by Diane Darcy
“Oh. Good.” So what were they doing there?
“You know the piece of property on the other side of town. The one you’re interested in purchasing?”
Honey straightened. “Yes.”
“It’s a good piece. The buyers for this one actually looked at that one first.”
Honey nodded. “Oh?”
“The thing is, ultimately they went with this one.”
“Is there something wrong with the other?”
“No. That’s not it. This one just turned out to be better suited to their needs.”
He seems to be trying to tell her something, but for the life of her, Honey wasn’t sure what it was. “That happens sometimes.”
Trevor nodded. “Anyway, I just thought you should know. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Trevor waited for a car to pass, then pulled back out into traffic.
Confused, Honey asked, “Did I just miss something?”
“What?”
She arched her brows. “The property. I feel like you were trying to tell me something.”
He glanced at her, then back to the road. “Just that it sold.”
Honey stared at him. If that were pertinent, she didn’t see how. “Oh. Okay. Are you worried I won’t be able to sell the other piece? You know I already have a buyer, right?”
“I know. I think my dad’s planning to talk to you about that tonight.”
“Great.” She was glad to hear it.
Still a little confused, Honey turned her attention to the beautiful tree-lined drive, and finally started to relaxed. They chatted about his family, her family, their jobs, and twenty minutes later, drove up over a rise. A huge lake appeared out of nowhere, surprising her. “Oh, that’s a pretty sight,” said Honey.
“That’s Shasta Lake. It’s the largest reservoir in California.” Trevor drove the truck toward a nearby dock and finally turned into a parking lot. “Between my job and family parities, I spend a lot of time here.”
Honey felt a flicker of unease. “Are we eating by the shore?”
Trevor parked and shifted toward her. He pointed to the houseboats lining the dock like shoe boxes off to the left.
“On our houseboat.”
Incredulity, and sudden fear had Honey’s heart pounding. “On a houseboat? On the water?” Horror froze her in place. She slowly shook her head. “Oh, no. No, no, no. I can’t do that.” Honey couldn’t believe that after all she’d told Trevor about her sister, he expected her to go out on the water! Hurt tightened her chest.
Trevor reached for her left hand, pulled it toward him, and tried to straighten her fingers.
She jerked away, but he held fast. “I didn’t find out where the picnic was until this afternoon or I’d have tried to get everyone to pick another spot,” he said quickly. “We’re going to keep the houseboat docked. We won’t be going out onto the lake. I promise you’ll be safe with me, okay? And if you’d like, we can leave early. In fact, if you’d rather we skip the whole family thing, I’ll take you out to dinner somewhere else, okay?”
She needed to talk to Trevor’s dad. That was why she’d come. Why she hadn’t gone home to see Christian for the weekend. She was torn about what to do. “You’ll stay with me?”
Trevor squeezed her hand. “I promise. Trust me.”
Hesitantly she relaxed her hand in his, squeezing back. He interlocked their fingers and she clung, looking first at their hands, and then into his eyes.
She did feel safe. She did trust him. And for some reason, that realization changed everything.
***
Honey walked across the dock with Trevor, clutching his arm, but determined to enjoy the picnic. She could rationalize her fear of water away, right? She was already there, it would be good for her, the dock barely wobbled, and they wouldn’t go out on the lake.
See? Rationalization complete. Now if her heart would just stop thumping in her chest, if her palms would stop sweating, if the sound of the water lapping at the deck would cease, and if she could loosen her grip on Trevor’s arm, she’d be set.
When they finally reached the Baron’s houseboat, Trevor stepped aside so she could walk off the dock and onto the boat first. He looked in the window. “It looks like we’re the last ones here.” Honey wouldn’t let go of his arm, so, after a quick glance at her face, he went onboard first, then tugged her over the three-inch gap between dock and boat.
He grinned. “That seemed kinder than pushing you. Are you okay?”
Her smile felt fake, but it was the best she could do. “Sure, I’m fine.” Honey could hardly breathe as they walked across the front patio and went inside the sliding glass doors.
