“Well I guess I should be grateful at least that you didn’t bring in Caitlyn.” Trevor nailed Erica with a look. “You must have one heck of a one woman operation for Cam to call you.”
Cam fought a smile. His suspicions had been spot on. Erica was good. One woman operation, huh? He could live with that. Better yet, Trevor might just be able to live with it. And Cam wanted his friend to live. Frustrated that he couldn’t just pop out of his car and knock some sense into the man, Cam let Erica do it.
“You’re being unreasonable, Trevor. You have been this whole time.” She gestured toward his snake-filled house. “You obviously need some help here. I can protect you. If you’d just let me.”
Trevor whirled and bellowed, “I will not fear this guy!” Sick of people interfering in his life, Trevor conveniently forgot his earlier vow to call Caitlyn himself. He’d do what needed to be done. He just needed them to get off his back about it. If he wanted to walk around without a bodyguard, that was his business.
“Look. Both of you have had a rough day. Get out of here. I’ll take care of things. Go get some rest and we’ll get your statements later.”
Trevor sensed their gazes when he turned toward his house just to stop short. He blew out a breath of frustration when his missing car crossed his mind. Resigned he faced them again.
“I don’t have a car.”
“Ride with me,” Erica offered.
Trevor studied her for a long moment. The woman just wouldn’t give up. But he was running out of options. He knew a fight with Cam was inevitable if he hitched a ride with him. So Trevor came up with a compromise. He shook his head and held out his hand. “I’ll drive.”
“That’s not necessary.”
Trevor shrugged. “I’ve already walked eighteen miles today. What’s another five?”
Erica chased after him. “Fine. You drive. Let’s just get out of here.”
Trevor stopped and took the keys Erica handed him. He saluted Cam then headed for her car. Erica fell in step behind him.
“Take care of him,” Cam called to Erica under his breath when she passed. The sentiment still reached Trevor’s ears. Like he needed someone coddling him day in and day out. His anger rose another notch.
“I’m trying to.”
Trevor barely waited for Erica to get her door closed before he took off down the driveway. He swerved on his manicured lawn to pass Cam and didn’t spare a backward glance at the destruction he’d left in his wake.
Erica gripped the dashboard while she fumbled for her seatbelt. “I guess asking you to slow down would be pointless, huh?”
Trevor ignored her. He squealed around corners and ran red lights while he sped toward his destination. He couldn’t believe it. He had a crazy man after him and the last thing he needed was his supposed best friend conspiring against him. He spared a glance at Erica. Especially with her. Trevor took a little satisfaction when he careened around a bus and turned right just in front of it causing Erica to stomp on an imaginary brake. He was thrilled that she realized that he and only he was the one to control his life. Since they’d met, he’d had no doubt that she’d been in control.
Still, he had to give a grudging admission that he was impressed she hadn’t said anything more during their wild ride across town. The women he’d known would be nagging his ears off right now with demands to slow the vehicle. Not Erica. Other than her fruitless attempts to hit a brake pedal that wasn’t there, she let him do what he was going to do.
None too soon, Trevor screeched to a halt in a small driveway nestled in an understated residential area. He announced his name in a small intercom, and the tall bushes slid apart revealing more driveway beyond. Erica looked at Trevor, her amazement obvious.
“What is this place?”
For a long moment, she didn’t think Trevor was going to answer her. At last, he said in a gruff tone, “Pine Hills.”
Pine Hills? She’d heard rumors that it existed, but no one could ever confirm it. Because things stayed rather low key and legal, there’d been no real reason to look for it. The estate was a secluded hideaway where the mega rich and celebrities could escape the public for a while. Erica shouldn’t be surprised that Trevor picked Pine Hills instead of a hotel. Since he fit both categories of their clientele, it made sense that he’d go there to get himself together.
“Three twenty two,” the disembodied voice replied to Trevor. He nodded and drove inside. The hedges slid closed behind them.
It was obvious Trevor was still not inclined to make small talk so Erica busied herself with studying the layout of the place. She was impressed with what she saw. Cottages lined both sides of the perfectly paved street. Well maintained lawns surrounded each cottage along with tall hedges, affording the occupants total privacy to the side and Erica supposed the back of each cottage.
All too soon, Trevor pulled up in front of a cottage marked three twenty two and climbed from behind the wheel. Erica scrambled out after him.
“I trust you can find your way out.”
Erica faced him with a casual shrug. “I’ll find my way out when you’re ready to go.”
“You’re not staying here, Erica. We’re done. I no longer need your services.” He strode up to the door and punched in a security code. Without a sound, the door eased open. “If I did, I’m perfectly capable of finding someone … more suitable.”
Erica didn’t let the barb find its mark. The only reason she hadn’t been “suitable” so far is because he’d fought her every step of the way.
“Nice knowin’ ya.” Trevor stepped inside and closed the door in her face.
Erica stood on the tiny porch for a long moment weighing her options. True, it was a technicality, but since he hadn’t hired her, he couldn’t fire her either. She’d gotten a clear directive from Cam who she now had no doubt was her client that she was to take care of him. With a shrug and a sigh she headed back to her car. Erica pulled an overnight bag from the trunk and slammed the lid to help rid herself of her frustration. She trudged back up on the porch and tried to make herself comfortable in front of his door. Not the easiest thing to do in the brisk air, but she’d manage.
