by Nicole Helm
Even her face was made up to look sexy. Her makeup was dark, smoky almost. Some time between yesterday and this evening she had gotten bangs. Long bangs that swept over her forehead, almost long enough to cover her eyes.
She looked like something on the cover of a dark, racy magazine. If he was going to make it through the night without having to hide behind things, he was going to have to stop looking at anything on her except the top of her head or maybe the points of her elbows.
She stood there, letting him drink it all in with an amused smile on her face. Trevor let out a long, slow breath.
“Ready?” she asked, feigning innocence.
“Not remotely.”
That had her laughing. “Come on, now. Don’t want to be late.”
Trevor tried to focus his mind on something else, but he came up blank as he followed her out to his car. Twice his eyes wandered down to her ass, and twice he had to mentally slap himself. Not the time. They had a wedding and reception to sit through, and he didn’t really want to spend the majority of that time trying to adjust himself.
Trevor started the car, gripped the steering wheel, and kept his eyes on the road. In fact, that would be his inner mantra for the drive. Eyes on the road.
“What exactly is all this trying to prove?” Eyes on the road. Eyes on the road. Eyes on the road.
“I’m not trying to prove anything.” She crossed her legs and Trevor jerked the wheel when his tires hit the gravel shoulder.
“You okay to drive?”
“Yeah, just fine. You are very definitely up to something. Why don’t you tell me so I can tell you how stupid you’re being.”
“I’m not being stupid.” Some of the breezy casualness was out of her voice, which helped ease at least some of the tension in his shoulders.
“Is this all some sort of elaborate plan to get Frank back for what he did to you? Because this obviously isn’t all about protecting Em. If you haven’t noticed, she’s a grown woman.”
She crossed her arms under her chest, which pushed her breasts up against the skintight fabric. Eyes on the road. Eyes on the road. You’ve seen plenty of breasts in your life. There are nothing special about those. Kind of.
“Just because I want to look decent at a wedding in which many of my exes will be in attendance doesn’t mean I have a plan. I’m going to keep an eye on my sister and have a free meal.”
Trevor snorted. “You don’t just look decent.”
“I don’t?”
“No, you look evil.” Her smile spread slowly and Trevor had to jerk his eyes to the road again.
“I like that.”
“It’s been a long time since we were sixteen. Can’t you cut the guy some sla—”
“I don’t care how old we were. He talked me into having sex for my first time after my grandma dies, and then he breaks up with me about five minutes after it’s over. Sorry, even sixteen isn’t an excuse for being that big of an asshole.”
“Maybe not, but I broke his nose over it.”
“Yeah, you. You. Not me. I didn’t do shit except let my friend stand up for me. Well, tonight it’ll be me breaking his nose. Figuratively, of course.”
Trevor sighed, momentarily sidetracked by her words enough to fight the distraction of her body. “Please do not get arrested for assault tonight. I don’t have the pull I used to at county.”
She leaned over, patted his cheek. “Oh, don’t you worry. Frank’s just going to get a taste of what he missed out on. Is that so wrong? And it’ll keep his slimy paws away from Em.”
“I don’t know if it’s wrong, but is it necessary? You’re hot without the skimpy dress and all the shit on your face. You’re happy, aren’t you? Happiness is supposed to be the best revenge.”
“I’ll point out that you’re pretty affected by the skimpy dress and the shit on my face. And, yes, I am happy, but it’s really not enough unless I rub it in his face, is it?”
“It should be enough.” Trevor pulled into the parking lot of the church, dread and arousal fighting for prominence.
“It’s not.” She stepped out of the car, and it was like stepping back in time. She was someone he didn’t know what to do with, someone he desperately wanted to help, but didn’t know how.
As the fighting gleam of BGB took over, Trevor had a very, very bad feeling.
Chapter Sixteen
Callie definitely underestimated the challenge of enacting revenge. Especially revenge she hadn’t totally formulated in her head before she’d arrived at the reception. No matter how many times she’d tried to put together a fully thought out plan, nothing really gelled.
