Read She's Just Right (A Fairy Tale Romance) Online

Authors: Diane Darcy

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She's Just Right (A Fairy Tale Romance) (15 page)

BOOK: She's Just Right (A Fairy Tale Romance)
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He broke off to kiss her cheek, to whisper huskily into her ear, “You’re so beautiful.” His breath was hot against her neck and she trembled, loving the words, the sensation, and the way his arms tightened around her.
It was madness. She shouldn’t be doing this, and was sure there was a reason she shouldn’t, but couldn’t believe how good he felt.
He parted her lips again with his mouth and kissed her deeply. She couldn’t help opening to him and when he slid his tongue inside and rubbed it against her own, a moan escaped her.
She was trembling, her stomach clenched, and her arms, legs, and even the soles of her feet tingled. He caressed the inside of her mouth with his tongue again and again, as if he simply loved the feel of her, the taste.
His big hands splayed against her back, moving up and down, washing her in sensation, and she tightened her hold on him. She urged him to take more, to give her more of the heat running through her veins. She ached with a need she hadn’t ever felt before and her arms crossed at the back of his neck, her fingers curled into his hair, clenching and unclenching.
He pulled her closer still, held her tighter and groaned into her mouth, the sound making her feel desired, beautiful. She ran her hands over his back, then to his chest, over his biceps and he kissed her fiercely and she met him more than halfway, pulling at him and–
A loud smacking sound, hitting three times in quick succession, exploded throughout the room.
Trevor jerked his head up and followed the noise to the living room. He didn’t want to, but, after a quick look at Honey’s heated face, he pulled back and tried to process what the noise meant.
Both of them breathed heavily as Trevor finally found the source. Broken egg splatter dripped down the front pane of glass.
Anger had him letting go of Honey and heading to the front door to fling it open.
No one was there.
But he knew good and well which three boys were responsible. Enough was enough. This was more than confiscated fishing poles. He was going to get to the bottom of this mysterious hatred.
Still breathing hard, he turned back to Honey. She was looking a little dazed, one hand grasping the railing, the other pressed to her heart.
“Sorry about that,” he said, his voice gruff, husky. “It’s those boys again.”
Honey looking down, nodded. “I’d...” She took a deep breath. “I’d better go to bed.”
Trevor lifted a hand and started toward her. “Honey, wait. I don’t want you to go. We need to talk.”
“I have to.” She didn’t look at him. “I...I was going to have an early night.”
With a brief flicker of her eyes to his face, Trevor could see the beginnings of full-blown panic. Disappointed, he decided not to push. They could talk about this later. Talk about where they was going. “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
Honey stumbled up to the guest room and shut the door.
Trevor blew out a breath, looked at the window, and cursed the kids for their incredibly rotten timing.

