Page 29 of Without Regret

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Emma

Back in my hotel room after dinner, I fumed. I fucking hated Tom. Hated him for telling Trevor about the tattoo incident. Even though I had a very different version of events, I hadn’t spoken up. Because the disappointment in Trevor’s eyes had given me what I’d needed.

A barrier.

A reason he would now keep his distance and view me differently. A cause to make him stay away from me. Within the last twenty-four hours, he’d taken care of me after the incident with Rufus and then gone out of his way to buy me new clothes. Despite all the warning bells, I could feel myself being pulled in past the point of friendship.

However, later that night as I lay in my bed, for the first time I wasn’t comforted by the loneliness. Instead, I cursed it.

By the next morning, I resolved to get back to the girl I used to be, the one in whom I felt comfortable. The girl who didn’t give a fuck about people, their opinions, or most of all, their affections. It had been too long since I’d been out to a club, danced my ass off, and come back with a one-night stand. So after a long day of scheduled meetings, I planned to go out and end up thinking Trevor who? by morning.

But first, I had to sit in a boardroom and watch him walk through the door in a crisp black suit, ready for his presentation to the owner. God, he was handsome. Also in attendance were Tom, Simon, and a couple of other suits I knew worked closely with Phillip.

The first thing I noticed was how unbelievably relaxed Trevor was in his skin. He didn’t appear nervous, and he seemed genuinely interested in meeting everyone in the room. Hell, Myrna, Phillip’s assistant, positively fawned over him after he’d asked her how her day was going. The grandmother practically beamed. I could see she was already making cookies for him in her mind, something she’d bring in tomorrow if we’d be around.

As soon as Phillip showed up, he greeted the room and sat back in his chair. Although the owner of the Stone Group was only in his mid-forties, he had the presence of someone who’d been in business much longer. He exuded power. He had jet black hair sprinkled with gray, a strong bone structure that screamed aristocracy, and a suit probably worth more than I made in a month. It was typical for him to appear laid-back despite being very much in control.

I found myself swallowing hard, a bit nervous for Trevor and hoping he did well. People typically fell into two categories with Phillip. His good side or the outside. The man certainly didn’t waver, and he definitely wasn’t much for the personal touch, which I could see Trevor inadvertently doing. He couldn’t help himself; he was such a people person.

But I was in for a surprise. As soon as the presentation came up on the screen, it was as if I was staring at a different version of Trevor, one I’d not yet seen. He was professional, polished, and took charge of his work. Thirty minutes later, it was clear Phillip was impressed, especially after he’d asked questions, and Trevor hadn’t hesitated in answering.

At the end of the meeting, I slipped out and went into a small office to get on with my busy day. As I was packing up around five o’clock and anticipating my night, Simon came in to thwart my plans.

“Hey. I told Trevor we could all go to Club Blue tonight.”

“I thought you had dinner with Phillip and Tom tonight.”

“We do, but I thought the three of us could go after. He’s only been to New York a couple of times; might be nice to show him one night out.”

The last thing I needed was Trevor there at a club while I trolled for guys who were nothing like him. “I have plans.”

Simon raised a brow. “Have them after you come out with us. We’re trying to include him and make him feel part of the team. One drink, Emma, and then you can go on with your night.”

It wasn’t as if I could lie and tell him I was meeting friends. Simon knew better. And I certainly didn’t want to tell him I was looking for someone to sleep with. Simon and I might be close, but not about things that personal. “Fine. But no Tom. I’m at max with him.”

“Agreed. I think after another dinner tonight, I’ll be at my max with him, too.”

Simon took me off guard with his next question. “Is there anything between you and Trevor I should know about?”

I sighed. “Nothing. Oddly, I think we are becoming friends.”

His gaze held mine. “He may be interested in more.”

“How can you tell?”

“He practically lights up when you become part of the conversation.”

“I’ll make sure he gets the message.” Perhaps Trevor could sense my internal struggle. Hell, it wasn’t as though I hadn’t been tempted.

“Go easy,” Simon cautioned.

I knew how much having Trevor on board meant to Simon, who then wouldn’t have to travel as much. The last thing I needed to do was jeopardize the team. “I will.”

I think we both hoped that was possible.

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