She's Just Right (A Fairy Tale Romance) (20 page)

“You’re not my dad!”

“And thank God for that!”

They stood glaring at each other for a moment, then Trevor continued. “You know that some of the fish in this river are endangered, right? And that netting, keeping undersized fish, and snagging are illegal?”

Dylan flushed, which was very telling as far as Trevor was concerned. The kid knew good and well he’d been breaking the law. “It’s not very cool to be doing any of these things.”

Dylan glared.

“It’s important to follow the rules so the fish will always be here.”

“I’m not stupid. My dad took me fishing, you know. I know stuff. Maybe I just don’t have the money to get the right lures all the time, okay? I have to use the stuff I have.”

Trevor knew, but he asked anyway. “Where’s your dad?”

“In Iraq. Being a hero.”

“So what’s the deal with you acting up all the time? How would your dad feel about that?”

“I don’t!”

Trevor didn’t say anything else and when the kid looked like he was fighting tears, he turned his attention back to the river, feeling like a jerk.

“It’s just...it’s just...”

“What?”

“I’m trying to be brave like my dad! Okay?” Dylan swiped at his eyes, then hung his head and hunched a shoulder. “‘Cause if I’m brave, well,” he sniffed and rubbed his nose against the back of his wrist. “Then my dad will be safe, you know?”

Trevor’s breath stilled. Ouch. The poor kid. Trevor jerked his line a few times and tried to find the right words to console the little guy. Trevor searched his mind, but the only thing that came up was a story about his ex-wife. So he searched his mind again and still couldn’t come up with anything else.

Trevor sighed. “When I’d been married for about three years, my wife left me.” The kid didn’t need to know it was for another man. “Anyway, you’ve got to know you can’t always control things, especially where other people are concerned. Ultimately you’re only responsible for what you do.”

The kid still had hold of his pole, but was kneeling now, his face pushed into Charlie’s fur.

Trevor groped for the right words. “You need to be able to look at a situation and evaluate it and then do the honorable thing.” Trevor hoped like hell he wasn’t encroaching on Dylan’s dad’s right’s here. But the guy wasn’t here, and the kids mom had wanted him to say something. “You do your best to be a good person all the time.”

Dylan lifted his head to glare. “You should butt out. You have a new girlfriend now. A pretty one. I saw her. So you don’t have to act all sad and lonely.”

Act all sad and lonely? Double ouch.

Trevor sighed. The kid was a brat, and Trevor had no idea how to get through to him. “All right. You saw right through me, kid. The real reason I brought you out here is that I do need some slave labor. I need wood cut, the dog fed, things like that. I’m hoping you can help me out.”

“With pay?”

“Of course.
If
you do a good job.” Trevor couldn’t resist adding, “Then maybe you can buy yourself the right kind of fishing lures.” He looked at the kid pointedly. “Right?”

The kid looked at the dog. He obviously wanted the job. Trevor kept his smile to himself. He wasn’t above using

bribery, and the kid needed a friend.

Dylan’s face softened a bit. “Maybe I could help you.” His lips quickly twisted in a sneer. “You want to leave now, I bet? Now that I’ve agreed and everything.”

“No. We might as well stay, and catch some fish. If you’ll keep quiet.”

“Like I want to talk to you, anyway.”

“I’m glad we understand each other,” said Trevor.

 

A couple of days later, Honey said goodbye to her classmates outside the restaurant, and headed to her car. She was going to go back to the hotel to relax, maybe even take a bath, and then study until bedtime. She only had two more days until the big test.

She strapped her seatbelt on, then dug into her purse and checked the phone which she’d left on silent in the restaurant.

Christian had left message on voicemail.

Of course he had.

She hit the steering wheel and couldn’t believe she’d missed the call. She quickly dialed her mailbox and listened to the message. “Hi babe, you’ve been trying to get hold of me. I’ll be waiting for you to call tonight.”