***

 
She was
such
a jerk. The dawn light allowed Honey to write a short note and she stuffed it into an envelope, scrawled Trevor’s name on the front, sealed it, then slowly, quietly, started packing her things.
Why hadn’t she told Christian she was staying at Trevor’s house? He’d have had a fit, and she’d have been staying at a hotel this entire time.
Carefully folding a pair of slacks, she paused for a moment as guilt threatened to overwhelm her. Bowing her head, she clenched her eyes, fought back tears, and finally took a steadying breath and finished the chore.
She’d tossed and turned all night and finally come to the conclusion that she obviously couldn’t stay at Trevor’s any longer, and that she couldn’t even trust herself to be around him.
Why hadn’t she stayed in a hotel to begin with?
And what had happened to the fact that when she made a promise, she kept it? She’d made a promise to Christian and now had to face the fact that she was a liar and a cheat.
Trevor was like forbidden fruit. She’d tried all night to push the experience they’d shared on the stairs from her mind. The drugging kisses, the incredible way he’d felt against her. But it was all she could think about.
He
was all she could think about.
It hadn’t even been a little peck, but a full-blown make-out session! Trevor was probably thinking she was easy, the type of girl who indulged in vacation romances behind her fiancé’s back. Her cheeks heated. After her behavior, how could she deny it?
She couldn’t face him. Trevor would get up, shower, and be waiting with breakfast again, just like he’d done for the last four days. She knew he would. It was almost like she’d felt him, all night long, waiting in the other room.
And the really sad thing was
she still wanted to see him!
She wanted to go downstairs and act like nothing had changed so she could be with him, so they could spend the entire day together.
She wondered if she ought to call Christian immediately and confess everything. That would be like a quick plunge in cold water, and a well-needed reality check.
She looked at her cell phone, but couldn’t get herself to do it. No need to ruin Christian’s fun weekend trip, right? Plus a conversation like that was better face to face.
Tears filled her eyes, and she pressed a blouse to her face. That way he could dump her in person!
It was no less than she deserved.
She finished packing, closed up her suitcase, then shuffled through her toiletries bag. She’d left her straightener in the bathroom again, but didn’t dare get it. Didn’t dare risk running into Trevor. She could buy a new one after she’d settled into the hotel.
She sat on the edge of the bed and closed her eyes, fighting back fresh tears. Was she fooling herself? Should she just drop out of the brokerage class and go straight home? She could tell Nick he’d have to deal with the purchase of the property himself.
But he’d want to know why.
And this close to her goal, she didn’t want to drop the class. It had taken forever to arrange her schedule, and everyone would want to know the reason she’d quit. She couldn’t face that.
She dug in her purse for a tissue and wiped her eyes. Was she making too big a deal out of the whole thing? If she just stayed away from Trevor, could she still work it all out?
At seven o’clock, she heard the shower running and hoped it was Trevor and not Elizabeth. Since she’d heard Elizabeth come in late, Honey was pretty confident she’d still be asleep.
After one last look around the tidied room, she quietly opened the bedroom door, pulled her rolling luggage behind her, and carried it down the stairs.
She was a big coward.
She wasn’t even going to try and deny it. And Trevor must already think the worst of her, anyway.
She left the note on the kitchen table, quietly opened the front door, and headed to her car. She stowed her things and took one last look at the place. A sense of yearning filled her. For Trevor?
She was an incredible fool.
Starting the car, she slowly reversed out of the driveway, tires crunching on the gravel. She needed to keep her physical and emotional distance from Trevor.
Cowardly, yes. But completely necessary for her peace of mind, and for any hopes of a relationship with Christian.

