She's Just Right (A Fairy Tale Romance) (21 page)

“Nice place,” said Honey as she glanced around.

Trevor nodded and looked around the western-themed restaurant. “The foods’s good, too.” They came to a halt in front of a painting of a couple of cowboys on a roundup. “We’re here to celebrate, right?”

She glanced up, smiled and returned her gaze to the painting. “Right.”

It was noisy inside, with a large group of business men and women waiting for their table, and Trevor had to stand close to Honey to be heard, which was fine by him. He didn’t mind bending his head close to hers in the least. Feeling her body heat, smelling her perfume.

Honey’s phone rang and she glanced at the number. “It’s a co-worker. I forgot to turn it to silent. Do you mind?”

“Go ahead.”

Honey answered, then quickly seemed irritated as she explained to a woman named Michelle she was out to dinner with a friend. She rolled her eyes, named the restaurant, then hung up. “Sorry. That particular co-worker drives me insane. She always has to know every little detail.”

A few minutes later they were seated in a private booth and Trevor asked for their best bottle of wine. “Red or white?” he asked Honey.

At Honey’s surprised expression, he smiled. “To celebrate you earning your broker’s license.”

She smiled. “Thank you. Red sounds nice.”

It was much quieter in their booth, much more intimate, and Trevor considered taking her hand, but resisted. “So, are you glad to be finished?”

“You have no idea.”

“Did you pass with flying colors?”

She grinned. “Would it be bragging to say so?”

“Not after all the hard work you’ve put in.”

“Then I admit it. I did pass with flying colors.”

“Thought so,” he said, which provoked another grin from her. Trevor couldn’t stop smiling, and would have felt like an idiot, except Honey was smiling back at him. After a week of wondering if he were losing her after all, the relief was going to his head.

The friendly waitress poured their wine, and left the bottle. Trevor held his glass up high. “To you and to flying colors.”

“Thank you.” She touched her own glass to his, and they both drank.

“Mmm, good,” said Honey.

This would be the perfect time to give Honey the signed contract for the land deal, but he hesitated. When things didn’t turn out well for her boss, would it mess things up between Honey and himself? The contract stayed inside his jacket pocket.

The food was delicious, and Trevor tried his hardest not to stare at Honey through dinner. He told her about his work week and his outing with Dylan, and she talked about her classmates and the test she’d just taken. He loved being with her.

When dinner was almost over, Honey asked, “Trevor, about the contract. I really need to know if your family is going to sell that piece of property to my boss. Either way is fine. I just need to know your decision.”

He sighed. “Actually I brought the contract with me.”

“Really?” Honey’s brows rose. “That’s great. That was easy.”

Nervous, he gave a short laugh. “I’ll give it to you after dinner.” And he’d no doubt end up sweating it when the truth came out.

But did it have to? Looking into her eyes he decided then and there it just wasn’t worth it to him. No doubt Honey’s boss was a jerk and deserved a harsh lesson, but it just wasn’t worth risking his chance with Honey.

He looked down at her hand, and reached out and took it in his. She looked at him questioningly, squeezed his in return, and offered a slight smile, her brows rising again.

“Honey--”

“Does somebody want to tell me what the hell is going on here?”

Startled, Honey looked up to see Christian and Michelle approaching the table. Horrified, she wrenched her hand away from Trevor’s and looked into the angry blue eyes of her fiancé.

“Christian,” she whispered.

Honey only got a glimpse of Christian’s angry face before

he turned and walked toward the exit.

Her mouth slightly open, she turned wide eyes on Trevor, whose brows were raised in question. “I have to go. I’ll be right back. I . . .”

Feeling stunned, guilty, and remorseful, Honey scooted from the booth.

She couldn’t believe this was happening. Where had Christian come from? Why was he there? Why right at that particular moment?
Why right when she was holding Trevor’s hand?

Honey looped her purse over her shoulder and hurried after Christian. She had to explain.