She almost called Christian right then, but stopped herself. She’d been cramming information into her brain for almost three weeks now. She was too worn out to end their relationship at this precise moment. Especially while sitting in her car in front of a place called Buz’s crab seafood restaurant. And she wanted to do this face to face. She wanted to do it right.

But if she broke up with Christian tonight, she could see Trevor again, an insidious voice whispered. She’d missed him, and purposely kept herself from calling because she’d be tempted to spend time with him.

She started the car and headed to her hotel. Her class ended in two more days. As planned, she’d go home this weekend and break up with Christian face to face. It was the right thing to do. After that she’d be free to see where a relationship with Trevor might go. With no regrets to remember later.

But in the meantime, she did have Friday night to look forward to. It wasn’t a date, but a legitimate business meeting to sign and exchange paperwork. But legitimate or not, it didn’t stop the excitement that hummed through her at the thought of seeing Trevor again.

 

The next night, Honey steered her car back toward her hotel. She’d once again had dinner with fellow students, followed by a grueling few hours of study group at the library. She was done for the night, exhausted, and going straight to bed.

She couldn’t wait to be finished with the class, mostly so she could go home and talk to Christian. She had no idea what would happen between her and Trevor afterward, but was still excited by the possibilities.

She finally arrived, but couldn’t find a parking spot. She stopped to look at a very familiar looking truck, before continuing on to the back of the building. She was pretty darn sure it was Trevor’s.

She parked and sat drumming her fingers on the steering wheel, not sure whether to be angry at him for being there, or angry at herself because of the excitement coursing through her veins.

She wasn’t quite ready for him to be in her life yet. They’d discussed it and it would serve him right if she ditched him and went in the back entrance. But, of course, she didn’t.

And why not? She asked herself as she rounded the building. Because she was an idiot and wanted to see him, too. If only for a moment.

Honey headed toward the front entrance and could see him through the glass doors, nonchalantly studying the rack of brochures touting fun things to do in Redding.

Anyone coming inside would have to pass him.

When the doors opened he immediately glanced up. “Oh, hi.” He feigned innocent surprise.

She didn’t want to laugh, but couldn’t help it. He wasn’t a very good actor, he shouldn’t be making it this hard on her, and she shouldn’t be enjoying it so much. “Trevor, what are you doing here?”

“Ah, um, well...” he scratched an ear. “You see...” he lifted up a brochure.

Honey decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. “Are you here to talk about the land deal? Did your dad sign the paperwork?”

“No, that’s not exactly it.” He gestured toward the restaurant. “Everyone knows this is the best place to eat in town. Are you hungry?”

“I’ve already had dinner.”

“Oh. So have I. I was just being polite.”

Honey laughed again in spite of herself, and Trevor smiled, his dimples popping out in his cheeks. She groaned. She needed to get away from him. He was too dangerous to her heart and it wasn’t honorable to see him until she resolved her relationship with Christian.

Besides that, she was way too happy to see him. She couldn’t deny it. And also flattered that he couldn’t seem to wait, either.

People in the foyer were staring at the two of them, a couple of guests and the two receptionists behind the desk.

Honey led the way around the huge fireplace to the other side. “Let’s sit down.”

She sank down on the sofa and Trevor sat on the cushion next to her. She gestured toward the fireplace. “Well, at least there isn’t a fire going.”

“What do you mean?”

“The lack of romantic atmosphere is a good idea for us right now, don’t you think? It’s the last thing we need.”

The receptionist behind the desk surged forward. “Let me assist you.” With the flick of a switch she had the fire going for them and turned to smile. “Just let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you. And just so you know, we have cookies at the front desk.”

“Ah, thank you,” said Honey. She smiled at Trevor but managed not to laugh even when he chuckled. She shouldn’t be this happy to see him. The way he was looking at her, his eyes flickering over her features like he was trying to memorize them, especially her lips, was flustering.

