Sizzle in the City (19 page)
Why was she panicking?
She was being flighty and unpredictable—exactly what she’d assured Henry she wasn’t. And she definitely knew what she wanted. She wanted Trevor. Differences and all.
True, the journey to this point had been complicated. But if they could get through the ordeal with Max, starting on opposite sides with deceit and family loyalties between them, joining forces, compromising, surviving and still loving each other at the end… Well, it seemed they could likely get through anything.
True justice was illusive, but true love was easy. If she wanted to find it badly enough.
She was running, plain and simple. She wasn’t weak like Max. And if she had to wear a crown and learn to curtsy to be with Trevor, then that’s what she’d do.
It’s not wise to come between me and something I want,
she’d once said to Henry.
It was time she proved her challenge.
Looking around, her gaze fell on the elevators.
She couldn’t run back to him without overcoming one last obstacle. A sense of déjà vu washed over her.
Hadn’t she once paced this same lobby, taking a chance on seeing Trevor again? On them finding a way to turn vengeance and mistrust into hope?
Humiliated, though that was the least of her worries, she walked toward the security desk. “Uh, Fred,” she said, clearing her throat when her voice croaked out like a rusty wheel. “Can I go back up?”
Fred, naturally, looked utterly confused. “Well… I’m supposed to clear everybody, every time.”
“But I’m a knight who’s raised her sword to strike down the tyranny of injustice. I’ve rescued the princess from the castle and brought peace and hope to all the land.” She leaned forward and whispered, “So I’d really like my reward now.”
Fred was half smiling, half alarmed. “What reward?”
“The Honorable Trevor Banfield.”
Whether he thought she was sincere or crazy, Fred nevertheless nodded. “Elevator three.”
Impulsively—proving she might be unpredictable at times—she kissed his cheek. As she rushed to the elevator, she called over her shoulder, “Don’t tell him I’m coming, please.”
On the ride up, she remembered Trevor’s face when she’d told him they didn’t belong together. When he’d told her he loved her, and she hadn’t believed him.
She’d hurt him.
Maybe he should have spent some of that tough love on his brother years ago.
But then they never would have met.
And that scenario absolutely didn’t fit with her fairy tale.
When the elevator doors opened, Trevor, anxious, beautiful and determined, was standing there.
She blinked. “My lord.”
He yanked her into his arms. “My love.”
Then he was kissing her as if she was his whole world, as if he’d never let her go, no matter how far and fast she wanted to run.
He didn’t know, at least not yet, that she wasn’t going anywhere without him ever again.
Arms wrapped around each other, they shuffled into his apartment.
“Why’d you come back?” he asked, his mouth hot and hungry against her cheek.
“We spent enough time apart.” She placed her hands on either side of his face. “And I think I might be a bit impulsive. Oh, and I love you, too. I think I forgot to mention that earlier.”
The smile she adored blossomed on his face, and she wanted his lips on hers as soon as possible. And forever. “You definitely left that part out.” He slid his arms around her waist. “Again, please.”
She slid her arms around his neck. “I love you.”
He kissed her, his devotion to her never more precious. “When I’m with you, I’m complete. I think I knew that from the first moment I touched you.”
“And tasted my crab cakes.”
His eyes gleamed. “That, too.”
“No matter how fast this has happened, how unlikely a couple we might be, I believe in us.” She slid her hand through his hair, relishing the silken texture, scarcely able to believe he was all hers. “This is real. The future could bring anything, but we’ll face it together.”
He hugged her tight against him. “That’s what I call a good plan.”
“My best.”
“I wasn’t kidding about my talent with tuxedos. I can always fill in as a waiter at one of your events.”
“After I see you in this tuxedo, your lordship, I’ll consider it.”
“Consider, will you?”
“Well, the view without a tuxedo is pretty impressive, so I’m sure you’ll do fine. In the meantime, we’re overdue for a celebration. How are you at opening champagne?”
He grinned and guided her to the kitchen. “Why don’t I demonstrate?”
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ISBN: 9781459227132
Copyright © 2012 by Etherington, Inc.
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