Lexi licked her dry lips. “I’m fine, detective. I don’t need anyone else.”
At least that’s what she told herself when she’d texted Trevor to cancel their date. No guy like that would stick around after she’d flaked on not one, but two dates.
Back to back.
Thankfully, a few minutes after he’d taken her statement, Detective West had stepped out into the hallway to take a phone call. Lexi had used that opportunity to send Trevor the message, thankful she was able to do so without an audience.
With every letter she’d typed, her tears had been closer and closer to falling.
Not wanting to send the details of what had happened over text, Lexi had simply told Trevor something had unexpectedly come up, and she could no longer do dinner. She’d ended it with an apology for the short notice and a promise to call when she could.
She hadn’t received a response, which told her everything she needed to know. Most likely, Trevor had decided she wasn’t worth the trouble. Not that she could blame him.
No man liked a girl surrounded by drama.
First, she gets a flat because she can’t afford proper maintenance for her car, and now this. Though, the whole tire thing may not technically count as drama, tonight most definitely qualified.
The detective’s phone vibrated. He glanced down at its screen, then quickly back to her. “I, uh...I need to go check on something. I’ll be right back.”
With him gone, Lexi went back to focusing on her water bottle. Minutes later, she heard muffled voices coming from the hallway, just before door to the room she was in flew open.
Lexi’s head whipped up, and she nearly gasped when she saw who’d just stepped in. “Trevor?”She gaped up at him. “W-what are you doing here?”
“Tryin’ to get my ass in trouble, apparently.” Detective West shook his head as he pushed his way into the room. Derek was hot on his heels.
“Derek? What’s going on?” She looked at all three men, then back to Trevor. “Why are you two here?”
With his hands on his hips, Trevor responded with a curt, “Better question is, why the hell didn’t you call me?”
Shocked at his harsh tone, Lexi took a second to really look at Trevor. He was dressed in a black suit with a white shirt and black tie. A definite change from the jeans he usually wore when he came into the diner.
But it wasn’t his attire that grabbed her attention, so much as the murderous expression filling his handsome face.
Gone was the easy-going man from last night. Instead, he’d been replaced by a sexy, suit-wearing beast. One who appeared ready to fight to the death.
Oh, yeah. He’s definitely pissed.
“I-I’m sorry,” her voice shook. Despite her efforts to stop them, unshed tears welled in her eyes. “I was planning to call you after I got home. Things just”—she looked at the detective, and then back to Trevor—“they got a little crazy tonight, that’s all.” Her voice broke, and she blinked quickly, sending two silver streaks running down her cheeks. She quickly swiped them away.
With a muttered curse, Trevor was at her side in an instant. Squatting next to her chair, he shook his head. “I’m sorry, angel. I didn’t mean to snap at you. I was just so damn worried when I heard about what happened.”
He brought a hand to her face, but froze when she moved away from it on reflex. He started to lower it, the pain in his eyes gutting her.
Quickly grabbing hold of his thick wrist, Lexi brought his palm back up to her cheek. She leaned into his touch. “Sorry. I guess I’m still a little jumpy.”
“Don’t do that,” he ordered softly.
“Do what?”
“Apologize for being scared. Not after what that bastard did to you.”
It was probably wrong of her, but Lexi’s heart swelled, knowing he cared. “I’m fine, Trevor. I promise.”
Being careful not to startle her again, he slowly removed his hand and stretched her arm out between them. A muscle in his jaw bulged when he spotted the bruises Rob’s fingers had left on her forearm.
With almost clinical eyes, he assessed the rest of what he could see. A low growl came from deep in his throat when he noticed her torn sleeve, and with the gentlest of touches, Trevor’s thumb brushed by a small scratch Rob had left on her shoulder.
“Where else are you hurt?” He brought his eyes back to hers.
