Page 34 of Digit's Deflection
“Some of the best in the area. Daphne really lucked out with this spot. It opened up at just the right time. Precisely when she needed it most.” I feel a little twinge of the monster again.
“So how exactly do you know Daphne?” I ask, trying my best to sound nonchalant about it.
“She and her husband, Maxwell, were members of the club. We would see each other often, became friendly, then friends. Daph worshipped the ground Max walked on – in her eyes, the sun rose and set with him each day.
“One day, he left for work, perfectly fine— or, at least, that’s how it appeared. Two hours later his secretary called to say he was being rushed to the hospital; Daphne needed to meet them there. Turns out Max suffered a heart attack, and the damage to his heart was massive. He didn’t survive it. It took her a long time to recover from his loss – and to be honest, I don’t think she’s one hundred percent over it. Will maybe never be, but this place keeps her occupied and sane. Her words, not mine.”
I take his words in and feel a pang of sympathy for the poor woman. I can’t imagine what it must have been like – still is like – dealing with the loss. But I do know that if I were in her shoes and I lost Treven, especially having just found him again, I really don’t think I would ever get over it.
Daphne’s just refilled Treven’s coffee cup and removed our breakfast dishes when his phone rings.
“Nicols.” I sit quietly, watching the waves roll up onto the beach before getting sucked back out. “Yeah, just finishing up with breakfast, then I’ve got to drop Liora at home. I’ll be in after that.” He listens again, and his face changes. “Okay. I’m on my way.”
“Everything all right?” I ask.
“Gotta rock, and there’s no time to drop you off a?— ”
“No, don’t worry about m?—”
“Let me finish, woman. I need to get to base, ASAP. So here’s how this is going to work. You’ll have to go with me, drop me off, and take the ‘Stang. I’ll grab a lift home with one of the guys this afternoon. Then I’ll see you at the club tonight. Yeah?”
“I – oh. Um, Treven, I don’t know so much about driving the Mustang.” Panic grips me at the idea of driving the beautiful car.Images of damaging it in some way and then having to tell him what I did have me sweating.
“Stop it. I can see what you’re thinking. You’ll be fine. And even if you aren’t, that’s what insurance is for. It’s just a car, Li. It can be repaired or replaced. You, not so much. I would pick you over my car any day. Every single time.”
Unexpectedly, his words bring tears to my eyes. That we’ve gone from zero to one hundred in a heartbeat was something I’d not anticipated. After the way I ran out on him, I thought I’d have to work hard to win his trust back. But after sharing what always felt was my “dirty little secret” with him, it’s like we’ve never been apart.
Yes, we’ve changed some. We all do, with the experiences life throws at us as we grow up. But deep down, where it matters, we’re still pretty much the same people. Especially Treven. Fundamentally, he’s always been a good person. And it’s clear to see nothing’s changed there.
So, with my pulse drumming a harsh tattoo in my veins, I ride to the base with him. When we hop out of the car to say goodbye and go our separate ways, I can’t help but laugh at Treven’s expression when his teammates catcall and tease him, seeing me drop him off at work.
“Ah, fuck it,” he murmurs right before he pulls me in for a toe-curling, knee-weakening, panty-dropping kiss. The likes of which are met with yet more catcalls, hooting, and hollering.
“Well, all right then,” is all I can say when he eventually lets me go. This time, good humor restored, he grins at me, tips an imaginary hat, and saunters away.
“See you around, princess. Have a good day,” he throws over his shoulder as he joins his teammates, who call out their heys, hi’s, and hellos.
Waving, I climb into the driver’s seat and mentally try to prepare myself to drive this beast. All I can do is pray I don’twreck Treven’s car. He might not care, but I most certainly would.
18
DIGIT
At first, the catcalls and whistling irritated me. I mean, come on guys, nothing to see here. But then I remember I’ve been guilty of the same things, more than once. So I figure I’ll give them something to react to.
“Ah, fuck it,” I mutter as I pull Liora into my arms and lay one on her, the guys giving us a hard time from behind me.
“Well, all right then,” is all she says when finally I break the kiss. Grinning down at her, I give her a salute, tipping an imaginary hat before walking over to where the guys are waiting for me, hooting and catcalling like they’re paid to.
“See you around, princess. Have a good day,” I throw over my shoulder as the guys call out greetings to Liora. “You know you’re a bunch of jackasses, right?”
They just laugh and slap me on the back.
“About time you came over to the dark side, dude,” Gator says, laughing at me.
Filing into the briefing room, we’re surprised to find Merlin, Maverick, and the rest of the team already there.
“Mav, hey. Why didn’t you let me know you were coming into town, brother?” I ask.