She powered forward. Looking really hot was the first step, and Frank approaching her had been the second. His eyes weren’t on Em, and that was the important thing. Maybe Em could take care of herself, but she was too nice to be forceful about it. Callie didn’t have that problem.
Now she was stuck standing around listening to Frank feign heartbreak over his recent divorce, which, according to most sources, was completely fictional.
She believed small town gossip way more than she believed Frank Winston.
Callie sighed and looked down at her drink. Now that they were in the midst of the reception and everyone around her was having fun, she felt foolish. If happiness was the best revenge, she was failing because she didn’t feel happy. She felt sleazy.
She snuck a look at Trevor who was smiling and laughing with a small group of people from high school who’d left Pilot’s Point. Figured. He would gravitate toward that crowd. Then there was Em on the dance floor with Pete, laughing at his awkward movements. Pete might be a wuss, but he was keeping Em occupied and out of Frank’s line of sight.
Everyone was having fun, enjoying themselves, not worried about high school hurts or slights. And she was standing here with some creep who kept staring at her chest while trying to drum up some sympathy from her.
He seemed to really think he had a shot of getting her to have sex with him again, and that was almost laughable enough to put a smile on her face. She looked at Trevor who was smiling at some blonde she didn’t recognize. Any threat of a smile immediately vanished.
Frank was droning on about his job, how wonderful it was, all the while not-so-subtly inching closer. Callie forced a smile, but her eyes drifted to Trevor. This time, his eyes met hers. She tried to keep the smile in place, but it faltered.
God, she was an idiot.
Callie turned her attention to Frank and tried to get a word in edgewise so she could make her escape. This wasn’t worth it. No matter what he’d done to her so many years ago, it didn’t matter. He was a pretentious, blabbering idiot. Her life wasn’t perfect, but it certainly didn’t revolve around what Frank had done to her.
When he put a hand on her shoulder, let it slide down her arm, Callie had the very real sensation of wanting to gag.
“There you are, sweetheart.” Trevor’s arm came in, slid around her waist and pulled her close and away from Frank.
Callie tensed a little, but then smiled up at him. He always knew right when to swoop in, didn’t he? Part of her wanted to be irritated by that, but he felt too good next to her to manage it. Besides, she’d been failing at making her own escape.
Frank’s prominent nose wrinkled at Trevor’s appearance.
“Heya, Frank,” Trevor greeted cheerfully. “Your nose healed just right, didn’t it? Can’t tell it was ever broken.” He tapped his own nose with a grin Callie had to match.
“Steele.” Frank sneered his greeting. He obviously held a grudge too.
“I’m going to have to steal my date away for a bit.” Trevor aimed his smile down at Callie.
Frank studied Callie, Trevor’s arm intimately linked around her waist. “Date?”
“Didn’t you see us sitting together?” Callie leaned into Trevor, amused at Frank’s irritation. Apparently he’d really thought he had his mojo working. Maybe there was a little sliver of revenge for the taking after all.
�
��I thought you two were just friends.” Frank took a long drink from his glass, his eyes searching the room as if he was already planning his next conquest.
“Who could stay just friends with such an amazing woman?”
When Frank’s attention was elsewhere, Callie pretended to gag, but Trevor kept grinning.
“Take care of that nose, Frank.” Trevor began to pull her away, but Frank obviously wasn’t done with the conversation. He stepped with them, his once charming smile morphing into a twisted scowl.
“Figures you two would finally end up together. After all, Callie wouldn’t be satisfied until she slept with the whole town.”
She could feel Trevor’s body tense beside her, but before she let history repeat itself, she stepped between the two men and glared at Frank.
“You know what, Frank? You’re a sorry son of a bitch. If I see you so much as touch another woman at this wedding, I will find your wife’s number and let her know that you’re running around pretending to be divorced.” Maybe she had a little revenge in her after all.
