Page 45 of Playing Games with My Billionaire

"What about that lovely lady I spoke to on the phone while you were away?" she asked.

I wasn't sure if she was psychic and had read my mind or if it was just plain coincidence. Either way, little did she know she had touched the very nerve that was paining me.

"I don't know," I replied sadly.

"She seemed very nice. I thought you two were friendly. Did something happen?"

My mother's question was from an innocent place, but it felt like she was tackling me. Her questions brought emotions that I had tried to bury over the past month back to the surface.

"I thought we were too," I said without thinking.

"What happened?" Mama inquired.

I wanted to breeze over the topic, but I also needed to talk about it. It had been weighing on my mind ever since I was done with my project.

I told my mother about how Lindsey and I had connected during my stay at the Lodge, and how she had been cold toward me because of my very rude outburst toward her when Lauren showed up. My mother listened without saying a word till I was done. I even told her Lauren was pregnant and accusing me of being the father. That I knew it wasn’t impossible (I still wasn’t one hundred percent sure …), and that I just didn’t make it right with Lindsey before taking off for the city without notice.

"From the moment I spoke to that young woman, I could tell she was a keeper," she said when I was done. "Don't you think you might have been wrong by leaving and not letting her know?"

"But she wasn't talking to me, what was I supposed to do?"

"Trev, I love you, but sometimes you are thicker than molasses. Misunderstandings and miscommunications might make us laugh when Moliere or Shakespeare take such a story to the stage. But you, my dear man, are a great communicator. The only thing that explains this to me is that you love this girl. And all women know this: love makes men stupid!"

And then she laughed at me.

I immediately wished I had spoken to Lindsey right away. I sighed deeply, “I know, Mama. I feel really dumb right now, I can tell you that.” I looked my mama in the eye and shrugged, “And you're right. I think I'm in love with her.”

"You know, if she means that much to you, go back for her."

Mama said it so casually that I raised my eyebrows at her.

“And son? Groveling may be involved!” And she got a little Mona Lisa smile in the corner of her mouth.

I knew she was trying to advise me on the best course of events. The thought of going back to the Lodge had crossed my mind a few times, but I wasn't sure how Lindsey would receive me.

“Son, I know what's going on in your head, and believe you me, you have already made a fool of yourself! So forget all those thoughts and just go for it. Claim your prize!”

She was right! I didn't want to make a fool out of myself.

"What if she hates me already and has moved on?" I asked.

"What if you never try and you regret it for the rest of your life?"

I simply hated it when she did that! Answering a question with another question. But I couldn't deny that she had a point. If I didn't go back to clear the air with Lindsey, I knew I would spend my days wondering, “What if?”

And beating yourself up about it.

For the rest of the day, I kept thinking about Mama’s advice about going back to the Lodge, but before I did that, there was another matter I needed to attend to.

I picked up the phone and put a call into my attorney, and told him the one thing I needed him to do. Then asked him to find the one piece of information I also needed.

Chapter 24

Lindsey

Daysstretchedon,andI had to get used to the fact that Trev was gone. It was a whole lot to deal with. I always knew from the start that he wasn't going to stay forever, but I let myself get too attached to him.

This is one of the reasons behind your policy of never getting involved with a guest!

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