Trevor raised his voice to be heard over the adults and children. “Hey everyone, we finally made it.”
“Oh, good.” Laura, all smiles, surged around the kitchen counter. “Honey, I’m so glad you’re here.” She hurried over and Honey lifted the bag of slightly smashed cookies.
“Oh, thank you, dear, you didn’t have to do that.” Laura took the store-bought cookies but barely glanced at them, seeming much more interested in the way Honey clung to Trevor’s arm. Her gaze flicked to Honey’s face. “Are you all right, sweetie?”
Honey noticed Laura wasn’t the only one staring. All the adults seemed very interested. Honey let out a nervous laugh.
“I’m a little afraid of water.”
Laura’s hand pressed to her chest. “Oh no! I’m so sorry, we didn’t know.” She gestured them forward. “Well, come on inside. It’s almost like being in a house if you don’t look out the windows.”
“Thank you,” the interior was large, the combined living room/kitchen area bigger that some homes she’d been in, but it still seemed more claustrophobic than homey. All she could think about was the water pressing in on all sides, and when she didn’t let go of Trevor, he went with her.
Laura glanced at Trevor again. “Your dad is getting ready to grill in the back,” her gaze flicked to Honey’s clinging hands, “but I don’t think he needs any help today.”
It was pretty crowded inside and Laura hurried to the large kitchen, swerving around two little kids watching cartoons and another two playing cards on the floor.
Trevor’s older sister Amber and her husband Brian were at the kitchen table playing a board game with their oldest son, and Elizabeth was slicing vegetables at the counter next to Laura. It looked like bedrooms and bathrooms lay beyond the kitchen.
“Do you want to sit on the couch? Or would you like to go up top?” asked Trevor.
A little air would be wonderful. Maybe she could even breath up on top. “We could go up top if you don’t mind holding my hand.”
He smiled and gave her hand a squeeze. “Not a problem.”
She followed him, single-file up the stairs, counting each step as she ascended so she could distract herself. She kept her face turned away from the dock, and when they got to the top, actually felt quite proud of herself.
“Okay?”
Honey didn’t take in the view, but looked at the flat blue carpet, the iron-and-glass table and chair set, and the sturdy railing. It looked solid enough. And they were close enough to the dock and high enough that if the boat sank, she could step onto the landing as the boat went down. She smiled at her idiotic thought, tried to control her breathing so she didn’t sound as if she were hyperventilating, and nodded. “Yes, thanks.”
“Sit here.” He indicated a chair smack in the middle of the deck, then settled in the one next to her, still holding her hand. “I missed you this week,” he said.
Her brows shot up and pleasure warmed her face and she couldn’t help but smile. She was glad it hadn’t been one-sided, and although that thought made her feel guilty, she still said, “That’s a sweet thing to say. What have you been up to?”
He eyed her for a moment, his gaze lingering on her mouth. “Well, I’ve been trying to take this kid fishing. You remember the eggs on the window that night?”
More he
at surged into her face. That night. How could she forget? She nodded.
“Well, it’s the leader of the little pack. The kid is a brat, and his mom’s hoping I’ll talk some sense into him, but he keeps disappearing every time I show up.”
“Oh, dear.”
“Yeah, that’s what his mom keeps saying. I’d give it up, but she keeps talking me into coming back and trying again.” Trevor smiled. “We’ll see what happens. Are you still okay?”
Holding his hand, sitting beside him, she realized she felt fine. She felt better than fine. It felt like they were on a date, she was getting tingles from holding his hand, and she couldn’t stop smiling. She briefly thought about Christian, but couldn’t really get herself to care.
It was crazy because she hadn’t even known Trevor for that long, but she loved to be with him. She’d thought about him all week. She felt safe, protected, and okay, just the tiniest bit guilty over how much she loved the feel of his skin against hers.
“What?” he asked.
Startled out of her thoughts, she focused on his face, on his lips. “Pardon?”
“You’re just looking at me so...”
