CHAPTER 23
TREY
They had crossed paths enough since Anthony’s townhouse for the flirting to become a running joke, but neither had called any of it a date until now.
Anthony and Danielle finally agreed to call what they were doing a date.
They insisted it was not a date.
Nobody believed them.
The four of them were at a community fundraiser in Brooklyn when Anthony appeared in a tuxedo and Danielle forgot the sentence she was saying.
Trey caught Paula’s reaction.
The hotel room was anonymous in the expensive way—white sheets, heavy curtains, art chosen not to offend anyone.
Their belongings made it theirs within an hour.
Paula's earrings on the desk. Trey's cuff links beside them.
Her skin-care bag colonizing the bathroom counter.
His suit jacket over a chair. Trey looked at the evidence and smiled.
They were becoming very good at building temporary homes.
Her eyes cut to his, amused.
“No,” he murmured.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You’re vibrating.”
“I am standing still.”
Danielle recovered.
“Anthony.”
“Danielle.”
Paula whispered, “They’re ridiculous.”
Trey took a sip of champagne.
“They remind me of someone.”
“Who?”
He looked at her.
Paula narrowed her eyes.
“Don’t.”
Across the room Anthony and Danielle were already arguing about the event’s redevelopment proposal.
Ten minutes later they were laughing.
Twenty minutes later Anthony brought her a drink without asking and got the order exactly right.
Paula’s mouth fell open.
“Oh, he’s studying her.”
Trey smiled.
“Recognize the behavior?”
She elbowed him.
The fundraiser mattered beyond matchmaking. Paula was there because Marcus’s firm represented the nonprofit. Trey had been invited by a civil-rights coalition. Nia volunteered at the registration table.
Their circles were no longer separate.
Marcus joined them.
“Kelly, I need you Monday.”
“For?”
“Potential client. Corporate crisis. Board problem.”
Paula’s attention sharpened.
“Legal?”
“Both.”
Trey watched the professional switch happen.
Marcus continued. “They need somebody who understands messaging and privilege.”
Paula nodded.
“Send me the conflict information.”
“Tonight.”
“No details until I clear.”
Marcus smiled. “There she is.”
Trey felt pride.
Not ownership.
Pride.
Later, in the car, Paula said, “You were quiet.”
“You were working.”
“You could’ve joined.”
“It wasn’t my conversation.”
She looked at him.
“That’s sexy.”
Trey laughed.
“I’m serious.”
“Professional restraint?”
“Apparently.”
He drove.
Paula’s hand moved to his thigh.
“Careful.”
“Why?”
“You know why.”
She smiled.
“Color?”
Trey glanced at her.
“That is not how this works.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m driving.”
Paula laughed.
At the next red light Trey looked over.
“Also, you don’t get to weaponize vocabulary.”
“I absolutely do.”
“PK.”
“Professor.”
His jaw tightened.
She sat back, pleased with herself.
The light turned green.
Trey drove.
Twenty minutes later Paula’s phone rang.
Marcus.
She answered immediately.
“Kelly.”
Trey smiled.
There she was.
The woman he loved and the professional world that existed entirely outside him.
Exactly as it should.