[Trent’s POV]The next morning, I wake up early and head out for a quick run. Outside, the weather is perfect, matching my mood almost, despite a few gray clouds that hover not only in the sky but also over me since I was certain Gabby would attempt to run away.Trying to ignore the unease I feel over the idea of her going back to that house of hers with no one there to keep her safe. It drives me so crazy, I stop mid-run and quickly head home, where I find the woman in question lounging on the couch with some fried eggs.“Welcome back,” she calls as I stand in the doorway just staring at her. “What?” She pushes. “Don’t tell me you’re mad that I made something to eat. Sorry, but I woke up starving and kind of helped myself.”“It isn’t that.” I assure her, feeling a wave of relief rush through me. “You’re more than welcome to eat whatever you want here.”“Then did you want me to make you some?” She pushes, giving me a confused look. “I’ll have to tell you that Rachelle does most of the
[Trent’s POV]Later, I stand together with Gabby on the porch of the home that she shares with Rachelle. Since Gabby was being stubborn and refused to let Alton buy her anything, I decided it would be best for us to come here to collect her things together. However, what I didn’t expect to run into when I arrived was a busted door handle and a front door hanging half open.Now, Gabby wraps her arms around herself, shivering while I’m certain she imagines what would have happened if I didn’t bring her back to my place. Even I was having a hard time of not doing that, and with each passing minute, my desire to go out and find that bastard of a father of hers was growing stronger, but I knew that doing that would only make matters worse, and the best thing I could do right now was let the police and private investigator that I hired do their jobs.“Come on,” I murmur, gently clapping Gabby’s shoulder. “We should go in and see if anything is damaged or missing.”“Right,” she whispers as h
[Gabrielle’s POV]When we return to Trent’s place, I head straight up to my room, where I remain for the next few hours, unpacking and adjusting to the place that I would be staying for the unforeseeable future. As I do so, my phone begins to ring, and when I pick it up, I feel a wave of guilt crash into me as I read Gregory’s name on the screen.Shit. How would he react if he knew what was happening while he was away? I was certain that he wouldn’t be happy, but would it make him drop the job he was doing and rush back to me? I didn’t want that, not when he enjoyed what he was doing so much.Sighing, I swipe the answer button while deciding it was best to pretend that everything was okay.“Hey,” I say, hoping that my voice sounded normal. “What’s up?”“Do I need a reason to call you?” Gregory asks.His voice is both comforting and unnerving as I once again find myself feeling like I was all but caught in the midst of cheating.“No,” I respond, reminding myself that this was nothing l
[Gabrielle's POV]The room around me sways, or maybe it's just me? I don't know, but I know I need to make it to the bathroom to pee. Lifting my arms, I take a few tentative steps, and when my footing seems to be stable, I continue to move forward.When I reach the bathroom, I start to head inside until my pinky toe slams into the doorframe.“Fuck!” I hiss, pain radiating through me. “Damn walls jumping out in front of me!”As the words leave my lips, I hear a grunt of annoyance behind me. Eyes widening, I whirl around half expecting Rachelle to have been woken up from her drunken sleep, but she still sleeps soundly.“Sssshhhhh,” I hiss to myself, continuing on my way. “Don't wake the drunkie.”Giggling to myself, I do my business while my toe continues to sting, and when I realize that it is bleeding, I check in the medicine cabinet for some bandages only to find that it is empty.“Well, damn,” I sigh, realizing that I have to hunt down bandages. “What rotten luck.”Sighing, I head o
[Gabrielle’s POV]For the next few days, I spend my mornings job hunting and my afternoons hiding in my room. I know that it is pretty clear that I’m attempting to avoid Trent after what happened while I was drunk, but I needed time to get my head together, process my thoughts, and decide what I truly wanted to do.Honestly, I didn’t even understand why I was wasting the energy to consider anything when I told myself long ago that I would never let Trent back in. But he was like a damn light, and I was a moth that couldn’t help but be attracted to him. And the more time we spent together, the more I felt myself being pulled back to him.However, I couldn’t let that happen, and that was why I was out with Rachelle now, passing my resume to any business we could find with a help wanted sign on its door.“Have you tried this place?” She asks me as we reach a small bakery.“Nope,” I respond, pulling a resume out of my bag and heading in. Giving my best smile, I walk up to an elderly woman
[Trent’s POV]I hold Gabby against me while Trudy watches us with a look of hurt and anger. When I came home from work I wasn’t expecting to walk into drama, and I was having a hard time keeping my temper in check.“How did you get in here?” I ask Trudy now, narrowing my gaze on her. “What have I told you about just showing up when you want?”“Katie made me a spare key,” Trudy responds smugly. “She said I could come anytime I wanted.”At her words, I feel Gabby tense against me, and I already know what is going through her head. It is exactly what Trudy wants her to think. Since we were young, Trudy didn’t bother hiding the fact she didn’t like Gabby. In the past, I tolerated it and took it as simple jealousy of a younger sister, but we were adults now, and she couldn’t keep acting like this.“Give it here,” I say, holding out a hand. “I’ll talk to Katie later about what she has done behind my back.”As I speak, Trudy’s eyes grow wide with shock, and when they snap to Gabby, they fill