The throbbing undercurrent in his low baritone had her pulse accelerating. She tried to ignore the shimmering sensation his brown-eyed gaze triggered, tried to look away, but couldn’t. “Oh. Sorry. I--”
“Come here.” He reached out, his arms going around her, and pulled her out of her chair, onto his lap, and close against his big chest.
“Oh.” Startled, the heat of his thighs sinking into the backs of hers, she faced him, her hands settling on his upper arms. He bent forward, slow enough for her to push away, but she didn’t want to.
When his full lips brushed hers, soft, warm, barely parted, her senses jolted, swirled and she pressed her lips against his and surrendered.
His exploration of her mouth was slow and leisurely, gentle kisses that deepened as his tongue touched hers, making her shiver and open her mouth for more.
He ran warm hands up her arms, down her back, and she couldn’t help her palms smoothing over his shoulders, couldn’t help relaxing into him and answering his kisses with her own.
As tension mounted within her, she clutched his shoulders, her fingers clenching and unclenching, then encircled his neck, pulling him closer, her fingers digging into his hair.
A moan escaped him and the nerves in her stomach sprang to life. She opened her mouth further, enjoying the invasion of his tongue, urging him to take more, to give her more of the sensations running through her body.
He broke the kiss, brought his hands to her face and held her in place to look into her eyes. Whatever he saw there had him swooping in for one last kiss before he sat back, grasped one of her hands, and smiled at her. “I’d better stop while I still can,” he said huskily.
She smiled back, stared at him in wonder, and couldn’t deny it any longer. She liked him. A lot. She liked who he was and how she felt when she was with him. She had feelings for Trevor. Happily-ever-after sort of feelings...The kind she shouldn’t be having for anyone but Christian.
Christian.
She looked away. Even if these feelings for Trevor didn’t end up going anywhere, she had to break it off with Christian. It wasn’t fair to him. She was dreaming about, yearning for, and kissing another guy.
Decision made, she actually felt relief, which assured her it was the right thing to do.
Taking a chance, she looked at Trevor again and sucked in a breath. “Trevor, I want you to know I’m going to break it off with my fiancé.”
Trevor smiled, leaned in, gathered her close, and gave her another long kiss. He pulled back again, picked up her hand and kissed it. “That’s exactly what I’ve been hoping you’d say.”
***
“Is anybody upstairs?” His dad’s voice boomed from below. “It’s time to eat.”
Trevor, cursing the bad timing, stood, and pulled Honey to her feet. “Ready?” She nodded and he gripped her hand and led the way downstairs just as Paul, Mandy and their three kids stepped onboard. “Hey! I didn’t know you were coming. I see you got here just in time,” said Trevor.
“Yep, my stomach guides and I obey,” said Paul. He and Mandy glanced down to where Honey’s hand clung to his, and Trevor wanted to grin, but instead acted like nothing was amiss and led the way inside.
Trevor handed Honey a paper plate, snagged another for himself, and they waited until the kids had gone down the counter, then loaded up on food themselves. Honey didn’t seem as nervous anymore, and Trevor couldn’t help but wonder if his presence had anything to do with it. He had to stop himself from laughing. His kisses as a magic cure all. Apparently his ego knew no bounds.
As everyone chattered, laughed, and covertly watched them, Trevor actually had to force himself not to smile like an idiot. Honey was going to break up with her fiancé, the implication being so she could explore what she and Trevor had together. He couldn’t be happier.
“It looks like the older kids are headed upstairs to eat,” said Trevor. “Let’s sit over here.” He led her to the table where Amber was clearing off the game they’d been playing.
“Hey, Amber, Brian.”
Brian simply grunted and headed for the food. “Hi,” said Amber, and looked from Trevor to Honey and back again, her expression pleased, before she, too, headed for the kitchen counter.
Trevor picked up his hamburger, caught Honey’s gaze and grinned, feeling foolishly giddy. When she returned the smile, he winked at her.
“Daddy!” Elizabeth’s daughter, Grace, jumped off the bar stool tucked under the corner of the counter and ran to the sliding glass doors.
Elizabeth’s husband, Jason, had arrived.