 

Trevor threw down his napkin, unfolded himself from the booth, and with long strides and a set jaw, quickly followed Honey. He gathered that the pretty boy was her fiancé, but she was Trevor’s now, and he had every intention of making sure it stayed that way.

He felt for the guy. He really did. But maybe this confrontation was for the best and they could simply clear up the whole thing here and now. Honey could stay for the weekend, and he’d be glad to help her get over any linger guilt she felt.

“Honey, wait, I’ll go with you.” Quickly reaching her, he put his hand on her shoulder, and Honey stopped, turned a confused fac to him, and shook her head.

“Trevor, don’t follow me. Please wait here. I owe it to Christian to do this alone.”

Trevor’s jaw clenched. He didn’t want her to be alone with the guy. She might change her mind about who it was she wanted. “I think it would be better if I were with you, standing by your side. Or better yet, the guy is leaving, he already gets that it’s over, so just stay here. You can call him later.” From Trevor’s house, if he had anything to say about it.

Blue eyes flashing, she gave him an incredulous look, and backed away. “You stay here. You have to stay here. I’ll be back later.” He opened his mouth to protest and she held up a hand. “Please, Trevor, don’t.” She shook her head. “I need to talk to Christian, right now, and alone. Nothing you say is going to change my mind.”

Trevor knew it wasn’t reasonable, but he felt pushed out, rejected, and his jaw ached from the way he was clenching it. He gave a brief nod, and she was gone.

He watched her leave, watched her get stopped by a brunette, and wondered if she’d lied about breaking up with Christian. If she liked to keep two guys on the string the way his wife had done.

Was he being played? Was it really Christian she still wanted? Realizing people were staring at him, he went back to his seat, sank down, and fished out his credit card.

 

As Honey hurried through the restaurant, Michelle stepped into the aisle, blocked the path, and her red lips curved into a self-satisfied smirk as Honey came to a stop. “
So
,” Michelle flipped silky, dark hair over her shoulder, her full mouth widened into a huge grin, and she nodded toward Trevor. “Is this the way you do business now? Not such a goody-two-shoes after all, are you?”

Honey didn’t have time for this. Without a word, she brushed past Michelle, saw Christian hit the front doors. She ran after him. Outside the restaurant, she looked left, then right.

She spotted Christian, sprinted on high-heels to his white Lexus, and got in the passenger seat just as he slammed the door and started the engine. Ignoring her, his mouth a tight line, he backed out and took off driving.

Honey took a breath. “Christian, it’s not what you think.”

“No?” he shot her a narrow eyed glare, his good-looking face a blank mask. “Enlighten me why don’t you?” his tone was almost polite.

Honey’s mouth opened and shut as she tried to think of the best way to explain the situation to him. Her chest started to ache and she realized she was holding her breath and forced herself to breathe again, gulping in air.

Her heart was pounding in her chest. She should have been more up front with him. A phone message explaining the situation would have resulted in a conversation.

She should have talked to him already and resolved this as soon as she’d realized she wasn’t going to marry him. She shouldn’t have waited. “I’ve...well the thing is, I’ve been trying to get hold of you. I...I...” She waved a hand. “Christian, things haven’t been going well for us for a long time.”

He threw her a furious glance. “Oh really? Then why is that the first I’ve heard of it?”

She crossed her arms and turned her face away to stare out the windshield. “Maybe if you answered my phone calls once in a while you’d know what was going on in our relationship.” She bit out the words.

“Is that what this is about? Phone calls?” With his right index finger he pointed repeatedly to the windshield. “I thought I did know. I thought we were getting married. I thought I had a loyal, faithful girlfriend who wanted to spend the rest of her life with
me.
” He thumped his chest for emphasis.

Guilt ate at her, but she forced herself to say what needed to be said. She sighed. “We’re not getting married anymore.”

“Yeah.” His knuckles were white on the steering wheel and he nodded. “Yeah, I kind of got that back at the restaurant.”

She raised both hands. “Christian, I’m sorry. I really am. I made the decision to break up with you last weekend, but haven’t been able to get hold of you.”