[Trent’s POV]I run as fast as I can, exerting more energy than I ever have, but no amount of distance I make brings Gabby or the car she is most certainly in to light. It is only when I reach the edge of town that I finally stop, leaning forward, my hands on my knees.“Dammit,” I pant, my fear of her disappearing from my life growing even more. “Why didn’t I stop you?”Straightening out, I look around, half hoping that Gabby may have stopped and reconsidered her choice to leave, but all I’m met with is empty streets and the flashing lights of a small bar with smooth jazz music drifting from it.Sighing, I stare at it for a moment while debating going home but deciding to go inside instead.“Welcome,” a large man with a bald head calls from his place behind the counter. “What will your poison be?”“Burben, on the rocks.” I respond, taking a seat at the bar and pulling out my phone. “Make it a double.”An hour later, my head is fuzzy and the room around me is spinning, but I feel light
[Gabrielle’s POV]“Dammit,” I sigh, collapsing on the bed in Hanson’s guest room while Rachelle watches me. “What the hell?”What the hell was wrong with me running away like that simply because I found out that Trent has a past? Of course he would! I left him! I left him and went out and fucked anyone and everyone. If anyone should be pissed, it should be Trent!Sitting up, I stare at Rachelle, taking in the amusement that flashes in her golden eyes as a look that screams you’re screwed begins to form on her face.“Say it,” I sigh, knowing that she wants to rub salt in my wound. “I know you’re thinking it.”“And what am I supposed to be thinking?” She asks, raising a brow. “I don’t quite understand what you mean.”“I’m a hypocritical bitch.” I sigh, hating myself for it. “I ran around being a whore the past ten years, and I even agreed to properly date Gregory, but here I am running away like a dog with my tail tucked when I discover that Trent had a relationship after me.”“Why do I
[Gabrielle’s POV]I wait and watch as Trent processes what I’ve just told him. Even with the dim light casting shadows on his handsome face, I can see the desire that is beginning to form there.Dammit. How in the world was he able to remain strong up until this point, and why did his sticking to his word make me feel both loved and rejected? I hated these swirling emotions that I never would have had when we were younger.Back then, I knew that I was in fact his everything and that he only thought of me and no one else, but now he had a taste of another woman, and that scared the shit out of me.Maybe that was why I was willing to push his buttons like this, testing the waters, seeing if I could break his strong resolve, even if it only caused me to continue coming up empty.“Dammit, Gabby,” Trent hisses, his eyes flashing with lust. “We’re already this close; why do you have to continue to try to tempt me?”“Because I’m insecure.” I whisper, unable to stand it any longer. “I hate th
[Trent’s POV]After our first night of passion, I slowly come to find that Gabby is insatiable. Anytime I turned around, she was wanting to touch me, to kiss me, and to do other things to me that drove me so fucking crazy but also excited me just the same.Was this need to constantly be attacking me stemming from how much she missed me? Or how much she cared about me? I wasn’t so sure, but despite all of this, we never went all the way. However, we did do many things, many, many things, on almost every surface of my home, and by the time the day of departure for our vacation came, I was almost ready to just take her right then and there on the plane.I was certain that she was feeling the same way as me, as I found her gaze locked on a certain part of me more than a few times. That’s why, by the time we landed at our destination, I was strongly considering skipping all the things I planned and just keeping her trapped in the bed with me all day and night, but I manage to remain under
[Gabrielle’s POV]I let a smile play on my lips as I pull Trent’s belt out of the way and start to undo his pants. As I move, I can feel the bulge that is forming there and know that despite his insistence he was fine, he wasn’t doing well at all.“You can stop me any time.” I whisper, slowly slithering my body down his until I’m on my knees in front of him. “I won’t make you do something you don’t want to.”Growing quiet, I wait as he stares down at me, taking me in with so much hunger it makes my heart and my core squeeze.God. I just wanted to jump this man. I wanted to see more of his expressions, see that desire for me in his eyes more. I wanted to breathe him in until I had my fill, but I didn’t think that would ever be happening.“Is your silence the go ahead?” I giggle, hooking my fingers in his now-loose pants.For a moment, I don’t move while he just continues to stare at me, and when he lifts his hips, I know that he isn’t going to stop me, not this time.Smiling seductivel