***

 
As Trevor washed his hair, then his newly shaven face under the shower, he couldn’t stop smiling. The anticipation of seeing Honey again this morning was making him loopy.
He wanted to kiss her again. He’d lay awake half the night, reliving it, thrilled about the way she’d responded to him. He couldn’t wait to get downstairs.
He was a little worried she might be feeling guilty because of her fiancé, but Trevor wasn’t impressed with him. Even Trevor wouldn’t choose fishing with the boys over a weekend with Honey.
Hello!
Add that to the stilted way she’d spoken to the guy on the phone, and the way she’d responded to Trevor, and it all sort of spoke for itself, didn’t it?
He had the day all planned out. He’d make a great breakfast and wait for Honey to come downstairs. They’d take their time eating, and he’d see what she wanted to do. Perhaps he could suggest more sightseeing, and then he’d take her to a nice lunch.
While they were out, he could ease Honey into a talk about her fiancé and the possibility of a break up. Trevor would convince her to explore a relationship with him instead. If he could get her somewhere private, maybe a few more kisses would help with her decision.
Trevor grinned at the prospect, hastily dressed, and sped down the stairs. A quick peek into the living room assured him Honey wasn’t there, and he headed for the kitchen.
Immediately he noticed a note on the table with his name on it. His heartbeat sped up and his stomach clenched as he reached for the envelope. He opened the one page note and read.
...regret what’s happened...ashamed of my behavior...love my fiancé...gone to stay in a hotel.
Trevor’s stomach started to ache like a fist had plowed into it. He strode into the living-room and jerked open the blinds to look out the window.
Her car was gone.
She’d left? Just like that, without even talking to him first? He crumpled the note in his fist. How could she simply take off after the way she’d responded to him the night before?
There was no need for her to feel ashamed. She wasn’t even married. Trevor’s own wife hadn’t shown the slightest bit of shame when she’d left him for another guy, and she’d made promises before family, friends, and God.
He turned away from the window. What did he do now? Should he leave her alone? Respect her wishes, even though it was like a knife in his gut? Maybe she really was happy with her fiancé and Trevor was messing with her life?
The way the guy who’d stolen his wife had messed with his?
He pushed the ugly thought away. All was fair in love and war
before
marriage. Trevor really believed that was true. Honey wasn’t married yet, and until she was, Trevor wasn’t doing anything wrong.
Elizabeth came down the stairs and Trevor shoved the note into the front pocket of his jeans and followed her into the kitchen. “Honey is gone,” he said, his tone flat.
Elizabeth turned from the pantry door she was opening, her brows rose. “Gone?”
“She went to stay in a hotel.”
“Did something happen?” asked Elizabeth.
Trevor didn’t answer.
“You botched it, huh?”
Trevor shrugged.
Elizabeth sighed, grabbed a box of cereal, and headed to the kitchen counter. “Well, maybe it’s for the best. You two could have ended up married, and let’s face it, marriage isn’t the wonderful bill of goods everyone tries to sell, is it?”
She set the box down. “You’re out now. Free. Do you really want to try it again?”
Trevor considered mentioning their mom and dad, but now wasn’t the time to throw a happy marriage in her face. Especially since he hadn’t been willing to look at that fact for the last three years. Besides, under her flippant tone he could hear the hurt in her voice.
“Is your marriage over? Or is it still salvageable?” Trevor asked gently.
Elizabeth reached into the cupboard for a cereal bowl, set it down and stared at it. She finally shrugged. “I just don’t know.” She blinked rapidly. “There are the kids to consider.”
Trevor moved around the counter and pulled Elizabeth into a hug. She laid her cheek on his chest and sighed.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to beat him up?”
Elizabeth laughed, slapped Trevor’s shoulder, and moved away. “Thanks, but no thanks. I’m torturing him in my own not-so-subtle way.”
She poured some cereal, while Trevor stood, indecisive. Should he wait to see if Honey would call him? Call her first? Go find her? He’d like to go after Honey right now, find the hotel she was staying at and convince her to talk this through. Every instinct screamed at him to do so.
Elizabeth leaned against the counter, finished a bite of cereal, and waved her spoon at Trevor. “You really like Honey, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. Go after her?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “Should you chase her if she’s not interested?”
He though about the kiss and his chin lifted. “I wouldn’t say she’s not interested.”
Elizabeth studied him as she munched the cereal. “Well, if you’re not giving up, you’re leaving out the obvious solution.”
“Which is?”
Her lips curled into a smile. “Call Mom.”
After a moment, Trevor slowly smiled back, then headed for the phone.
Chapter Nine
 
Honey stood in front of her hotel window and held the curtain back to stare down at a young family happily splashing below.
She had a perfect view of the pool, which was just her luck recently, wasn’t it? She dropped the curtain and turned away.
The hotel room was nice. It was where she should have been from the beginning. A nice desk to study at. Nice decor. Nice bed. Nice privacy. She was happy to be there, right? Right.
Moving forward, she repositioned her laptop on the desk, straightened her pens, the telephone, and a pad of paper.
She had everything she needed. And no gorgeous man to snatch her attention away from her goals and make her feel...well, anything.
She sighed, sat in the swivel chair, and gently moved back and forth. After expelling another breath, Honey leaned forward, snatched her cell phone out of her purse, and dialed Nick.
What she needed to do was finish the job once and for all. Then there’d be no chance of seeing Trevor again. It was only fair to Christian and the commitment she’d made to him.
BOOK: She's Just Right (A Fairy Tale Romance)
13.75Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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