“I love you,” I blurt, not caring that this isn’t the right time or the right place or the right head space to get the words out. A few minutes ago, I was scared I’d never get to say them to Trent and damn if I’m going to let another opportunity slip away. “From the moment you pushed me out of your dad’s study, I haven’t been able to get you out of my head.”
He crouches next to the car, taking my hand, staring up at me with eyes so sweet and full of wonder that I have to bend across and plant a kiss on his mouth, curl my hand around his neck, no matter how much it ignites all my aches and pains.
“All the time he was threatening me, all I thought was that I’d missed my chance, that I’d never get to tell you.”
“I love you, too.”
The declaration makes me snigger against his cheek. “I already know that, silly. You told me when you were trying to convince me to take your diamonds and your car.”
“Did I?” He takes my hand from his neck, kissing my knuckles. “Well, good. Wouldn’t want any of these deranged lunatics turning your head.”
“Do you mean Jerred and Andy, or do you mean your friends?”
He bursts into laughter, and I treasure that as much as anything else. His calm manner. His solidity. His beautiful, beautiful strength.
We breathe in sync for a moment, then Trent reluctantly releases me and stands. “Come on,” he says with his beaming smile. “Let’s get you home.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE
TRENT
Ten monthslater
I stare across the table at Rosa, then can’t resist taking her hand. We’re sitting outside, taking advantage of the early summer with a barbeque at Zach’s house. A place that puts even my dad’s mansion to shame.
She glances at me, smiling as her eyes glow with happiness, and squeezes my hand before turning her attention back to Zach, who’s pontificating about something. I lost track about ten minutes ago and haven’t found my place since.
“That’s not the way I remember it,” Lily says darkly, then immediately brightens as he drops a kiss on her collarbone, manhandling her into his lap.
“Where’s this baby?” Finley complains. “I seem to remember that was the only reason I signed up to this barbeque. I demand you produce her at once.”
“Caylon’s probably still manhandling baby seats and bottles and spare nappies and god knows what else into the car,” I reassure her. “It’s different from lugging around a few laptops.”
“I could’ve been home having fun,” Finley complains, pooching out her lower lip.
The home in question is still mine, even though the threat that first installed her there is long past.
It might not be a place we’re sharing for much longer. Increasingly, I feel that Rosa and I could benefit from having our own space.
Her flat is long gone, rented out to new troublemakers. We combed through the place so many times, ensuring any equipment was found and destroyed, that I felt a strange goodwill towards the house on the day we finally packed all Rosa and Finley’s supplies to leave.
Not that I’d settle for something like it. Not a chance. Even if we rely on my wages from bouncing at Stefan’s club instead of handouts from Dad, it’s still enough to find far more opulent living conditions.
“Missing Sashe, are you?” Rosa asks with a twinkle of mischief in her eye.
Finley shoots back an innocent expression that isn’t fooling anyone.
She’s been spending an increasing amount of time with my new stepmother, and I have caught her escaping from my dad’s bedroom on a few mornings, looking very pleased with herself.
Sashe is also far happier than she had been. Dad, too.
Whatever arrangements they’re currently entangled in, I wish them good luck. I’m not sure how happy I would have been about the situation pre-Rosa, but with her by my side, it’s become easier to take everything in my stride.
“That’s them,” Lily shrieks, scrambling upright and bouncing on the balls of her feet. “Should I go down to the car to greet them? Or is that too pushy?”
“They’re probably lugging fifty kilos worth of stuff out of the back seat,” Zach’s dad says, coming onto the lawn beside us. “But I’ll go see if they need a hand.”
Lily looks amused and exchanges a secret glance with Zach. His dad’s been dating a lovely woman from a rival law firm lately. I wonder if that silent exchange means things are progressing faster than I thought.
