Chapter 14 #2
He nodded. “That’s true. Occasionally bodies can wash up ashore.
Should that happen, it will circumvent the seven-year timeline we are currently considering.
But I don’t know if just one body washing up would do it.
In this case, it’s hard to say. We also need to look at how the parents’ wills are structured. ”
“Is that necessary?” she asked.
“Absolutely. We need to know all there is to know about their estate. I can apply some pressure to get information like that, so we can protect those assets. Ricky is the beneficiary of the whole damn estate, and a lot can happen while we are in the dark about the extent of everything.”
“Right, I think we need to do that,” she agreed, trying hard to keep her face still, but the tears were just threatening to spill. “Whether we stay with this lawyer or not, I would like whoever it is to know they are being overseen by someone else as well.”
He smiled and nodded. “That is how I would prefer to look at it too. It’s never a good idea to have just one person handling this amount of money. And yet we don’t even know what the amount is, as we know very little about the extent of the estate.”
“There never appeared to be a shortage. I mean, the wages I was being paid were far more than I ever would have asked for.”
“Which would continue,” he stated, “and there’s absolutely no reason for it not to. But again, it could be a different issue entirely.”
She nodded. “Well, I would hope so because I’m still doing the job, but I can understand how it might become an issue if I take on legal guardianship.”
“I don’t think there should be an issue. If anything,” he guessed, “that money should increase so you would be able to pay for a house somewhere, all by yourself. I don’t know if you and Ricky want to stay in this apartment.”
“Not particularly after today with the gunman,” she noted, with a shrug, “although Ricky is happy here.” She glanced around, frowning. “Though I’m not sure it’s a good memory for him to have now.”
“I’m not sure it is either. We can certainly look at that,” Trent offered. “As far as everything else, I will be staying here for at least a week, just to be sure that you are free and clear.”
“I don’t know that a week will be enough to put me or Ricky at ease.”
“I don’t know that it’s even necessary to stay here after what just went down,” he shared, “but that’s the agreed-upon timeframe right now.”
She smiled. “I will absolutely take the week if I can get it,” she admitted, and a note of sadness filled her tone. “Ricky and I just have to accept that, at some point in time, you too will leave our world, and it will be just the two of us again.”
He shook his head, staring at her. “I will come and visit when I’m not heading off into the wild blue yonder.”
“Is that what your lifestyle is like?” she asked, trying not to appear too curious. “Do you always end up going off on missions?”
“Yes,” he replied, “and I should probably admit that I’m not exactly a great bet either.
” She frowned at him, and he added lightly, “Risks are involved with this job, but it’s also the life that we’re accustomed to.
We live a fast-paced existence, with people coming and going.
It’s just the way it’s been for me. It’s not that it’s bad in any way. ”
“Ricky and I understand what you’re doing, and why you’re doing it, because we experienced the kind of help you are able to provide,” she shared. “So, it’s not as if we don’t expect you to take off and to have a life.”
“The difference is, …” he began, yet he seemed unsure how to explain it.
Yet she wanted him to explain because she needed to get it right. “The difference is what?”
“The difference is whether or not we come back from those missions,” he frankly told her.
At her horror, he squeezed her fingers gently.
“That is something I did want to talk to you about. I figure we have this week together, and maybe I could see about coming back when I get my next break, see how things are with you two.”
“Meaning?” she asked, a challenge in her tone.
With a hint of teasing in his tone, he whispered, “You already know what I mean.”
“I know what I think you mean,” she clarified, “but I would much rather have a conversation like this be very clear because Ricky will want to know how and when you’re likely to come back, and he’ll have a ton of questions as to why you would return.”
“Well, that’s simple enough. I’d be coming back to see the two of you,” he declared, “and for very different reasons.”
Her eyebrows raised, and she smiled as she considered him and then nodded. “I would hope so,” she replied, “and I would really like that.”
He leaned over slowly, giving her plenty of time to move away if she chose to, and then he gently kissed her on the lips. When he pulled back ever-so-slightly, she had a bemused look on her face.
“It’s been a long time since I have even thought about someone other than Ricky.”