She stood. “This isn’t going to work, after all. Come on.” Grabbing her things, she led Trevor outside for a walk around the gated pool. “Anyway, I don’t feel like sitting any more today.”

He walked beside her on the tiled flooring and she glanced around to take in the palm trees, the great view of the city, and Shasta mountain in the distance. Really lovely. Really romantic.

“I’ve missed you the last few days.”

Ah, darnit, did he have to say things like that? Honey focused on two couples, clad in swimsuits, as they swiped a key to get into the pool area so they could hurry inside and sink into the hot tub.

“Too bad I didn’t bring my swimsuit,” Trevor said with a leer. “But don’t let that stop you. I could just sit in a lawn chair and watch if you want to get in.”

Honey laughed and punched Trevor in the shoulder. She tried to ignore the way she went a little weak in the knees at the thought of him half-naked. Of
him
seeing
her
half-naked.

They needed a safer subject. “Class is almost over. Just tomorrow and then the test on Friday.”

“Nervous?”

“Very.”

“You’ll do great.”

Honey laughed. “I wish I were half so confident.” The lights around the pool area, woven around the wrought iron fence, turned on as they did every night. They hadn’t seemed particularly romantic before. Exasperated, Honey stopped. “Have you noticed that it doesn’t seem to matter where we go, it seems romantic, anyway? It must be you,” she accused.

Trevor grinned. “I think it’s you. It’s the way you make me feel.” Trevor held out his hand and she couldn’t find the will to resist him and offered her own. He linked their fingers together and her heart started pounding, as much from his touch as the way he continued to look at her.

“Do you want to know why it doesn’t matter where we are?”

“Why is that?” she whispered.

“Because I’m in love with you.”

 

Okay, she probably could have handled that better. Honey was breathing hard as she reached her room, slipped inside, shut the door behind her, and leaned back against the metal.

She closed her eyes. She couldn’t believe she’d just
run away like that.

But...
He was in love with her?

How was that even possible? It was too fast. The way they felt for each other was happening just way too fast.

She pushed off the door and flung her things on the bed. And how
did
she feel, anyway? She liked him. A lot. She was attracted to him. Understatement. She liked how mellow he was, how hard to ruffle. How feminine, alive and safe he made
her
feel when she was with him. How she felt she could trust him with anything. Her secrets, her dreams, her fears, even her life. She liked...everything about him. Every single thing, right down to the dimples in his cheeks. She
loved
the big goof.

Sudden exhilaration had her smiling like an idiot. She
was
an idiot. She ran to the window and looked down over the pool area.

Trevor was gone.

What must he be thinking?

She dug her phone from her purse, called him, and he answered immediately.

“Trevor?”

He laughed shakily. “You scared me there for a minute.” Relief colored his tone. “Do you want me to come back?”

“Trevor, I want you to know...I feel the same way you do.”

He expelled a harsh breath.

“I know it’s too fast. I know it’s ridiculous. I’m engaged to another man. We’ve only known each other for three weeks, I...I just don’t...”

“I’m coming back,” he said.

“No!” Honey laughed, her emotions needing to somehow get out or explode. “Don’t come back. I’ll have dinner with you on Friday as planned, but nothing else happens until I go home and talk to Christian. I mean it.”

“I just want to see you for a minute. I won’t stay long.”

“Trevor, I’m glad you, you...like me so much, but I have to like myself at the end of the day. Do you understand?”

After a pause, Trevor sighed. “Okay. I’ll see you on Friday.”

His growling acceptance made her smile. “Okay. Friday.”

Honey hung up the phone and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. The animated face, the big sappy grin. She laughed and turned away.

She was going to bed as planned, but there was no way she’d be able to sleep.

 

On Friday night, Trevor’s fingers pressed into the small of Honey’s back sliding against the warm silkiness of her dress as he escorted her into the Cattlemens restaurant. He wanted to keep touching her, but finally dropped his hand and gave his name to the hostess, only to be informed they’d have a short wait.