Chapter Twenty-Four
Sunday nights didn’t get better than this. Good food, great people and simple time spent kicked back in front of the television. From his place at the end of the couch, Trevor squeezed Natalie’s shoulder and tucked her tighter to him. She’d thrown on a simple cotton pajama set about fifteen minutes after they’d carted in their luggage and declared it a pizza and Avengers night, which was perfectly fine with him. Hell, anything would have been fine with him so long as he could touch her and reassure himself last night hadn’t been a figment of his imagination. Waking her up this morning in time to sneak her back to her room before Levi woke had taken every ounce of discipline he’d had. She belonged next to him. Not slinking off like what they’d done was wrong.
The explosions from the movie’s final action scene filled Natalie’s tiny living room and lit up the otherwise dark space. Maureen had cleared away the empty pizza boxes halfway through the movie, refreshed everyone’s drinks and now sat dozing on the opposite end of the couch. Just like Trevor had when he was little, Levi was parked front and center of the screen, his back propped up on the coffee table. The way his eyes were glued to the set, the Hulk would have had to stomp through the front door before Levi would’ve looked away.
Sweeping Natalie’s hair to the side, Trevor nuzzled her neck and inhaled her wildflower scent. He kissed the sensitive spot behind her ear and murmured, “Gonna have a hell of a time sleeping this week without you beside me.”
Her lips curved in a satisfied smile and she twisted enough to whisper back, “It doesn’t have to be the whole week. We could sneak you in when you get home Thursday night.”
A little of his quiet bliss dimmed, the reminder of his overseas trip the next morning pile-driving him back to reality. If Wyatt had really managed to tie Trevor to the bootleg product winding its way through Dallas, Trevor might end up spending Thursday in a jail cell, no matter how influential the passengers on board his plane might be.
He tucked her hair behind one ear. Much as it pained him to be away from her, the last thing he needed to do was give her ex any extra ammunition. At least not until Trevor had the bastard tucked between a rock and a hard place. “Not so sure our late-night visits are a good idea right now. Wyatt might be playing nice on the surface, but he’s already shown he’s tracking Levi. If he’s got someone watching the house too, he’d likely use me staying overnight as a reason for another lawsuit.”
She toyed with the hem of his T-shirt, and the peaceful glow behind her dark eyes faded. “I don’t like sleeping without you.”
“I know, darlin’.” He ran the backs of his knuckles along her cheek. “I don’t like it either, but it won’t last forever. I promise you that.”
Levi glanced over his shoulder and frowned. “Mom, you’re missing it.”
Natalie bit back a smile and traded a Lord, save me expression with Trevor. “I’ve seen it five times already, Levi. I don’t think the Hulk’s temper tantrum is going to be any different this time around.” Still, she squared her shoulders back to the television and nestled back in the crook of Trevor’s arm.
Trevor chuckled. “My bad, bud. No more interruptions. I promise.” Besides, the movie was nearly over, which meant his quiet time with Natalie was almost gone. Tomorrow, he’d be wheels up and headed for his fate.
I trust you. Everything you’ve done and what it took to get you here, I want you just like you are.
Over and over, he’d replayed her earnest words, torn between a euphoric high and bone-chilling terror. She’d shared them in reference to his past, but what happened if she found out about his present? She’d made no bones about how little she’d approved of Wyatt’s involvement with the unapproved drugs, and the odds of her feeling any different on who was doing the peddling were slim.
For the umpteenth time that day, he considered bailing on tomorrow’s run. Someone else could fly his passengers to London while he stayed put in Dallas and let the whole deal go. God knew, he’d rather take a more direct approach with warning off Wyatt. Preferably one that involved a whole lot of pain and months of healing on Wyatt’s end.
But then a wife might lose her husband. Kids might lose a dad. And he’d lose a chance to get Natalie long-term leverage with Wyatt. Her ex might have connections a plenty now, but if their plan worked and the Feds caught him with a load of non-FDA-approved drugs, his highfalutin cronies wouldn’t even acknowledge his existence.
No, even if he landed in jail and lost Natalie in the process, those were some pretty stout reasons to suck it up and take the chance. Risk was part of life, and a man didn’t play things safe when it came to doing the right thing. Especially when the right thing made his woman’s life better.
Just as the credits began to roll, Natalie’s phone lit up and sent her generic ring tone blasting loud enough to jolt Maureen from her nap.
“Levi, turn it down.” Natalie crawled over Trevor to the end table and snagged the device, putting her sweet ass on prime display. If Levi hadn’t craned his head around at that exact moment and Maureen wasn’t in direct line of sight, Trevor would have happily sampled a handful.
She checked the display, scowled, and plopped back down beside him. “Hey, Wyatt. What’s up?”
The post-movie high on Levi’s face slipped, replaced with a wariness Trevor recognized all too well. He’d felt it himself at the same age, and he’d be damned if Levi lived another year dreading the mention of his father’s name. No way was he backing down on his plans.
Natalie did her best to blank her expression while she listened to whatever Wyatt said on the other end, but the way she clenched her hand around his wrist belied her exterior calm. Her grip eased a fraction and surprise spread across her features. “Really?”