[Gabrielle’s POV]I sit in Trent’s lap, listening to the sound of his strong heartbeat as the silence of the room around us settles in. We’ve been sitting here just like this for a while, probably because Trent is waiting for me to make the first move to show that I’m okay.After having our night out ruined by Katie, our group split ways, each going to their respective homes so that Rachelle and I could rest and recuperate from what happened to us. And even though I was thankful to be in the safety of the home that Trent and I shared, I couldn’t help but wonder whether or not anything was being done to Katie after what she did.Deciding that wasn’t what was important right now, I curl in closer to Trent and close my eyes.“Are you sure you’re okay?”How many times now has Trent asked me this very question? For most of the ride home, he asked me, and although I insisted I was fine, he wouldn’t drop it, which was both endearing and a little frustrating.“I am.” I say quietly, lifting my
[Katie’s POV]I stare in disbelief as Trent glares at me. How could he look at me so hatefully? This was all that bitches fault!“Trent!” I repeat, reaching out in an attempt to touch him only to be stopped by a look of warning.“I said I’d deal with you later.” He repeats slowly while pulling the bitch closer against him. “So, I suggest you come up with a damn good story.”Finished speaking, he turns and begins to move while I’m left standing in place with the two that not only failed to complete the mission they were given but would also incriminate me if they were to be taken away and questioned.Knowing that I couldn’t possibly let that happen, I pull my phone out of my pocket and immediately dial Oscar, knowing that he will help me deal with this.“Hello, beautiful.” He chuckles the minute he picks up. “Tell me, are you the one responsible for the trouble I’m suffering?”“And if I am?” I challenge.“You’ll have to repay me for my bailing you out.” He says slowly, and I don’t miss
[Trent’s POV]“Do you think they’re taking a bit?”Hanson’s question rings out around us, filling the silence that has fallen in the room we sit together in. He was right; it had been a bit since the women went to the bathroom.“Maybe Gabby was worse off than we thought.” I mutter, panic growing. “I’m going to go check on her.”Maybe I was being a bit overprotective or just worrying for absolutely nothing, but I just couldn’t stop myself when it came to her.“Whipped.”The word is quiet, as is the chuckle that comes with it, but I don’t give two shits. He could call me what he wanted, and I would happily accept it.“Probably,” I admit, getting up and heading toward the exit. “I’ll be back.”Not waiting for a response, I head out into the hall and then toward the bathroom, where Gabby, Rachelle, and Katie should be. And when I reach, I don’t think twice before I’m heading in. However, I’m met with an empty space and empty stalls except for a single one.“Gabby.” I call, heading toward
[Katie’s POV]I stand outside of the room, listening as everyone present mocks me. It pisses me off, and I have the right mind to go in there and scold them, but in the end that would only make me look more like the villain. I needed to remain composed and in control so that Trent didn’t see me acting like a bitch again; one time was more than enough. That’s why I put a smile on my face now and then head inside, drawing all eyes to me.“Drink’s are here.” I announce moving forward. “Here you are.”Keeping my perfect smile in place, I move around, handing out drinks, making sure that the right ones went to the right people. And when I reach Gabrielle, I’m certain that she gets the one just for her before moving onto her friend; if I remember correctly, everyone called her Rachelle.“Here you are, Rachelle, right?”“That’s right.” She smiles, taking her drink. “And this man beside me is my boyfriend Hanson.”“It’s a pleasure,” I say, handing him a drink and then taking the final and hav
[Gabrielle’s POV]I walk into the club with Trent at my side, his hand wrapped tightly around me, holding me against himself as if to show the world that I was his. I have to admit, I like it. I like the stares that follow us and the looks of jealousy from the women who are clearly upset that such a powerful man is no longer single.However, along with these looks, there are looks of disgust and even questioning, which I’m certain is from the rumor that Trent and Katie were engaged. I was certain those with these looks were thinking of me as a home wrecker, as the other woman, but as long as I knew the truth, I didn’t care.“They’re over there,” Trent murmurs, leaning in so close that his breath tickles my ear.Nodding, I look in the direction his gaze is in and find Rachelle and Hanson together playing some pool. They look so lovely together, with Rachelle holding the stick and Hanson attempting to guide her. It is easy to see the love between them even from here. Was that the way I
[Gabrielle’s POV]“Are you sure you’re up for this?”I eye Trent as he works to straighten the tie around his neck. A week has already passed since he was released from the hospital, and since his most recent scans were looking pretty normal, the doctor released him from bedrest. Of course, the minute that happened, Rachelle insisted that we go out to celebrate.“What?” He asks, lifting his gaze to mine. “Would you rather we stay here and...”“Not yet,” I sigh, though I wouldn’t be too opposed to getting to know Trent’s body on an intimate level, especially while he stood in front of me in a form-fitting suit, complete with wrist cuffs, a super expensive watch, and his messy hair slicked back. God, the man didn’t look like a snack; he looked like a whole damn meal.Trying to ignore the naughty thoughts racing through my mind, I move forward and grab Trent’s tie, then after a quick adjustment, I step back.“Perfect,” I grin, taking him in while pulling out my phone.“What are you doing