by SJD Peterson
After a few minutes, Kegan finally looked at him again. “Yeah, I suppose you do, I just haven’t figured it out in my head yet.”
“Not good enough, Kegan. We don’t keep shit from each other.” Well, they didn’t used to—now it seemed they were both hiding things.
Kegan got to his feet and walked to the edge of the porch, leaned against the support beam. He kept his head low while he stared at the ground, then tromped down the stairs.
“Kegan?”
Kegan bent down and picked up something off the ground. “Ah fuck!”
Trevor jumped to his feet and went down the stairs to see what he had found. Looking over Kegan’s shoulder, he saw a small silver locket in his palm. It took Kegan a couple of tries to open it since his hands shook. He finally opened the delicate clasp then closed his hand around it quickly.
Kegan stood ramrod straight, turned toward Trevor, and handed him the locket. “It’s Charlie’s.”
Trevor looked down at the locket and saw a younger Kegan’s smiling face. He looked up and met Kegan’s pain-filled eyes. “Ah hell, Kegan, I know what you’re thinking.”
“No, no, I don’t think you do.” He shook his head a little too fast, his blond waves shading his eyes. “She used to wear this all the time. When she was little, she showed me the pictures of her parents inside. She said she liked to have the people she missed the most close to her heart.”
Kegan shook so badly, Trevor worried he was going to fall over. He reached out and wrapped his arms around his waist to steady him. Kegan lowered his head and rested it on Trevor’s shoulder, allowed him to hold his weight. “You have to return it to her for me, Trev. I don’t think I could do it.”
“You sure? This might be a good opportunity for you to talk this out with her.”
Kegan shook his head. “Can’t do it, man. Please, I need you to do this for me.”
Trevor hugged his friend tight. “Yeah, I got it.”
Chapter Five
Sitting at her kitchen table, Charlie sipped her second cup of coffee, hoping the jolt of caffeine would help throw off the fog of sleep. The emotional rollercoaster ride from the day before and the damn dream that had kept her up most of the night had left her on edge.
She couldn’t deal with the overload of emotions that Kegan and Trevor had brought to the surface. Since Gram’s death, she had been able to avoid emotional attachments. She’d learned throughout her life that having any connections to anyone always ended in pain. She needed to get out of this town.
Charlie drummed the fingers of her free hand against the table, staring out of the window as the early-morning sun began to rise. Maybe she could have her residency changed to another city. She took another sip as she considered it, deciding another country would work for her.
She forced the thoughts that raged to the back of her mind, knew they’d have to be dealt with later, but right now, she just didn’t have the energy. She needed to take a hot bath and force her brain to concentrate on the workday ahead.
She downed the rest of her coffee then headed toward the bathroom but was stopped by the sound of her cell phone ringing. Charlie picked it up off the counter and read the display. She didn’t recognize the number but answered it anyway.
“Hello?”
“Hello, Charlie.”
How the hell had Trevor gotten her number?
“Charlie?”
She couldn’t answer him, her ability to speak forgotten.
“Charlie, answer me or I’m coming over there.”
Crap. “No… I’m here.”
Trevor chuckled. “Aw, you don’t want me to come over? I’m hurt, Charlie.”
“Yes… I mean no…” Charlie huffed out an exasperated breath. “I’m sorry, Trevor, I can’t talk right now, I’m getting ready for work.”
Not to mention that just the sound of your voice drives me insane.
“I have something that belongs to you. Meet me for lunch today.”
“What is it?”
“Meet me at the Redfield Café at noon.” The line went dead.
Charlie stared at the silent phone, shocked by his arrogance. “Well, Mr. Cocky Cowboy, looks like you’ll be dining alone today.” She put the phone back on the counter then went to take a bath.
Staring at the clothes in her closet, she tried to figure out what to wear. Didn’t matter what she wore, she was not meeting that arrogant bastard for lunch.
She shimmied into a pair of new tight black jeans and a form fitting green T-shirt. Her choices had nothing to do with how the jeans accentuated her ass and hips or how the T-shirt showed off her ample breasts and brought out the color of her eyes. She didn’t spend an extra half hour on her hair nor did she meticulously apply just the right amount of makeup to highlight her eyes and make her lips look a little more pouty because she had plans to meet anyone for lunch.
Charlie worked in the clinic throughout the morning, busy with the large amount of patients coming through the door. She had received a text from Rae earlier, wanting to meet for lunch.
When she declined the invite, it had nothing to do with Trevor and his damned command, ‘Meet me at the Redfield Café at noon.’
With the high volume of patients today, she might not get a lunch break and didn’t want to stand up Rae. It had nothing to do with a cocky cowboy.
However, precisely at noon, Charlie found herself standing outside Redfield Café, cursing herself for the damn fool she was. She took a deep breath and smoothed out her hair, still trying to convince herself she was only here because he had something that belonged to her. With her shoulders pulled back in a confident posture that she didn’t really feel, she walked into the café.
Trevor sat at a small table in the back of the room with a cocky smirk on his face and motioned her over to join him.
Bastard.