Only a hint of Wyatt’s voice registered from the device, the words unintelligible.
Her gaze shot to Trevor, then to Levi, and a sunrise-potent smile stretched ear-to-ear. “Yes, of course. I’d love that. I just...” She looked to Trevor as though he might offer the elusive words her tongue refused to form. “It’s just unexpected.”
Her eyes sparked with pure joy. “Yes, I’ll tell him. I’ll pick him up on Friday. Thank you. Really. It means a lot.”
It shouldn’t have pissed him off, but hearing Natalie thank that bastard for anything sliced deep. Especially knowing whatever gift he’d given would come with a price.
She ended the call and tossed her phone to the couch, her focus shifting between her mom and Levi. “Wyatt said he has a Christmas Eve function he has to go to with his parents. He offered to let Levi spend Christmas Eve and Christmas with me.”
Oh, yeah. Definitely a ploy. And a damned good one, given the way both Natalie and Levi bounced with barely contained glee.
She twisted to Trevor. “You’ll be with us, won’t you? I mean, your dad’s welcome, too. Mom and I hadn’t planned much, but with Levi here, maybe we could do dinner that night and watch some Christmas movies after?”
Clad in his Iron Man pajamas to match their Sunday night movie, Levi scrambled to his feet. “You’ll like it, Trevor. I promise. We open presents on Christmas morning and I bet Mom and Nanna would cook us a huge breakfast after.” His eyes widened, the blaze of some grand idea firing behind his gaze. “Hey, what if we spend the night at the ranch? Then Lady and the horses wouldn’t be alone, and your dad and Nanna can spend the night too!” He focused on Natalie. “Santa could still find me there, right?”
“Now, Levi,” Maureen chimed in. “You can’t go volunteering Trevor’s home for him. It’s not nice.”
The hell if he couldn’t. Especially when the idea went a long way to undercutting whatever favors Wyatt hoped to gain with Natalie. “I think it’s a genius idea.” He grinned at Natalie. “Levi’s right. I’ve got a lot more room at my place, and everyone knows Santa knows where kids are on Christmas Eve, so we’re covered there.”
“And Trevor’s got a real tree!” Levi added, practically jumping up and down. He aimed the biggest set of puppy dog eyes Trevor had ever seen on Natalie. “Please, Mom? We’d get to spend Christmas on a real ranch. Even Bobby can’t top that one. It’d be cool.”
Natalie bit her lip and did some kind of woman to woman silent communication thing with her mom. From the look on her face, Trevor couldn’t decide if she was looking for moral support, or asking for permission.
Maureen grinned much as a cat would if a mouse danced in front of its nose. “Well, we would have a bigger kitchen to work with, and I imagine Frank would appreciate more time with his son.”
Oh, she was good. A finagler to rival Frank’s matchmaking efforts for sure. He’d have to be sure Santa left a few extra goodies for his fellow conspirator as a thank-you.
Trevor smoothed his hand up Natalie’s spine and cupped the back of her neck. “See? Perfect reasoning. All you need to do is say yes.”
She huffed and put on a decent show of being put out, but she couldn’t quite keep the smile from her face. “Like I can fight all three of you.”
“Wahoo!” Levi bounded over to Maureen and hopped in her lap. “Wait till you see Lady, Nanna. She’s pretty and fast. And the horses are huuuge.”
Maureen laughed and corralled him in her arms, hugging him tight as she stood. “I’m sure they are, but you’ve still got one more week of school to get through before you can have your country Christmas. How about we get you to bed so you don’t go to sleep during class?”
Trevor tried to stifle his chuckle, but it still eked out. Maureen had about as much chance of getting Levi to sleep as a bug had of surviving a windshield.
Natalie nabbed a fistful of Trevor’s T-shirt and tugged him toward her. “You look mighty pleased with yourself.”
Oh, he was pleased all right. Nothing beat one-upping an asshole like Wyatt, even if the idea had come from an innocent seven-year-old kid. “Well, you gotta admit. It’s a genius idea. More space, lots of bedrooms...” He pulled her astride him, squeezed her ass, and lowered his voice. “And your ex can’t see when I sneak you in my bed. Best Christmas present ever.”
Her laughter filled the room and she lowered her head for a sweet kiss.
More than ready to indulge in her mouth and the press of her body against him while he still could, he palmed the back of her head and deepened the kiss.
Natalie dug the heels of her hands into his shoulders and pushed away, her gaze sober and searching. “You’re sure you’re okay with this? Mom’s right. We shouldn’t just intrude on your home.”
But it wasn’t just his home anymore. Where the certainty came from or how long it had been there, he hadn’t a clue, but he wanted her there. Not just for a holiday. Not just for a night. But forever. Her and Levi. Even her mother if that’s what made Natalie happy. Hell, the guest house would be perfect for Maureen.
He urged her closer and teased her lips with his. “I’m more than okay with it. I want it.” He sealed his words with a kiss. One way or another, he’d make it all happen just as soon as he got Wyatt behind them. First, he had to get through the next four days without everything falling to shit.