to put distance between himself and Kelly so he wouldn’t be tempted to give in to his own selfish desires.
But no. He couldn’t escape Miami. Jase had just started with a new therapist, one he liked even better than Carico. His four-year-old was adjusting to the change. He was the adult and needed to find a way to do the same thing.
As predicted, Jason was sound asleep on Kelly’s bed. When Trey gathered his son in his arms, he fussed a little but didn’t fully wake up. Trey exhaled a sigh of relief that they were all three spared a tearful scene, and turned toward the door.
Jason had had enough goodbyes in his short life.
Kelly stood in the doorway watching. Their gazes locked as he moved toward her. At least he couldn’t touch her. Not when he was holding a child who had thankfully gained weight since returning home.
When he drew near, she focused on Jason, then reached out and gently stroked his hair.
“Tell him goodbye for me,” she whispered.
“Of course,” Trey said, his voice hoarse.
Kelly cleared her throat. “As soon as the insurance money comes through, I’ll get your SUV back to the island.”
“Please keep it,” Trey said. “I can transfer the title.”
Another half smile curved her lips. “Still trying to buy me off, Mr. Billionaire?”
Trey wanted to hug her close, but shrugged instead. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
“You know I can’t accept it,” she said.
“Yeah,” he said. “I know.”
He stared into her lovely but unhappy face, trying to memorize it. Did he even ha
ve any photos of her? He hated that his visit, this final goodbye, had made her sad, and his resolve wavered.
She rose on her toes and lightly kissed his cheek. He turned her head to capture her mouth with his, but she was gone too fast.
“Stay well, Trey,” she whispered.
“You, too,” he said, and walked out her door.
“Papa is on the move,” Scott barked into the mike at his mouth as he moved ahead of Trey down the hallway.
Before entering the waiting elevator, Trey looked back.
In her doorway, Kelly raised a hand and waved. She didn’t smile. Trey nodded and stepped into the car, wishing again that he could leave this city. Instead, he’d be trapped in his walled estate longing for a woman who was so close and yet totally out of his reach.
* * *
A WEEK LATER, in full uniform except for her cap, Kelly stood at attention before Lieutenant Marshall’s desk.
“As you were, Officer Jenkins.”
Kelly moved her feet apart, clasped her hands behind her back, gaze straight ahead. Marshall had summoned her into his office. Why?
Was he finally going to fire her?
“Internal Affairs has cleared you,” he said. “Congratulations.”
She released a breath and closed her eyes. Thank God.
“Plus it appears you are no longer of interest to the media,” Marshall continued.
Kelly cut her gaze to his. Eyes narrowed, Marshall scrutinized her, waiting for her reaction.
“Are you ready to go back on patrol?”
“Yes, sir.”
Marshall opened a drawer, withdrew her badge and service weapon and placed them on his desk. “Report to your sergeant for roll call. He’s expecting you.”
Kelly grabbed her badge and holstered her gun. “Thank you, sir.”
Marshall leaned back in his chair. “I expected a smile at least.”
Kelly swallowed. “Sorry, sir,”
“I know the suspension seemed harsh, but you needed to stay off the streets for your own protection.”
“I understand, sir.” But she didn’t. Why was everyone, Trey Wentworth included, trying to protect her? She raised her chin. She didn’t need anyone to take care of her.
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