7. Oliver
Oliver
By the time I got to class, the sweat had dried.
I chose a seat in the back of the dark lecture hall, not wanting to expose anyone to the particular blend of grease and perspiration that coated my skin.
That’s what diving under the hood of an SUV and hoofing it three miles back to campus could do to a guy.
I hadn’t even had time to go back to my apartment and grab my laptop.
Taking notes on my phone would have to do for today.
As my professor droned on about the law of supply and demand, I found myself tuning him out and tuning back in to my coffee date with Trinity.
If it could be called a date. I had to give her credit for being brave enough to follow her dreams. Part of me wished I had the balls to turn my back on convention and cut my own path.
But my future had been set in stone long before I was even born.
The stones my family set literally lined the driveway of my home in Towley.
My thoughts drifted to my family. Dad would be checking on the flock right about now. Mom might have lamb stew bubbling on the stove and Isla would probably just be getting home from classes. For a moment my heart ached for the familiar.
But then my phone pinged. A text from Trinity popped onto my screen.
Trinity: Thanks for saving me twice today. Can I treat you to dinner Saturday night?
I wouldn’t mind spending a little more time with her. But Saturday night was a work night for me. What the hell. Wyatt had me on the late shift, so I was free until nine.
Me: As long as it’s an early night. I have to work at nine.
Trinity: Don’t worry. I won’t keep you out past curfew.
I smiled, picturing the smirk on her face as she typed that.
Me: Shall I drive this time?
Trinity: If you insist.
After Macy’s vehicle had crapped out on us, I wasn’t sure what other option we had.
I’d tried to figure it out on my own, but the fancy SUV didn’t seem to follow conventional wisdom when it came to mechanicals.
I was used to repairing tractors and mowers, not brand-new vehicles with motherboards that were smarter than me.
Her next text flashed on the screen.
Trinity: Pick me up at Macy’s at six?
Me: You got it.
I tried to concentrate on my professor’s words for the rest of the lecture but fell short.
Every time I tried to focus, I found my thoughts drifting to how Trinity looked the other night in her soaking wet shirt, how her hair fell over her cheeks that morning, and the way her eyes sparkled when she teased me.
The next forty-eight hours were going to pass slower than a sheep heading back to the barn with a knackered leg.
Finally, Saturday night rolled around. I hadn’t seen or heard anything from the other side of the wall. I’d stopped by a few times—to be neighborly, I told myself—but either Trinity wasn’t there, or she didn’t want visitors.
At six on the dot, I stopped my bike at the curb in front of her friend’s condo.
Before I had a chance to climb off and walk to the door, Trinity stepped onto the sidewalk.
She shimmered in an off-white, off-the-shoulder, flowy sleeveless top.
It set off her bronzed skin and made me wonder what kind of tan lines I might uncover if I ever found myself lucky enough to see her without a shirt on.
As she bounced along the sidewalk, heading toward me with a little pep in her step, I let my gaze drift over her.
Tight denim capris hugged her legs, her hair twisted up on top of her head, a pendant dangling from a silver chain nestled between her breasts.
Seeing her lit me up inside. Part of me tried to squelch the fire in my gut.
But another part of me, the part that hadn’t enjoyed the company of a woman in too long, prompted me to let out a low whistle.
She smiled, the kind of grin that told me she knew exactly what kind of effect she had on me.
I didn’t mind. That’s what we were doing anyway, toying with each other before the inevitable.
We’d been dancing around each other since we met.
In my opinion, it was only a matter of time before we both gave in.
And the sooner the better as far as I was concerned.
Once we added a little kindling to the fire that burned between us, it would fizzle out, leaving me free to finish up the school year without distraction and get serious about finding a job.
With Wyatt unable to expand, I needed to step up my search. Time was running out.
As Trinity reached me, I pushed all thoughts of the future out of my head. Right now, my plans narrowed to the next three hours.
“Hi.” She stopped at the curb. Close enough for me to reach out and touch her if I wanted.
“Hi yourself. You look stunning tonight.”
She glanced to her feet. My gaze followed. Strappy sandals tied around her ankles. She’d painted her toenails a bright shade of purple. Maybe I’d tell her later that she’d chosen my favorite color.
“Thank you. You don’t look so terrible yourself.” She unzipped the small clutch in her hand and pulled out a pair of sunglasses. Sliding them into place, she stepped off the curb. “Thanks for driving tonight.”
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?” I balanced the bike between my legs, holding it steady so she could climb on behind me.
“Not yet. I think I’ll make you wait a little bit longer.”
“Don’t forget the helmet.” I reached behind me to hand it to her.
“Why do I have to mess up my hair while you get to feel the wind on your face?” She stuck her bottom lip out in a fake pout as the helmet dangled from her hands.
