CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

Emma

I half expected him to pull into a motel down the road. Before Trevor, that would’ve worked for me; for example, if I’d picked up a guy in a bar. But now I was relieved when he didn’t. My relief was replaced by panic fifteen minutes later when we pulled up to a huge gate flanked by trees on either side.

“Where are we?”

“My home, but don’t worry. We won’t go up to the main house.”

I gulped because what a main house it was. Holy shit. The mansion was massive, but we drove around it towards the back.

“Where are we going?” I whispered, feeling like we were sneaking around.

“Pool house. Come on.” He stopped the truck and came around to my side to help me down. The gentlemanly gesture was appreciated.

Taking my hand, he led me down a small driveway and then through a back gate, where he punched in a code. Despite the dark, I could make out the massive pool to the left of us.

“Won’t they wonder why you pulled in and didn’t come into the house?”

A few steps later, he was unlocking the door to what looked to be a little, cottage-type house. He soon pulled me inside. “My father is traveling until Thursday. And my sister is probably asleep, sneaking Rufus into the house since my father is gone so he can sleep in bed with her. She’s not expecting me in any event.”

“Oh.” It was the only word I could manage before I was scooped up and carried through the darkened room to another room. Clearly, he knew the layout. His lips on mine erased any idea I should care where we went so long as he didn’t stop.

***

“I have to go,” I whispered in the dark, still naked and sprawled on top of him in the large bed.

“Yeah. Okay. I’ll drive you.”

“No, no. I’ll get an Uber. Just point the way towards the front gate.”

Although I couldn’t see his face in the dark, I could feel him tense up. “Not happening, sugar. I’ll take one of the other cars so my truck isn’t seen, but I’m not letting you get in an Uber near midnight. Chances are Tom and Simon are no longer up anyway.”

He probably wasn’t wrong; they probably were both asleep, but I was worried about the risk. Simon would be disappointed that I was jeopardizing the long-term chances of our newest team member. Tom would use any opportunity to cause trouble.

“Okay. You can drop me off at the back of the hotel.” I felt around for my clothes and finally managed to don the wrinkled suit and shoes.

“Fine. But I watch you go in.”

It felt strange to have someone worry about my safety. Simon would upon occasion, but I tried not to give him the opportunity. After living independently my entire life without anyone caring, I couldn’t say it was altogether unpleasant. Just weird.

We drove mostly in silence, but with Trevor’s hand over mine on the center console, his thumb rubbing circles on my wrist. Luckily, it was a short drive back. Once we arrived, I unbuckled quickly and slid over to get out before he could help me.

“Good night.”

“’Night, Emma.”

He was true to his word, watching as I scanned my key card into the back door of the hotel and went inside. I gave him a little wave and took the stairs up to my room. Once there, I let out the breath I’d been halfway holding, now confident no one had seen us.

***

By Wednesday, I could start to see the toll on Trevor as we made a list of employees and realized we’d be giving them all two weeks’ severance. No more, no less. And even then, Peter wasn’t happy. If he had his way, they’d all get a pink slip and not one pence.

We hadn’t had another night together since Monday, but Trevor looked tired and had lost some of the enthusiasm I’d come to expect from him.

Hope lingered that I’d find something or the audit of the company would turn up a problem to cancel the sale. But no luck so far.

By Thursday, I made up my mind to talk to Simon. Since he met me in the hotel lobby each morning to drive us over to the office, it wasn’t hard to get some private time. I started the conversation once we were seated in the rental car.

“I don’t trust a man willing to screw over his entire staff. I keep searching for a red flag.”

He sighed, having been down this road with arsehole owners before. “Right there with you.”

“How do you think Trevor will hold up with the layoffs?” I broached the subject, wanting to get a feel for Simon’s view on the topic before confiding anything.

“It’ll be rough for him, but I’m sure he’ll manage. Why, did he say something?”

I hesitated. I didn’t want to be disloyal, but I also recognized Simon could offer a lot of advice to Trevor in this area. “I doubt he’d wish to tell you if it did affect him because he realizes it’s part of the job, and he’s being judged. But it weighs on him.”

He nodded. “I’ll talk to him. Feel out how he’s doing. Unless the deal falls through, we’re going through with the layoffs.”

“I know we’re not supposed to want it to fail.” But I wished it would.

“Failed deals do not pay commissions, yet in this case, I might be willing to make the sacrifice if it keeps Peter from getting rich over it.”

“Me, too. Hey, were you still thinking about real estate investments?” When he’d decided to stay in Dallas, Simon had told me he hoped to dabble in them. It made sense since he definitely knew his fair share of investors. What would be more perfect than if Simon could assist Trevor in that business?

“I am. Why do you ask?”

“I think Trevor might be interested in that, too. Just a thought.”

He glanced over once we parked in the lot, studying me.

“What?”

“Nothing. You just seem to know a lot about Trevor.”

I hated the blush which creeped up. “He’s talkative, okay? And he’s nice.” Like when he called me sugar before going down on me. Or when he called me beautiful like he had on Monday night, gripping my ass, or when he went alpha in such an unexpected way.

Jesus. I needed a cold shower. After a mere forty-eight hours without him. Thank Christ Simon didn’t catch on to the true nature of my thoughts.

“Good. I’m glad you two are getting along. It’s critical if we’re going to make this team work.”

I felt slightly guilty I didn’t fess up to the true nature of our relationship. After all, I’d been privy to his relationship with Peyton when they’d been dating in secret. But I reasoned it would be better if Simon didn’t know the true situation in my case. Especially since I wasn’t sure how I’d go about explaining it.

“Also, I forgot to mention. Block out tomorrow night for dinner,” Simon said. “Trevor’s father is having a do at his house.”

Say what, now? I was caught so off guard I almost missed his next words.

“Charles Newhall is a powerful man. Not only in the field of oil and gas, but he’s also putting in a bid to run for mayor of Houston.”

Gulp. And I’d fucked his son in his pool house on Monday night.

“I thought you were going home for the weekend to see Peyton?” His plans were to fly out Friday night.

“I am. I’ll leave straight from the party and take the late flight. Which reminds me: please change my reservation to the nine o’clock flight.”

“Do we have to go to the party?” The last thing I wanted was to meet Trevor’s father.

We both got out of the car and started walking into the building. “Yes. We definitely do. It’s called hospitality, and people in Texas have it in spades. Why, do you have other plans in Houston?”

I sighed. “No.” There would be no way to get out of it. But why hadn’t Trevor mentioned it?

“How about you book Trevor and me for lunch today? I’ll take him out and talk to him privately about the layoffs. Give him some advice. Won’t make it easier, but I want him to know I’m supportive.”

“Yeah. Okay.”

If I’d been thinking straight I might have worried about how Trevor was going to take Simon bringing up the layoffs. But I was too focused on how dinner would go tomorrow with his family.