He sputtered at that, surprised she seemed to know.
“You move away from small towns and you forget everyone knows everything about you.” Callie smiled. The shocked, outraged look on his face was almost as satisfying as throwing a punch. “Have a nice night.”
She turned to face Trevor. “Let’s dance.”
“Revenge without punching somebody’s lights out. Well, color me impressed.” He allowed her to pull him onto the dance floor.
“You were far more in danger of throwing a punch than me.” Trevor’s hand rested on her hip, the other took her hand in his.
“I guess some people don’t grow out of asshole.” His expression slowly changed into a smile. “Man, was he pissed I brought up breaking his nose.”
“And you were tempted to break it again, weren’t you?”
“I guess it was a little residual FBI agent withdrawal.”
“You miss it.” Callie leaned her head onto his shoulder. She closed her eyes, breathed in the faint scent of his soap. She didn’t want to think about the FBI or Seattle or anything beyond this moment.
“You’re wearing perfume.”
Callie couldn’t fight a smile. He was changing the topic. “You like it?”
“Well, it’s not quite as sexy as airplane grease, but it’s not half bad.”
His thumb brushed the inside of her wrist, his hand on her hip moving to the small of her back. Her pulse began to thump faster, a slow heat building from her core and waving outward.
This is what she’d been avoiding, but in the moment she couldn’t remember why. The sensations were warm and nice, the feelings cozy and familiar. What was so wrong with this?
Callie sighed, pressed closer to Trevor. Whatever foolishness she’d felt before was gone. Leaning against Trevor, swaying to the rhythm of a slow song, she realized how much she’d missed him the past few weeks.
All the pushing away and avoiding, and what had she accomplished? Nothing. Because she was beginning to realize there was a bottom line here. Either she could push him away and lose him as a friend and whatever else was between them, or take her chances, temporarily, on what was between them and hope they could remain friends afterward.
Trevor inched his body away from hers, though he didn’t loosen his grip. “You’re going to have to back off a little bit.”
“Why?” She pressed up against him, unable to fight the satisfied smile. She felt reckless tonight. She was tapping into some of that old Bad Girl Baker stuff, wasn’t she? Why not take advantage, full advantage.
It couldn’t be any worse than staying away.
He hissed out a breath. “Because I’d like to be able to get out of here without walking funny.”
“What if I said I could take care of that for you?”
“Jesus, Callie.”
“I’m BGB for the night, remember? Might as well have some fun. But only for tonight.”
“Just tonight?” His hand traveled the curve of her spine all the way up and back down again, sending sparks of heat down her entire backside. She pulled back so she could look up at him, and she rolled her eyes at the cocky grin on his face.
“Well, maybe not only tonight.” Surely they could tear up the sheets a few times before it got too complicated. “But it has to be temporary. I’m not starting something permanent with you.”
“Even if I decide to stay?” His breath whispered across her ear; the hand on her back moved upward and toyed with the ends of her hair.
Callie thought about Lawson’s words, dampening some of her good mood. “If you decide to stay, you’ll eventually leave.”
“Callie.”
Tomorrow she’d worry about the ramifications. For tonight, she wanted to let herself go, cut the string of this damn yoyo. “Do you want to take me home, Trevor?”
“Hell yes.”
“Then let’s go. We can argue about this later.” She squeezed his hand, began pulling him off the dance floor.
“Later?”
She looked at him, smirked. “After.”
He grinned. “After what?”
Callie quirked an eyebrow. “Play dumb and we might not play at all.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He followed her out of the crowded reception into the lobby of Pilot Point’s only hotel. He dropped her hand and slid his arm around her waist. “You sure you want to do this?”