Trevor scrubbed his hands over his face. He thought he’d never be able to get rid of her. He had to give her credit. She was tenacious. He jumped when he heard her car door slam. She was really going to leave him. Isn’t that what you wanted, a voice in his head sneered. He chose not to respond. Trevor pushed himself off the door. He didn’t want to hear her drive away. He headed for the shower. He hoped that cleaning his aching body would keep his mind off why he felt so alone all of a sudden.
When he stepped from the shower, he was glad to have rid himself of the dirt and grime of his ordeal at last. Trevor padded toward the kitchen. Exhaustion should’ve had him flat on his back, but he found that he was still pretty wired. Figuring food was just what the doctor ordered he set out to see what sounded good. The facility kept their kitchens stocked for unannounced visits like his. He knew the slight delay in his cottage assignment had been because they’d needed to consult their list to see which one was ready.
Trevor wasn’t disappointed. He opened the refrigerator to a wide selection of choices. Unbidden, his mind wandered back to Erica. He wondered if she’d gotten home, yet, if she’d eaten. Now that he’d bathed and was more like himself, Trevor regretted how he’d treated her. She was just trying to help. She couldn’t know about the pygmies. And if he had to deal with them, it was at least going to be by his invitation. His appetite fled so he settled for grabbing a bottle of water from the refrigerator and headed back toward his bed.
When he passed through the foyer, he looked at the door where he’d last seen Erica. A frown creased his brow when he caught a glimpse of the rear of a car parked out front. Surely, not …
Trevor went to the front door and peeked out the window. Her car was still parked right where he’d left it. He couldn’t see anybody in it. Sure she was slouched down in the seat, he keyed in the door co
de and ripped it open intent to send her on her way.
He stopped short when he almost tripped over her figure huddled in front of the door. Alarm zipped through him. What had happened? Was she okay? Concern shredded away the last of his anger when he couldn’t even detect that she was breathing. He knelt beside her.
“Erica!” Trevor lifted her up to cradle her in his arms. Even in her big, battered coat, she was shivering from the cold.
“Trevor? Is everything okay?” She tried to stand, but he held her tight. He noted her lethargic movements and wasn’t sure if he wanted to kiss her or scold her for staying out here like this. Still trying to protect him whether he wanted her to or not. It was about time he repaid the favor.
Trevor stood then swept her up to carry her inside the cottage and kicked the door closed with his foot. In the back of his mind, he marveled that her hair seemed to be the lone thing to emerge from their ordeal unscathed. It looked just the same as it had when they’d first met.
“What are you doing? Put me down.” She squirmed, but held on tight. It worried Trevor that there wasn’t very much behind her fight. Then again, she had to be bone weary like he was.
“Stubborn woman,” he growled when he deposited her, coat and all in the oversized Jacuzzi tub. He noticed belatedly that she had a bag clenched in her fist when he tried to rid her of the coat.
“Stop it, Trevor.” She smacked his hands away. He retreated just far enough to turn on the water.
“You’re about frozen to the bone. Get warmed up,” he commanded with more sharpness than he’d intended. She tried to stand, but he pushed her back down with a firm hand. “You’ll stay here tonight. We’ll figure tomorrow out … tomorrow.” He did manage to get the coat off of her before it got soaked through and laid it over the sink. Seeing her costume again did things to his libido that shouldn’t have been possible in his current run through the ringer state. He retreated for the door.
“Trevor?” He paused long enough to look at her. “Thank you.”
He gave her a curt nod. “I’m going to scare up some dinner.” He fled from the bathroom before she could get a good look at the front of his sweatpants.
Beginning to relax and thaw under the luxurious hot water, Erica rethought her decision to spend the night on the porch. She was acting almost as stupid as he was. Her car would’ve at least had heat, but it was too far from her client, and she didn’t know what was behind the cottage.
She swiveled in the tub so the hot water gushed over her head and pulled the pins from her hairpiece. She’d slid the last bobby pin out and tossed the thing on the floor with gratitude. She’d inspect it for damage later, but she was dying to get out of her costume.
First, Erica coated her hair with conditioner, then shimmied her way out of the clingy fabric and winced when her chaffed skin met the hot water. The costumes weren’t designed for comfort, but it hadn’t bothered her to spend an hour, and no more than that, in one. However, by her calculation, she been in this one for the last thirty-two hours. And the conditions she’d worn it through had been much more rigorous than the pool decks to which it was accustomed. Erica was saddened, but not surprised to see the frays and holes in the fabric. One solitary crystal in the front managed to survive intact. Determined not to mourn the poor costume, Erica wrung out the fabric and laid it to rest on the side of the tub with a gentle hand. Her nose clips were still tangled in the fabric where it had rested on her hipbones so she pulled those free and dropped them into a side pocket of her bag.