“Uh, oh,” said Brian as the room went quiet.
Trevor put his food down and stood, as Elizabeth threw a dishtowel and stormed around the kitchen counter. Trevor saw her glance at her kids, both now clinging to their dad, before she pasted a fake smile on her face, came to a halt in front of Jason, and asked stiffly, “What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to see you and the kids.”
Elizabeth voice was low. “This is not the time or the place.”
Jason’s chin went up and he pressed Grace and a clinging Ryan against his legs. “The way you’ve been acting, there isn’t a time or place.” His voice was soft, but firm. “I’m not leaving.”
Trevor sank back down in his chair, embarrassed for both of them, and worried about what Honey was thinking. He was glad when his dad spoke up. “Elizabeth, Jason. The kids shouldn’t have to see this.”
Laura nodded. “Elizabeth, why don’t you go for a walk with Jason and talk while the kids eat their dinner.”
Elizabeth shook her head, but stepped around Jason and left. After a hug, a kiss and a few words of comfort, Jason disentangled himself from the kids, handed them off to the adults, and followed.
Trevor’s mom comforted the grandchildren.
Honey looked at Trevor and he lifted a shoulder, hoping his girlfriend of ten minutes didn’t decide his family was a bad risk and have a change of heart.
***
Trevor headed back upstairs a while later, this time alone. Honey was busy downstairs helping with clean-up, and Trevor had been shooed out of the kitchen by his mother, no doubt so she could pump Honey for information at her leisure.
Trevor had some thinking to do anyway, his main concern being what he was going to do about the land deal. Against his dad’s wishes, he’d practically told Honey what was going on. But since she didn’t realize anything was actually going on, it had gone right over her head. He should have just flat-out explained the situation.
He sighed, walked to the other side of the deck, and from his vantage point could see Elizabeth and Jason walking on the shore, talking. Elizabeth’s arms were crossed tightly against her chest, so it didn’t look like it was going well.
Trevor felt sorry for both of them. He knew what it was like to have a marriage break up,
knew the sense of failure that accompanied the divorce. At least he hadn’t had kids to muddy the waters, and didn’t envy them their decision. He was just glad it wasn’t his to make this time.
Paul came upstairs. “So, what’s the deal with you and Honey, now? Are you in loooove?” he crooned the last word, so Trevor punched him on the shoulder simply on principle.
“Ow.” Paul rubbed his muscle, but he was grinning. “Well?”
Trevor leaned back against the rail. He didn’t answer, only shrugged, but apparently his smile gave him away because Paul burst out laughing.
“Honey’s pretty face is like one of those fancy, shiny fishing lures--a rooster tail or a gitzit--and you, my friend, are taking the bait.”
Trevor’s dad came upstairs, overheard the last part and laughed. “No, Paul, you have it all wrong. She’s like honey to a bear.”
Trevor glanced away from their laughing faces, shook his head and rolled his eyes. “So, Dad, what are we going to do about the land deal?”
“Give Honey the contract. Her boss can pay her the commission and sort it all out later. I want that guy taught a lesson.”
The guy did deserve it, but Trevor’s gut clenched with uneasiness. “How will Honey react when she finds out? We’re trying to make a fool out of her boss. He might deserve it, but will Honey think we made a fool out of her, too?”
His dad clasped him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry so much. It’ll be fine.”
Trevor nodded, but with things going so well now with Honey, he just wasn’t sure he wanted to take the chance.
***
Later that night, Trevor pulled his truck to a stop in front of her hotel. “Are you sure you want to go inside?” His smile was pure charm and prompted one from her. Not hard to do since they were so close to the surface. “We could go to a movie or something? Or go back to my place and watch a DVD?”
It was so tempting. Too tempting. “I’d better not. I have a lot of homework so I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow.”
He turned off the truck. “Okay. I’ll walk you to your door.” His obvious disappointment was flattering, and Honey waited while he rounded the vehicle. He helped her down off the high seat and they went inside, up the elevator, and down the hall to her room. “This is it,” she said.