His mouth fell open and he made a choking sound, and waved a dismissive hand in the air. “You didn’t try very hard. There were no messages on my phone this week and you didn’t return
my
call after I left you a message.”

“I know. I decided to wait until I got home tomorrow to talk to you, face to face.”

There was a long silence, the only sound the car as it drove down the road. Finally, Christian shot her a glare. “So who is this guy?”

“Just someone I met. I haven’t been seeing him regularly or anything. We...we...were actually having a business meeting tonight, but I realize now that I shouldn’t have been seeing him at all until you and I had talked. I’m sorry.”

“Have you kissed him?”

She swallowed, and heat burned her face, but she’d be honest if it killed her. She nodded. “Yes.”

“
Dammit.
” He hit the steering wheel again. “Do you love him?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Christian’s face was clenched, but it in no way detracted from his looks. “I thought I could trust you. I thought you were honest.”

Honey’s breath left her body and her mouth fell open. She
was
honest. It was her defining characteristic. She took a breath, prepared to defend her behavior, to excuse herself.

She
had
tried to call, she’d
wanted
to tell Christian in person, and she
hadn’t
been seeing Trevor on a regular basis.

Slowly her shoulders started to sag and she closed her mouth, turned away, and looked out the window. There was really nothing she
could
say, because ultimately, she did have feelings for Trevor at the same time she was engaged to Christian. She hadn’t been honest. So, feeling sick and guilty, she simply shook her had and said, “I’m sorry.”

 

Honey had taken her purse. If she were coming back, why would she grab her purse? Out of habit?

Trevor’s fist clenched and unclenched on the tabletop, his heart pounded in his chest, and looking around, he caught the waitress’s gaze and signaled her over.

As the young woman came to a halt by the table, she glanced at the empty place across from him and curiosity widened her eyes, and she tilted her pixie-like head to the side. “Can I help you, sir?”

Trevor handed over his credit card. “Could you hurry with the bill, please? I have to leave.”

The waitress looked at the mostly empty plates. “Was everything all right?”

“It was fine. Please hurry.”

The waitress nodded, took the card and left.

Trevor tapped his middle finger against the table and tried to figure out what to do. Did he wait here for Honey to come back? Did he give her the time she’d asked for? Or did he do what he wanted and go after her?

A rail-thin, dark-haired woman clad in a pricy, blue business suit slid into Honey’s vacant seat. She held out her hand. “Hello.” Her smile was wide and friendly, her nails long, polished and lethal looking. “I’m Michelle Morgan.”

Expensive perfume wafted over the table, and Trevor slowly extended his own hand to shake hers. “Trevor Baron,” he said.

Her smile brightened and she laughed. “I thought so. I work with Honey. Our boss, Nick Alexander, is anxious to buy a piece of property from your family.” Her smile was pure flirtation. “Since Honey isn’t here right now, maybe you and I could talk some business?” Her brows rose and she flipped a long glossy piece of hair over one shoulder.

Where had this woman come from? Trevor had seen her with the fiancé. Had she come with him? Was she trying to scoop Honey’s deal? Trevor didn’t bother hiding his disgust as he shook his head. “I think Honey and I can work out the details.”

The waitress appeared once more, handing Trevor a leather booklet and eyeing Michelle with a curious glance. “Here you are, sir. And thank you so much for coming in tonight.”

Trevor quickly took care of the bill and started to stand.

Michelle held up a hand. “Please, Mr. Baron, can you at least give me some details so I can report back to my boss? Are you going to sell the property or not?” Her smile never faltered.

Trevor, stilled, sank back down, and considered. He’d almost told Honey everything he knew about the deal so she could make the decision about how to proceed. That definitely wouldn’t make his dad happy.

He sighed and stared down at his clasped hands resting on the table. So what if instead, he just took Honey out of the equation? If she weren’t involved with her Boss’s dishonest business practices then, later, she probably wouldn’t care so much that Trevor hadn’t told her everything.

Her name was on the contract. She’d still get the commission. But afterward, when the dust settled, she might be glad not to have played a part in it.