“That’s part of the problem for you because you haven’t had a chance to live a little for yourself,” he noted, “and I don’t want that to be something you think I’m taking advantage of.”
She chuckled. “I’m here with Ricky, without a partner, because I want to be.
However, if I wanted a relationship or found somebody I really wanted to see more often, that is something I would do.
Since I haven’t found that someone yet, it’s not been an issue.
” She winced, unsure how to say what she really wanted to say. “At least up until now.”
He grinned. “Well, I’m hoping that will change for us.”
“It just might,” she quipped, giving him a smile. “I am absolutely happy to see where this goes.”
He leaned over to give her another kiss, but this time she slid her arms up around his neck and whispered, “Did I mention I would be absolutely happy to see where this might go?”
He chuckled as he kissed her again, the kiss deepening to the point that she was shivering in his arms. When he pulled his head back this time, she tugged him closer, slid her body up against his, and murmured a quiet protest. He immediately lowered his head and delved deeper into the soft sweetness of her lips.
When he finally came up for air, he was breathless.
When she slid a hand under his shirt and across his chest, he groaned.
Then he whispered, “You have to be sure. A lot is changing in your lives.”
She opened her eyes and looked up at him. “How sure do I have to be?” she asked. “Besides, I’m the one who’s halfway on top of you.”
He chuckled and added, “You know what I mean.”
She smiled. “I do know what you mean, but this is for me and hopefully for you. We need to first see for ourselves, then there is Ricky to consider too,” she noted and gently nibbled Trent’s exposed neck.
“No promises, no guarantees of tomorrow, but it would sure be nice to see where this goes.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulled him up even closer, and whispered against his lips, “Don’t leave me hanging here. ”
*
Trent groaned, fighting the instinct to be honorable, pulling back, not pushing the line that even he could see was potentially problematic.
But then she slid her tongue between his lips, gently warring against his.
With another groan, he wrapped her up tighter against him.
“Is Ricky going to wake up?” He wasn’t sure whether he should ask at this point, but it seemed important.
She chuckled. “No, that boy sleeps like a log.”
He picked her up in a smooth move that had her gasping in shock. Then he carried her through to her bedroom, gently kicking the door closed behind them, laid her down, and whispered in her ear, “One more chance to back out.”
She circled her arms around his neck and muttered, “No chances needed, but I will keep in mind that you were desperately trying to be honorable.”
He closed his eyes briefly, but her hand immediately moved to the top of his pants, and she slowly slid two fingers inside the waistband.
He swore, stepped back, and quickly divested himself of all his clothing.
Then turned to face her, his erection strong and proud.
She immediately got onto her knees, pulled off her robe and nightgown, then sat here in front of him, complete in her glorious nudity, her small plump breasts shining in the half light.
He couldn’t do anything but stare. He whispered, “God, you’re gorgeous.”
She chuckled. “I don’t know about that, but I am definitely ready and waiting.” And, with that, she opened her arms and laid back down again.
Within seconds, he was stretched out beside her, his face buried between her breasts. He groaned as the emotions flooded through him.
She wrapped him up closer and murmured, “You could just say that you’ll be back and give me time to think about this. However, … if you were honest, you already know we’re well past that point. You already are in love with me and Ricky, aren’t you?”
He lifted his head, and his lips twitched.
She smiled. “I know that much.”
He chuckled, slid up a little bit farther, skin against skin, the hard pebbles of her nipples against the broad muscles of his chest, making him shudder in delight. He lowered his lips and whispered in her ear, “I was trying to give you time.”
She smiled. “I can see that you were trying to do that, trying not to rush me. However, I’m here to tell you, no time is needed. I’ve been here right since the beginning, since I first saw you on that damn boat.”
He groaned. “That boat is going to be a long-term memory for you, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it will. It brought us you,” she declared. “So, it’s not something we have to hide from. We will survive all this. And, with any luck, Ricky will have a much better life going forward, where he isn’t constantly hoping his family will call.”
Trent pulled her closer and kissed her gently, then whispered, “You’ve been a very special part of his family, and, as long as that continues, I don’t think he’ll have a problem with anything else.”