Callie stepped into the cool night and took a moment to study his face illuminated by the parking lights. “Yeah. I do. It would be pretty shitty to spend the rest of my life pushing you away because I can’t seem to keep my hands off of you. Might as well find out what it’s like, and then I don’t have to push you away anymore. As long as you understand it’s—”
“Temporary.” He frowned. “I get it. But—”
She slapped a hand on his chest, pressed herself against him. “Stop.” She pressed her lips to his, a hard, promising kiss. “Arguing.”
He cleared his throat. “Uh huh. Let’s go.”
They both hurried to the car and slid in fast. Trevor started the car, pulled out of the parking lot. Callie was in some kind of alternate universe. She tried to focus on the physical stuff. The way his hands felt on her back, the hard length of him pressed against her, his mouth on hers.
Thinking about all that had a flutter of panic surfacing. “Remember, this is temporary.”
“I think I get the fucking picture,” he muttered. But when she looked over at him, he flashed a grin. “What if I’m pretty confident I can change your mind?”
Callie rolled her eyes, focused on the strong feelings instead of the panicky ones. “Trust me. No one is that good.”
“That sounds like a challenge.”
“Shut up and drive, huh?” Callie stared at the road ahead, tried to calm the rapid and erratic beating of her heart. It was just sex. No biggie. She’d certainly slept with plenty of guys in her life.
The thought had her frowning. None meant anything near as much as Trevor did, and that was kind of pathetic.
Closing her eyes, Callie shook her head. She was giving herself one night to do something reckless and stupid. She’d worry about all these feelings later.
Chapter Seventeen
If he wanted to freak himself out, and he did not have any interest in doing that, he’d let his brain wrap around the fact that he was about to have sex with Calloway Baker.
Since he didn’t want to freak himself out, he focused on the menial things he had to do to get there. Pull up the gravel drive to the cabin. Turn off car. Undo seatbelt.
They were all mechanical, careful movements. Callie didn’t speak, and he didn’t look at her. He got out of the car and followed her to the porch of the cabin trying desperately not to think about, well, what he’d pretty much been thinking about for two months.
They reached the door, but Callie paused. She stood there, her back to him. The night was dark around them, but he could make out her shape in the dim light of th
e moon. Around them insects buzzed their nightly tune, but over the sound of nature he could hear her carefully inhaled breath.
The darkness, the moment, it all worked together to have thoughts drifting away into action. Trevor swept the hair off her neck, placed his lips on the soft skin. She let out a gust of breath, and he planted another kiss farther to the side, then one just under her earlobe.
She turned to face him, her hand on his chest. He couldn’t make out her expression, just the shadowy outline of her face. “So we’re clear—”
“If you say temporary one more Goddamned time, I’ll turn around and go.”
She cocked her head to the side. “Really?”
“Okay, maybe not turn around and go, but I am definitely going to shut you up.”
She moved closer, her hand on his chest sliding up to his shoulder. “Why don’t you do that then?”
His lips curved upward as they bent to touch hers. In her heels, she almost reached his height, so it didn’t take long. He took it slow at first, wanting the moment, the night to last. He had a feeling the minute it was over Callie would be babbling about temporary again.
One hand brushed through the silky strands of her hair, letting the other roam the small of her lower back.
Temporary? He didn’t think so. Maybe he hadn’t made any firm decisions on staying, but that didn’t mean this had to be a one-time deal.
And it was definitely going on his happy list.
Her kiss became more insistent, her tongue more demanding. She leaned against him enough so he had to push her against the door for balance. For a few minutes, the urgent need took over and he forgot about slow. She pulled off his suit jacket; he pressed her hard against the door.
His mouth roamed her neck, his hands moved from her back, up her ribcage, and then rested over small, round breasts. She arched against them, rubbing center to center until he had to bite back a groan.
He tugged on the low neckline of her dress revealing one rounded peak and the fact she hadn’t been wearing a bra all night about did him in. His mouth traveled down, tasted the warm flesh of her breast. She tangled her fingers into his hair, held him there. Hands now free, he cupped her ass and pulled her closer.