I took it and slid it onto her head. “Because I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“But what about you?”
“I’ll risk it.” I fastened the chin strap for her. “Now hop on and tell me where we’re going. I haven’t eaten all day, and I’m starving.”
She sighed as she flung a leg over the seat and settled behind me. “Head south out of downtown. We’re going to the suburbs.”
The suburbs? I’d expected her to pick from one of the trendy hot spots between downtown and campus. Maybe she wanted to take me to one of her favorites where she used to hang out as a kid.
As she wrapped her arms around my waist and pressed her head against my back, I realized I didn’t care where we were going.
I’d just enjoy the ride—the way it felt to nestle between her legs.
Her hands clasped together, circling my middle and I let out a breath, relaxing into her embrace.
Last time we rode together she’d barely maintained a grip on my shoulders.
But now, with her breasts pressed against my back, the heat of her core against my ass, there was no doubt in my mind that she felt the same sizzle and attraction.
I hoped that wherever we were going would have a short wait so maybe we’d have time after dinner to explore the chemistry between us.
She yelled directions to me as we left downtown.
After twenty solid minutes on the highway, she gestured toward the next exit.
The standard light fixtures and street signs gave way to a planned community.
The landscaping became a well-maintained patchwork of flower beds and pruned bushes. A giant gate loomed in front of me.
“Just pull up here and stop.” Trinity loosened her grip around my middle.
I did what she asked, bringing the bike to a stop in front of a set of intricate iron gates. A man in gray pants and a gray button-down shirt stepped out of a small stone structure next to the gates.
“Welcome to Sterling Shores. Who are you visiting this evening?” He held a clipboard in one hand and scribbled notes with the other.
I twisted my neck, trying to get a glimpse of Trinity behind me.
“The Ryan family. We’re expected.”
Family? Expected? What the hell had I gotten myself into? “Trinity?” I muttered.
“Enjoy your evening.” The man checked his clipboard, made a final note, then reached into the building, and the gates began to open.
I waited for a response from behind me. Trinity settled back against me. “Let’s go.”
“I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on.”
She squeezed my mid-section. “Can we at least pull away from the guard shack?”
I glanced over at the security guard and lifted my hand in a wave.
The guy nodded. Fine. I’d take her wherever it was she needed to go and drop her off.
Whatever she had planned for this evening didn’t need to involve me, especially not if it turned into what I assumed was going to be some sort of family dinner.
I’d signed up for an evening full of flirting, more of that delicious banter, and possibly ending with dessert at my place, not meeting the folks.
“Take the next right,” she said. We drove down a pristine concrete road. The houses lining the street seemed to grow larger and larger with each one we passed. “It’s at the end.”
I stopped in a cul-de-sac. The only home sat at the end. It appeared to be straight out of a movie set. Tall white columns lined a two-story porch. An American flag hung from the second story. Bushes carved into three-layered topiaries lined the sidewalk leading to the oversized front door.
“This is where you grew up?” I asked.
Trinity unfastened the helmet and climbed off the bike. Handing it to me, she reached up and pulled the elastic from her hair. Dark waves fell around her exposed shoulders. Internally, I groaned.
“Aren’t you coming in?” she asked.
“What is this? A surprise meet-the-family attack?”
She tucked her clutch under her arm and slid her sunglasses onto her head. “I just need to put in an appearance, then we’ll be on our way.”
I shook my head and kicked the kickstand up. “Not what I signed up for, sorry. Let’s take a rain check on dinner, shall we?”
Her hand gripped my arm. “Just for a minute?”
Something in her tone made me stop. There was fear behind the usual sparkle in her eye. Whatever waited for her inside the outrageous display of wealth had her scared enough to have tricked me into coming here. Maybe she needed backup. My protective instincts bristled.
“I’m not getting off this bike until you tell me what’s going on.” My grip on the handlebars tightened.
“Fine. I knew if I told you upfront that I had dinner plans with my parents you’d say no.”
“So you tricked me into coming with you? That’s a class-act.”
“I promise I’ll make it worth your while, I just?—”
“Trinity.” A woman dressed in a silver and white dress stood in the doorway. “Darling, don’t keep us waiting. Everyone is so eager to see you.”
Trinity looked to me. The confident, sarcastic, sexy woman I’d been dreaming about since Monday night was gone.
She still looked the same on the outside.
Same killer body. Same bright green eyes.
But the light inside her had dimmed. The look in her eyes slayed me.
What was she so afraid of? I didn’t owe it to her or anyone else to stick around and find out.
Her hand squeezed my arm. An undercurrent pulsed between us. She lifted her head, meeting my gaze.
“Please?”