Page 72 of Legal Desire
“Thatyouate,” Bette added.
“No, thanks for the referral.” She glanced at her watch. “He should be here soon.”
The two women exchanged a furtive glance and Allison’s pulse quickened. “What? What did you do?”
“We might have tricked you a little,” Bette sheepishly admitted.
“But we didn’t lie to you,” Muriel said. “He is our friend.”
“And he does need a publicist,” Bette added.
“But most of all he needs you,” Muriel said.
And Allison groaned.
“He’s been miserable without you,” Bette said. “His friends can’t stand to see him like this.”
“And I can’t stand to see him at all,” Allison said. Or she would lose it—lose her heart completely. No. It was already too late for that. He’d kept her heart.
“Guess you’ll have to sit, then,” a deep, masculine voice murmured.
And Allison glanced up to find Trevor standing in the doorway.
Bette and Muriel jumped up from their seats. “We’ll get out of your way,” Muriel said as she headed toward the door.
“She didn’t leave any food for you,” Bette warned him as she passed him on her way out.
“Thank you,” he told the women. Then as soon as they stepped into the hall, he closed the door behind them, shutting himself inside with her. Alone.
Allison’s heart pounded furiously. “Do I need to fire my new assistant?” she asked.
“Why?” Trevor asked. “He’s not listening at the door.”
“Because he let you in.”
“I know him,” Trevor said. “He’s a friend of Miguel’s.”
That was why she’d hired him. Miguel had recommended him. Like the women, Miguel had become a friend. For some reason he seemed to care about Allison.
Had she fooled anyone with her ice queen routine? Had she fooled Trevor? It had been a few weeks since she’d seen him last, that day in his office.
He stared at her as if he was eating her up with just his gaze. His green eyes had gone dark, nearly as dark as the circles beneath his eyes. And his hair was longer even than it usually was, hanging well past his collar.
He obviously hadn’t been sleeping any better than she was.
“Why are you here?” she asked. “Do you really need a publicist?”
He shook his head. “No. I need you.” He walked forward then. “I know you’re mad at me and that you might never fully trust me. But I trust you so much that I’m giving you my heart, Allison.”
He came around the desk and instead of pulling her from her chair, he dropped to his knees in front of it—in front of her. “I’ve never given anyone my heart before. I’ve never trusted anyone enough to not abandon or hurt me...but I trust you. I love you.”
Tears blurred her vision, so she had to blink to be able to see him clearly. And for the first time she did see him clearly. He was so brave, so damn brave.
He inspired her to be brave, too.
“I love you, too,” she said.
He reached up and cupped her face in his hands. And his fingers trembled slightly against her skin. “Then why haven’t you wanted to see me?”
