Page 72 of Without Regret

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

Trevor

Things shifted between Emma and me after my birthday. Now, two weeks later, I was on my way to New York with Simon, trying to keep the big goofy grin off my face. She’d given me quite the send-off last night, knowing I’d be out of town for a couple of days. I wished she could’ve gone with us, especially since she loved New York so much.

The level of intimacy was at an all-time high. Although she couldn’t or wouldn’t share all of her past with me, I respected her reserve. Over these last few days, we’d fallen into an easy routine, spending our days acting professional around the office and then our nights together. We’d go out for dinner or order in, but always ended up tangled in bed. The best part was waking up with her in the mornings. She wasn’t ever in a hurry to leave and instead kissed me as if she knew she’d miss me during the day.

Upon landing in Newark, we drove in a town car into Manhattan to meet with Phillip and Tom about a possible new venture. This one was a large PR firm out of Chicago. One thousand people were involved, and we intended to keep most of those who were billable. That meant only a couple dozen non-billable people we might need to evaluate in the back office.

The job was going well in that I was learning what to look for in a potential acquisition. By going through the last three years’ worth of deals, I was educating myself on the ins and outs.

Although I’d suggested putting Rufus into the doggy kennel for the few days I’d be gone, Emma had insisted on watching him instead. It was yet another way our relationship was progressing. I hadn’t missed the way she seemed to have bonded with him. To me, it looked like two wounded hearts with rough beginnings had found a connection.

My challenge, however, was not to dig deeper with her. I needed to be okay with the possibility she might never feel comfortable enough to share her past. Easier said than done. When you loved someone, it was difficult not to want to learn what caused the shadows.

Yes. I was in love. After I finished up my meetings in New York over three full days, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I was no longer falling. I’d fallen. Although she might be tiptoeing into our relationship, at least she was proceeding in the right direction. The fact she hadn’t ever done so before gave me a rush. It also made me nervous that the slightest thing could spook her.

When I arrived back at the corporate housing complex on Wednesday evening, I was impatient to see Emma pull in. Luckily I didn’t have long to wait. I stepped outside with Rufus on a leash and watched her park.

I shook my head at her crooked attempt, trying not to laugh that she either didn’t notice or couldn’t care less. She got out of the driver’s side resembling a supermodel in her designer suit, heels, purse, and sunglasses.

“Nice parking,” I quipped, earning a smile from her when her eyes found mine.

“I learned to drive in the US only a few months ago. I’m afraid driving on the wrong side of the car and the wrong side of the road still doesn’t come natural.” Bending at the waist, she scratched Rufus’s head, making me insanely happy.

“It’s actually the right side of the road, literally. Since sixty-five percent of countries in the world drive on the right, clearly most would agree.”

She grinned. “How the hell do you know that? Or I should ask why do you know it?”

I stepped close enough to her that I caught a whiff of her perfume and had to restrain myself from pulling her into me. “I use it to impress British chicks.”

She laughed. Music to my ears.

“How many exactly are you impressing these days?”

“One is more than enough for me, sugar.”

She closed the gap, lifting her face, voice low and husky. “You better believe it. How was your trip, by the way?”

“Productive, but I missed you.”

My declaration seemed to surprise her, and I almost regretted it, but then she relaxed, putting her hand on my chest. “You weren’t the only one, cowboy.”

I couldn’t help myself. I leaned into her and captured her lips. And she didn’t disappoint, melting into me and allowing access for my tongue to slip inside. Her sigh of pleasure had me hauling her body up against mine and wishing we weren’t in the parking lot. But knowing we were, I gave her one more for good measure and pulled back, still cupping her face, running my thumb over her luscious bottom lip. I was about to suggest we take this upstairs when an intruding voice came from behind me.

“I have to hand it to you, Trevor. Never in a million years would I picture Emma the type to make out in a parking lot, especially with a clean-cut country guy such as yourself.”

She instantly stiffened with a muttered “fuck” when she realized it was Tom.

After schooling my expression, I turned. I might not care for the man; however, I wasn’t about to let him see he could get under my skin. He was the type who would feed off of it. I recognized it would do our professional relationship no good if I got into a pissing match with him.

“Guess it must take the right man. What are you doing here?” He’d flown back with us, but I’d assumed he’d be staying at the Four Seasons Hotel like he normally did.

“The hotels in the area were booked for some big conference in town, so Simon suggested this corporate housing complex.”

Emma barely flicked her gaze in his direction, her expression visibly souring with his very presence. She at least smiled as she whispered to me. “I’ll let you finish walking Rufus and see you upstairs in a few minutes.”

I matched her smile, loving the intimate way we were talking despite our intruder. I knew she wasn’t happy about Tom finding out about us, given her contempt for him, but it was refreshing that she wasn’t pushing me away. “Sounds good.”

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