As she approached the table, Trevor stood and pulled out a chair for her. Just being near him had her heart pounding. Charlie was sure he could see it beating through the thin material of her shirt.
Unable to resist, she raked her eyes down his body, appreciating the way his jeans accentuated his lean hips and the way his tight T-shirt showed off his thick chest and broad shoulders. For the first time he wasn’t wearing a cowboy hat, and his dark curls hung down over one eye, framing and emphasizing his strong, handsome face. She hadn’t thought it possible, but he was even more gorgeous.
Charlie hated the way her heart rate sped up and her body thrummed when in his presence, but instead of running like she should, she sat in the chair he held out for her. As he pushed her chair in toward the table, he leaned down and lightly brushed his lips against her neck.
“I’m glad you came, Charlie.” His musky smell sent heat rushing through her.
Damn him.
Trevor took the chair next to her, moved it closer so their legs rested against each other.
She refused to respond to the tingling sensation his nearness caused. “On the phone you said you had something that belonged to me?”
He leaned over, placed his arm along the back of her chair. “Let’s order lunch first.”
Charlie needed to get some control over her rising libido, which scattered her brain. She scooted her chair away from his and stared at him. “I’m not hungry, so if you don’t mind…”
Trevor smiled and waved the waitress over. “I’m hungry, join me while I eat. We need to talk.”
“No, I really don’t think we do.” She turned her gaze away from his. “I made a mistake that night at Jack’s Place and I would really prefer not to relive it.”
“Good afternoon,” the waitress said by way of greeting and held out two menus.
“Actually, we’re ready to order. I’ll have a cheeseburger, fries and a Coke. The lady will have the same.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll be right back with your drinks.”
Of all the nerve.
Once the waitress was out of earshot, Charlie glared at him. “I told you I wasn’t hungry. What is it wi
th you and your need to command people to do what you want?”
“Why do you think you made a mistake?” he asked, ignoring her protest and question.
“I shouldn’t have been there and certainly shouldn’t have been thinking about jumping into bed with you and your friend.”
Trevor chuckled, a deep, rich sound she felt deep down to her toes. “So you were thinking of going home with us, were you?”
Charlie realized her mistake and her cheeks heated. “Uh, no… Well, actually…” She put her head in her hands. “Oh God!” She wanted to crawl under the table and hide.
Trevor pressed his hand against the small of her back, rubbing in what should have been a soothing manner, but instead those damn pesky sparks raced up her spine.
The waitress brought their drinks and set them at the table. Trevor thanked her while Charlie was too mortified to lift her head.
“Look at me, Charlie.”
She shook her head. No thanks. I’m still trying to figure out how to dig a hole right now.
He gently pushed her hands from her face and tilted her head up in his direction. “I want you so bad. I feel like I’ll lose my damn mind if I don’t have you, and I’m not embarrassed to admit it.” He ran his thumb over her lower lip. “Don’t be afraid of what you want, what your body wants.”
“I don’t let my body command my mind. Besides, it’s a lot more complicated than that and you know it.”
“Because of Kegan?”
Charlie wasn’t sure she was comfortable talking about Kegan with Trevor, knowing their relationship was deeper than just friends who worked together. If they shared women, how much else did they share?
The waitress brought their food and set it down in front of them. “Is there anything else I can get you?” The way she looked up and down Trevor’s body, the offer went beyond what was on the menu, and Charlie felt a stab of jealousy. And just what the hell is that about?
“No thank you, darling. We’ve got everything we need right now,” he said with a wink and sent her away with a pout on her face.
Charlie pushed her plate aside. The way her stomach churned, she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to hold anything down. Trevor, on the other hand, had no problem digging right in.
“How much has Kegan told you about me?” Charlie asked.
“He’s told me everything about you. Why?”
Charlie’s face fell and she had a hard time maintaining eye contact with him. “If you and Kegan share everything, including women, why are you here? You have to know that isn’t possible with me.”
He raised a dark eyebrow at her while he continued to devour his food. He waited until he swallowed, then asked, “Why not?”
“It just isn’t.” She wasn’t about to go into details and dredge up those painful truths.
Trevor took her hand, his gaze locked with hers. “I know about the promise Kegan made to you.”
Charlie couldn’t have been more stunned or humiliated.
“He didn’t break his promise because he didn’t want you.”
Charlie’s anger rose. The bitterness she had learned to live with instead of the hurt crept up again. She hated to relive the pain of losing Kegan—the one thing in her life that had the power to hurt her most.
That Trevor knew about everything—Kegan’s promise, her not being what he wanted or worth keeping a promise to—made her humiliation and hurt that much sharper.
“This is none of your damn business. I refuse to talk about this with you.” She welcomed the rage, anything was better than the heartbreak. She was not going to cry in front of this man. She was already mortified enough, no way was she going to add to it with her stupid weak tears.
Trevor stood, threw some bills on the table, and held his hand out to her. “Come with me.”
“What? I can’t, I have to get back to work.”
“Get up, Charlie. I’ll give you a ride.”
Relieved Trevor wasn’t going to push her any further about Kegan, Charlie gratefully took his hand and let him lead her out to his truck. Trevor helped her into the passenger side and reached across to buckle her in. He placed a chaste kiss on her cheek before he hurried around the front of the truck and slid into the driver’s seat, then pulled out of the parking lot and turned left.