She turned her attention to rinsing the gel out of her hair. The conditioner had worked its magic allowing her fingers to work the hot water through her tresses while Erica tried to make heads or tails of this sudden stay of execution. She didn’t for one minute think Trevor’d changed his mind, but he could’ve carried her to her car just as easily. Too tired to work through anything else tonight, she focused on getting all the grit off her body. With her hair for the most part gel free, Erica plugged the drain and added the Epsom salt she’d learned to keep with her to the water. She turned the jets on and laid her head on the tub to enjoy it.
Trevor always tended to snack when he cooked and this time was no exception. By the time the vegetable stew he’d thrown together was ready to serve, he’d found that the edge was gone off his appetite. He hadn’t heard another peep from Erica so he let the stew simmer and wandered into the living room. The cottage was fully equipped, and Trevor found himself booting up the laptop to check his e-mail. He returned a couple of frantic ones from his family. Guilt settled on his shoulders that he’d only just now thought about them. He should’ve at least called his parents straight away. Now that he had remembered them, he wasn’t all that eager to have the talk he knew it would turn into. He’d call them after he’d rested and gotten his wits about him. He was going to need them because he was sure his mother already knew that an “unidentified woman” had been with him. Trevor wasn’t up to reassuring her. He didn’t have the answers for the questions he knew she’d ask anyway. That thought had him opening up a search engine to find out more about the mysterious Erica Kellogg.
It didn’t take him long. The Internet was loaded with news item after news item about her indiscretion at the Olympics. She’d told him that she’d been detained. The news reported that despite several attempts by her coach and teammates she’d remained locked in the locker room and refused to come out. For four hours, she’d kept it up. The reporter indicated that unnamed sources blamed a fight Erica’d had with her duet partner over a boy and she decided to be a diva and screw the whole team.
Trevor frowned at that. He couldn’t imagine Erica ever pulling a stunt like that. She’d shown herself to be far too levelheaded with a one track mind. It occurred to him that the incident was years ago. He was positive her current occupation had matured her. Still, he had trouble believing the report. He didn’t have any trouble, however, believing that she’d been a pariah in the synchro community ever since. Because she’d missed both her duet and team routine, an alternate had swum. A badly prepared alternate from what he could glean. It allowed the Russian team to sweep by the USA to claim the gold. The incident threw the whole US team off so hard that they didn’t even get a bronze medal in those games. That had been a direct quote from one of her teammates, and he suspected, her duet partner if the bitterness he read into it could be trusted.
Speaking of trusted, Trevor realized that he had yet to see a photo of the Erica Kellogg the print had done such a wonderful job of maligning. It wasn’t long before a younger Erica was smiling at him from the laptop screen. Trevor’s breath hitched when he recognized the suit. It was her all right. He had to admit that she’d filled out very well since that photo had been snapped. When he could drag his eyes away from Erica to study the girl who’d been her duet partner he figured that he’d found the source of all those bitter quotes. Even the thick layers of makeup couldn’t hide her insecurity. Erica’s obvious joy overshadowed the poor girl even in a photo.
“Whatcha doing?” the live, grown up version asked when she tentatively entered the living room. Realizing that she was walking on eggshells because of him, Trevor gave her a small smile. He almost didn’t recognize her. He’d gotten used to seeing her hair molded to her head under that little sparkly thing. He was certain he preferred her like this. With her thick chestnut tresses swinging in inviting waves around her shoulders. He hadn’t guessed she had so much of it either. He wasn’t sure how, but she looked softer, too.
He also liked the tank top that didn’t quite skim the top of her baggy knit pants. Just when he’d figured she couldn’t look any sexier than she had in that costume, she proved him wrong. He wondered what she’d do if he went and slid his hands up under her tank. It would be interesting to see where things went from there. He couldn’t even seem to remember his anger. But he was going to be a gentleman if it killed him—and it very well might.
“Checking e-mail.” He closed the browser and set the computer down. “Hungry?�
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“Trevor, I—”
“Tomorrow.” He rose and headed back toward the kitchen. Erica hesitated a moment then followed. Trevor served them both up a hearty bowl of stew, and they sat to eat their first meal together.
The atmosphere was strained between them until Trevor couldn’t deny his pride any longer at her enjoyment of the stew. His chest puffed out as he spooned a second helping into her bowl before she’d asked. She gave him a tentative smile then laughed.
“Aren’t you the little peacock?” She took another bite. “A peacock who can cook for me any day.”
He accepted the compliment with a smile. Then the tension between them seemed to melt away, and remnants of their budding friendship began to resurface. It wasn’t long before he was having trouble keeping his eyes open. He could see that Erica was in the same boat. Together, they cleared away the dishes then headed off to separate bedrooms where they bid each other good night in the hallway.
Chapter Eight
It was almost two the next afternoon before Trevor was rested enough to climb out of bed to stay. The first few hours, he’d been out like a light. Once he’d begun to get caught up on his rest, his subconscious mind took the liberty of wandering to all sort of places where it had no business. Its favorite hideout turned out to be with Erica.
He wondered if she’d slept in her tank and pants. He wanted to know what would happen if he went across the hall and slid those pants off. Would she protest or would she undress him? His mind dwelled on her undressing him. He longed to feel her graceful fingers linking behind his head pulling him close for a kiss—and much more.
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