“Trevor, the clinic is to the right.”
He didn’t turn to her or say anything, just increased the speed, driving in the opposite direction. Panic began to rise inside her. “Trevor, turn the damn truck around and take me to the clinic.”
He locked the doors.
She reached for her seat belt. The thought that maybe she could jump from the truck when he stopped at a light or slowed down flashed through her mind before she quickly dismissed it. Trevor reached over and grabbed the buckle, refusing to let her undo it.
“Dammit, Trevor! What the hell are you doing? You’re starting to scare me.” Her breathing went into overtime and she began to tremble.
Still he refused to look at or talk to her. He wasn’t only cocky, he was crazy.
When they turned onto Old Country Road 10, Trevor slowed the truck slightly and released his grip on the buckle and finally spoke.
“It’s time you talk to Kegan.”
Her rapidly beating heart skipped a beat. “Oh no, I can’t, I have to go back to work. Please, Trevor, just take me back.”
She couldn’t do it. Wasn’t ready.
Her panic grew, stealing her breath, and her heart was pounding so wildly it felt as if it would leap out of her chest. She reached for the handle and fumbled with the locked door. The only thing she knew, the only thoughts her mind could grasp was that she needed to get out of the truck.
Trevor reached over, grabbed her hand, and held it tight. “Look, Charlie, he’s hurting, and I can’t stand it. I see the same hurt in both your eyes and it tears me up inside.” He traced circles on the back of her hand with his thumb. “You two need to talk this out so we can all move forward.”
“I don’t want to see him. Why are you doing this to me?” A single angry, frustrated tear slid down her cheek. “Why are you forcing me to do something I don’t want to do?”
Trevor glanced over at her and released her hand. He turned it over, palm up, and placed her locket in it. “I know you do, Charlie.”
Charlie blinked at the locket. She had no idea how he’d gotten it, but what she did know was that she still wasn’t ready to talk to Kegan. Didn’t know if she ever would be. “Please, Trevor,” she whispered. “I have to go back to work. Don’t make me do this.”
“Charlie, I would never do anything to hurt you. I called John before lunch and asked him if I could take you to the farm to look at one of the colts.”
As he turned into the drive for Trev-Ke Ranch, Trevor reached over and undid her buckle. Wrapping an arm around her, he pulled her tight against his side. He placed a kiss on the top of her head. “Please, just trust me?”
As the house came into view, Charlie sat rigidly, too stunned to respond.
Trevor’s nerves were prickling as he parked the truck in front of the house. When he’d left earlier, his intentions had been to meet with Charlie for lunch, return her locket, then maybe coax her into coming back to the ranch with him to talk to Kegan or, at the very least, spending the afternoon with him. He certainly hadn’t set out to kidnap the woman. But after seeing the same pain in Charlie’s eyes that he had in Kegan’s the night before, he knew he had to do something.
He only hoped he’d live through the afternoon because Kegan would no doubt want to skin him alive. He paled slightly at the thought as he stepped out of the truck and pulled Charlie across the seat and into his arms.
She didn’t say anything, just allowed him to hold her. She was trembling so bad he doubted whether he was doing the right thing by forcing her to come here. He could tell she was skittish as hell and knew she would run if he let go of her for long enough.
Of course she would, you dumbass. You kidnapped her, for Christ’s sakes!
There wasn’t much he could do about that now. What was done was done and they were all just going to have to figure out together what to do about it. If he had to take an ass-whooping in order to get the two of them to talk, then so be it, though he didn’t rightly relish the thought.
Charlie clung to Trevor. She wanted to run, but the tremors coursing through her made it impossible for her to let go of the broad shoulders she currently had in a death grip. Trevor cupped one of his big hands around her head and pulled her cheek against his chest.
“Shh, baby, it’s okay.”
No, it wasn’t okay, it was so totally far from okay. What the hell was wrong with her? She should be fighting, kicking and screaming—anything besides just standing there holding onto her captor. The man had basically forced her to come here against her will and here she was melting against him.
Charlie took a few deep, calming breaths. As the adrenaline surging through her veins began to dissipate, her brain came back online. She pulled her head away from his chest and met his gaze with a confident one of her own. “Take me home,” she said, her voice firm.
He shook his head, never breaking eye contact. “I can’t, Charlie.” He brushed his lips against hers, punctuating each phrase with a kiss. “You need this. He needs this. God, I need this.” He kissed her deeper.
Confused, Charlie found herself responding.
She wasn’t sure if it was defeat that made her give in or just pure need, but she opened for him, allowed his tongue and taste to fill her mouth. Charlie fisted her hands in his thick curls and drew him in even deeper. Her action was rewarded with a groan deep from within his chest.
He pulled her even harder into his tight embrace, tangling his free hand in her hair at the base of her neck. God, she wanted to forget everything and just give in to this commanding man so badly. She was so tired of the loneliness and guarded control. She just wanted to stop overthinking everything and let someone else manage things, even for just one night. Hell, one hour.